Some ski poles are bent because they’re designed for high-speed racing, where aerodynamics and control matter a lot more than for casual skiing.

The Core Reason: Aerodynamics

In downhill and Super-G, racers tuck their bodies to be as small and streamlined as possible in the wind.

Bent poles curve around the skier’s torso when they’re in that tuck, so the shaft sits behind the body instead of sticking out into the airflow.

This reduces wind resistance by a small but meaningful amount, which can be the difference of a few hundredths of a second in a race.

Extra Benefits for Racers

Bent racing poles also help with:

  • Less snagging: When poles are curved in toward the body, they’re less likely to catch on skis, bindings, or slalom gates during aggressive turns.
  • Better body position: The shape helps racers keep their arms and upper body in a strong, forward stance while setting rhythm through turns.
  • Smaller baskets: Racing poles usually have reduced baskets to cut wind drag further since they’re mostly used on hard, prepared snow, not deep powder.

Why Most Ski Poles Are Still Straight

For everyday resort skiers, straight poles are cheaper, simpler, and perfectly functional.

Recreational skiers don’t spend as much time in a tight tuck at 100+ km/h, so the aerodynamic gain from bent poles doesn’t matter much.

That’s why you mainly see bent poles in:

  • Downhill
  • Super-G
  • Giant slalom
  • High-level slalom racing

Quick Forum-Style Take

“Those weird curved poles you see in World Cup or Olympic downhill? They’re not broken — they’re wind-cheating tools built so racers can tuck hard, keep their poles hidden behind their body, and squeeze out every fraction of a second.”

TL;DR:
Ski poles are bent on purpose for racing: the curve lets racers tuck their poles behind their torso, cuts wind drag, reduces snagging on gates or gear, and helps maintain a strong racing stance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.