I’m sure most of us have experienced this scenario.  You start to practice the same moves you nailed a few days ago, and you slip, slide and then… swear!!  Why is this happening? Well often times you can blame it on the weather, yep the weather.    Weather and room climate can dramatically affect your pole dancing. Being aware of this can assist you in planning your pole work out for the day, and help you avoid frustration. Here is a list of common climates that can affect your pole.

HUMIDITY

Humidity, warm or cold, will often cause your pole to be sticky. This can make climbing and tricks great, but it can be difficult to practice or execute spins. Humid days are a great opportunity to work on those new inverts or give spinny mode a try.  It’s also a great time for beginners who may not have developed nearly as much hand strength.  Be warned, it is important to remember, pole burn can be severe on humid days.

The gains of a sticky, humid pole can quickly disappear as you warm up and start to sweat, and what started as super grip can quickly turn to super slip.  Be aware of your body’s reaction, sweaty skin combined with a typically oily complexion can be especially problematic.  Dry skin in combination with humidity fares much better. I love a warm pole room, after my regular warm up I’m not only limber, I stick like glue.

DRY and COLD

A dry and cold environment will almost always result in a slippery pole. This makes it a great time to practice that spin you always wanted to get, but you have to be aware of your limits.  A dry cold pole can be the most frustrating dancing situation

With a dry, cold pole, it is extremely important to have an adequate warmup.  By warming up adequately you not only increase the moisture on your skin that will help you stick it also warms up your pole which further increases your adhesion and stickiness. You should start with spins then pole climbs to warm the pole most fully.

Slightly oily skin will help you out in this situation, however sweat will quickly offset this gain.  Dry skin will have no benefit on a dry cold pole, try moisturizing your skin several hours before your workout, DO NOT USE ANY OIL OR LOTIONS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DANCING.

DRY and WARM

A dry and warm environment is the best combination, providing the most versatile dance situation.  Your pole will warm up quickly and provide for the broadest ability to pole dance.  Spins will be fun on a surface that isn’t too sticky, climbs will be effortless with the warm pole allowing your body to stick, you will be in love with your pole and the world will be a wonderful place.

Oily skin and dry skin will both behave best and similarly in this environment.  Depending on how oily or dry your skin is you will tend to stick with the pole being more slippery depending on how dry or oily you are.

Other Conditions

While these conditions cover the majority of situations the environment you pole in will change from day to day.   Air conditioning will tend to dry out your poling environment, as will heating.  Be aware of the behavior of your heating and cooling system when planning your practices.

Don’t be upset because you can’t perform as well as you did yesterday, you really can blame it on the rain!!!

X-pole maintenance

• The first time you assemble your X-pole be sure to clean off all the grease from the screw threads, and apply WD40.
• Take your X-pole down once a week, undone and reassembled; this will stop it from getting stuck and also retighten any looseness. (At minimum once a month)
• Once a month you should get some soapy water and clean the screw threads that join the pole sections together (NOT THE AJUSTER BIG SCREW) then apply some WD40 to the threads wiping the excess with a cloth.
• Use of chalk or any grip enhancer will make the joins stick more so make sure you keep your pole clean and dry.
• Don’t over tighten the pole
• Make sure you turn it the correct way to undo or you are just tightening it
• keep your cardboard tubes you will need them to pack your X-pole back into the travel case.

Releasing the poles tubes if they are stuck.

X-Pole is supplied with release rods. With the base in ’static’ mode insert the rod and turn anticlockwise. If tubes joints still will not release place the tubes on a flat surface, insert the rods and with one rod against the surface give the other rod sharp tap. It is not force that releases the tubes it is the shock. If the tube still will not release place something solid under the release rod so it is parallel to the surface the poles are on and try again. This so that the shock goes into the solid object and is not absorbed by the rod itself.

How do I locate joists (ceiling studs)?

Joists can be located by either tapping across the ceiling with a knuckle or with an electronic stud finder. With a knuckle you tap across until a more solid sound is heard - this is a joist or beam. A hollow sound is the space between the joists. A stud finder will locate the joist electronically (note-stud finders don’t work on plaster)

What ceilings surfaces can I use it on?

X-Pole can be used against almost any LEVEL ceiling surface. It’s silicone edging has hi-grip capabilities. Rough surfaces, such as aertex, may present a problem depending on how rough they are. It is not a case of not being stable enough it as to whether the ceiling will be damaged if uneven pressure is placed on it. X-Pole can not be used on false or suspended ceilings.