mad101564773 started this discussion ·
Hello Everyone, I've been taking Pole Classes at my local Crunch and I decided to buy a Pole from X-Pole. I bought the 45mm since it said it was used in worldwide competitions, thinking it would be the same one used at Crunch. However, the one at Crunch is a little thicker, must be 50mm. I'm finding near impossible to climb the 45mm pole. Any tips or advice? Thanks
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I'm glad this was brought up, I want a smaller pole but haven't tried one yet.
Veena ·
A smaller diameter pole can be a bit more challenging to climb. Also at home, a common issue dancers have is lack of warm up. Without a proper warm up you'll find things like climbs, pole sits most leg moves very difficult. The environmental conditions may be different in home as well affecting the grip. In addition, check your climbing technique, there may just be a few tweaks that need to be made to make climbing better. My tips: Are you warmed up? is the pole along the front of the ankle, inside of the knee's? is the scapula engaged and arms at a good climbing height (not too high not too low)? Are you pushing down and into the pole with the climbing leg? Here's the basic climb lesson if you're interested. https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/233115a0-b889-11df-856f-001b214581be
Climbing should be the same. It will be harder if you bought a different material pole that is slicker, but other than that, climbing either should be the same. In doing a upright crucifix, you just have to squeeze your legs much more.
The warm up is an excellent point, I usually do less of one at home than at class and usually have a less successful practice.
If your pole is new it might still be slippy anyway, try giving it a good clean with alcohol to help with the grip. The poles at my studio are much grippier than mine at home just because they have been worn down more
I always found doing everything at home was a little harder at first.I would feel like a star at the studio and home just couldn't replicate it. Sometimes the atmosphere at home makes for a slippier pole but you'll get used to it in no time:)
Hey Everyone, Thanks so much for all the tips and video. I think my problems are mostly due to: - not being warmed up enough - my apt being much colder than the classroom studio Also, the climbing technique I learned is a little different than the video link. At Crunch we started off the same, but kind of pinched the pole at the knees and lifted up by using arm stregnth and then pinching up with the knees again until we sat at the top of the pole with our legs out. With my 35mm pole at home, my knees and thighs would just slide down. Learning from the video, I was able to climb into the crucifix position and hold it, although I was not able to go up for the double climb. Couldn't figure out how to switch my feet, but will be practicing tonight. Thanks again~
