Eirik Mysen unveils ‘revolutionary’ ski poles — secret grip could extend pole push and spark a rule debate

A day before Norway’s cross‑country season opener at Beitostølen, Eirik Mysen’s ski poles drew unusual attention from federation officials. Mysen, a national bronze medalist last year who is not on the national team, has collaborated with his pole sponsor to create a new handle and grip system he has kept under wraps to avoid tipping off rivals.

According to Mysen, the design allows the poles to effectively become five centimeters longer during the push phase when he releases the grip, extending the pole stroke and improving efficiency. He says summer testing showed clear time gains and estimates the system could be worth as much as 15 seconds over 10 km. The approach skirts the standard FIS limit on pole length (max 83% of body height in classic) by changing functional length only during the push.

NRK witnessed ski federation representatives photographing and inspecting the poles in Beitostølen. Technical delegate Torbjørn Broks Pettersen, Norway’s representative on the FIS rules committee, said he is currently unsure whether the poles are legal. He noted a similar concept has appeared in the World Cup before, but Mysen’s updated version uses an elastic mechanism that could run afoul of equipment regulations.

NRK expert and World Cup skier Pål Golberg believes the device clearly extends the pole push, which should provide some benefit, particularly on climbs and over longer distances, though he was less certain about gains at high-speed double‑poling. Mysen’s coach, Vetle Leander Johansen, insists the poles are legal and calls the concept potentially revolutionary for a sport that has seen limited equipment change. He drew inspiration from triathlon, where cutting‑edge gear has at times been so effective that it was later banned.

Mysen hopes to use the innovation in the Beitostølen opener to contend with national‑team athletes and bolster his bid for an Olympic spot. Whether the poles will be cleared under current FIS rules remains the key question.