Arresting with a Whippet

I have taken two slides now that I was basically unable to arrest with my whippet. Snow conditions in the first slide where slushy, so no big surprise there, given the short length of the pick. The second slide was on firm suncupped snow, and I was still unable to arrest with it. Anybody have any similar experiences or tips for getting better purchase. I have a 2007 model BD whippet and I am on tele skis. I have no problems on similar slopes arresting with an ice axe.

I'm starting to think of the whippet as more of a fall-preventer, rather than a fall-stopper. Conditions being perfect, I think you can probably do the job with it, but I wouldn't want to put it to the test in a fast fall with a bad runout. I've been thinking it would be worth going out and having a self-arrest session, on skis and off, to really get the hang of what I can expect it to do for me.

I, too, regard the whippet as a fall-preventing tool. They're great on the up, and for self-belaying down steep sidestepping on snow/ice/dirt/tree roots/etc. In addition, I've found that it's useful as a pivot point when trying to get my skis under me while arresting. My 3.7 meters of metal edge are the real brakes. The whippet's a handy tool in the box. I also find that the pick's great for grabbing things at a distance, prying things with the little snowblade, picking my dynafit toepieces clean, and anchoring my pack... Practicing arrests with a safe runout is worthwhile.

It's interesting to note that Andrew McLean (the whippet's inventor) sharpens his like an ice tool. I'm hesitant to do so, for fear of improved impalement proclivity, but it may well be a good idea (impaling yourself on a stock whippet would probably be just as bad).

Whippets are useless...except to fend off beggars in foreign airports.

whippets are not as effective ice axe but they sure will act as a drag to get your feet and skis below you . From there you have a shot at getting back up or at least saving your head.

Whippets? You mean those ugly mini Greyhounds? Yes, good for avalanche control, just strap some dyno-mite on em and throw em down the hill, or you could just feed them to huskys or other real dogs.
Or do you mean "lung vents". Great if you want your buddy's to get practice with the favorite First Aid topic: "sucking chest wound".
Break out the axe if the consequnces are going to bad if you are going to fall, and if the odds of a fall are great. I have often thought I could cobble together my ski pole and ice axe with duct tape if I ever felt the need. But then, I have never worried about arresting a fall in a "no falls zone". Kind of an oxymoron.