Arresting with a Whippet

I've saved my butt by successfully arresting with a Whippet a few times, each time with my uphill hand gripped over the pick (i.e., not holding it like a ski pole).   If there's any chance that I might need to arrest, I grip the Whippet over top of the pick -- sorta like holding an ice axe but without having the base of the (non-existent) adze around which to curl my thumb and index finger.  I also am prepared to grab the Whippet shaft with my downhill hand.  When used like that, a Whippet has performed like a wimpy ice axe w/o an adze for me.  YMMV

Timely discussion. I slid upside down about 50+ feet yesterday, losing both poles. I don't know exactly how I managed, but got both skis down hill just as I went into a tree well, and was able to absorb the impact and stop without any damage. It had me thinking about whippets. I'm thinking some self arest practice would be good, too.

Personally I've never used, bought, or felt the need for one. If I feel I need a pick, belay, or adze, I just bust out the axe. Are there disadvantages to that? If there are, I wouldn't be one to know.

I have used an ice axe after snagging my crampons on my pant leg on Adams.... Ice axe worked as advertised.  Then a while back, I took a long slide with skis and a backpack, wishing I had something... anything to arrest with... even to help me swing my skis downhill.

So, I got the whippet, but haven't really used it yet.  What we really need is special clothing that won't slide.  I really did try fitting a small ice axe to my ski pole with a four foot velcro strip wrap.  That was pretty ugly...  actually it would work.

From the instruction sheet:
www.bdel.com/pdf/s08/MM5978_B_Ski_Poles_InstructWEB.pdf

WHIPPET SELF-ARREST POLE —
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

◆ The Whippet is not an ice axe, nor is it a substitute for one.

◆ When hiking, do not hold or swing Whippet like an ice
axe. Always hold on to the grip.

◆ Practice self-arresting on an easy slope with a clear runout
before you have to use the Whippet for real, so you will
understand its capabilities.

◆ In a self-arrest situation, hold one hand over the Whippet’s
pick, with the shaft diagonal across the torso, one hand
holding on near the FlickLock mechanism.

◆ When climbing or skiing, try to avoid self-evisceration should
you wipe out.
Caution: The strap on your Whippet DOES NOT release. We
suggest you remove the strap from your wrist when traveling
through potential avalanche terrain.

My favorite part:

"When climbing or skiing, try to avoid self-evisceration should
you wipe out."

Good advice- I will remember that!

When I ski with my Whippet I am most concerned with taking my eye out in a fall. My mother's words" don't run with those scissors, you'll take your eye out" always rings in my ears so I always wear glasses or goggles!

I also always use the wrist strap as I am usually only using the whippet on hard snow when there is little or no avy danger and I don't want to drop the whippet.

I hold it with my dominant hand (right for me)and do not use the wrist strap on the other pole If I fall, I release my grip on the non-whippet pole and let it fall away and grab the whippet with both hands, one above the other.