GoPro Ski Stick Mount
In this article I share my experiences of using various GoPro ski stick mount options using both the Hero 10 Black and the GoPro Max 360 camera. These techniques will also work with the new GoPro Hero 11.
There are a number of ways to mount a camera to a ski stick or pole as it’s commonly known. I’ll discuss each of the types of mounts first. Explaining the practicalities while spending time on the mountain skiing.
Following on from the various mounting options I share examples of both video and photos captured using each mount. This will give you a clear idea of the types of shots these different stick mounts offer to creators.
Types Of Mount
The main focus is on 3 specific mounts, plus several additional attachments to the mounts. Below is a list of the camera mounts and attachments we’ll be taking a close look at.
- Clamp Mount
- Pole Camera Mount
- 360 Degree Swivel Mount
- Extension Arm
- Swivel Clip Mount
Clamp Mount
One of the first mounts to appear on the action camera scene, this traditional style mount designed for any cylindrical shaped object still works well as a pole clamp for a GoPro or other action cameras.
Made of heavy duty plastic, the clamp is attached by a pair of stainless steel thumb screws for quick and easy installation. Ski sticks with a diameter from 0.59” to 1.57” (15mm to 40mm) are compatible.
I’d suggest this clamp for those who like a low cost, basic solution. Once the clamp is locked into place it can stay on your ski pole throughout the day without distracting you while skiing.
Attaching both a 360 degree swivel mount to the clamp, plus an extension arm really opens up a whole range in point of view (POV) video shots to the skier.
Swivel Clip Mount
Clip your GoPro to your backpack strap, or use the magnet for attaching to ferrous metal surfaces. The 360-swivel feature lets you change the angle with ease, and the clip makes a great kickstand as well.
As one of my favorite skiing accessories I always make sure I pack the swivel clip mount in my daypack when spending time on the ski slopes.
The clip has a basic clip design with a strong spring loaded jaw which allows you to attach the mount to a whole load of different objects and gear.
Not only can you clip this to the bottom of a ski stick, close to the poles basket. You can also clip the mount to daypack straps and use the magnetic base to stick on metal surfaces such as the inside of a gondola ski lift.
The base of the mount has a 360-swivel feature which is really useful to position the camera lens facing the action.
Extension Pivot Arm
Typically used at the front of a ski helmet mount for POV selfie shots. The extension pivot arm is just a simple piece of hardened plastic approximately 7 inches in length. The extension arm allows you to attach the 360 swivel mount which I’ll discuss below.
Having extended the GoPro camera further away from the shaft of the ski stick offers a wider angle shot to your ski video footage.
Take a look at the reframed GoPro Max 360 images I’ve captured by using this rig. You can also use a Hero 10 with a wide field of view to ensure you’ve got all the action in frame.
360 Degree Swivel Mount
Having a 360 degree swivel mount as part of your GoPro mounting kit is essential to capture those dynamic action shots. The ball joint housed inside an aluminum arm makes it super easy to adjust the angle of the camera lens.
There’s so many uses for this mount, but in terms of ski stick mounting you can attach the swivel mount directly to the clamp mount I mentioned above or to the extension pivot arm.
GoPro Pole Camera Mount
This option is an official GoPro mount available from the GoPro Store. The Pole camera mount is a hinged clamp that easily attaches to a ski pole from 0.35 to 1.4in (9 to 35mm) diameter.
The base of the mount rotates 360° providing you with different POV camera angles all by pushing a button to unlock the rotating buckle.
Example Video & Pictures Taken With Stick Mounts
Now We’ve had a look at all the different ways in which to mount a GoPro to a ski pole. I’ll share some of the most dynamic video shots I’ve captured using both the GoPro Hero 10 Black and the Max 360.
I’ve put the type of video and picture “shots” (images) into 4 basic categories which I’ve listed below.
- Point Of View Shots / Images
- Burst Mode
- Time-Lapse Mode
- Selfie Stick
Point Of View Shots
POV shots are great as part of a dynamic edited video, especially to music. The more angles you manage to capture the better. Using the mounts listed above gives the skier a lot of choices in camera angles.
Sk Boots & Bindings Close Up Video Shots
One of my favorite shots is a close up shot of skies, bindings and boots skiing down the mountain. This style of shot really adds to an edited video sequence.
I use the swivel clip mount as shown in the picture. It’s a matter of holding the stick around a 1 feet from your outside ski and let the action take place while you make turns down the slope.
High Frame Rates
The Hero 10 Black will shoot at up to 240 frames per second. My choice of fps for slow motion video shots is 120 fps. Although it’s worth experimenting with higher frame rates to see the effect it has on slow motion action shots.
Low Angle Selfie Shots
For those low angle shots while skiing I use the 360 degree swivel mount attached to the clamp. This is easy to set up while standing at the edge of the ski slope ready for a descent.
Low Angle 360 Degree Action Shot
The Quik app for desktop or mobile devices allows you to reframe 360 degree video footage captured on the slope.
Having the extension arm along with the swivel mount adds distance between the camera lens and the skier which gives really dramatic video shots.
Burst Mode
Burst Mode on the Hero 10 is great for recording multiple photos in quick succession. The clip mount is my mount of choice for taking Burst Mode pictures.
Selfie Stick
Using the ski stick as a selfie stick has become less popular in recent years due to dedicated selfie sticks. However if you don’t want to carry a selfie stick in your daypack while out skiing then using your ski pole is the next best option.
The clamp mount or the pole camera mount are the best options here if you’d like to capture yourself on the slopes.
I suggest using a dedicated selfie stick instead. The benefit being, 360 degree cameras such as the GoPro Max record invisible selfie stick video shots.
Time-Lapse Mode
Finally a mention of using a ski stick as a monopod for taking time-lapse videos. Clipping the camera to the hand grip of the pole in less windy conditions works well.
Final Thoughts
In recent years the art of mounting your GoPro to a ski stick has become less popular, mostly due to the advent of the lightweight compact selfie stick.
Having said that, there are still lots of opportunities to capture some interesting video footage using these technques I have shared with you in this article.
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