Question: What body part of the competitor are ski poles often able to reach.
About the article "Nordic combined", section "Cross-country skiing equipment".

Candidate passages:
Slalom and Giant Slalom make up the "main technical events" in alpine ski racing.
This category separates them from the "speed events" of Super-G and Downhill.
A course is constructed by laying out a series of gates.
Gates are formed by alternating pairs of red and blue poles.
The skier must pass between the two poles forming the gate, with the tips of both skis and the skier's feet passing between the poles.
A course has 55 to 75 gates for men and 40 to 60 gates for women.
The vertical drop for a men's course is and slightly less for women.
For slalom the vertical offset between gates is around and the horizontal offset around , although these figures have changed in recent times because of significant technical developments in ski equipment (namely, increased sidecut) that have revolutionized the sport.
The gates are arranged in a variety of different configurations to challenge the competitor, including delay gates and vertical combinations known as hairpins and flushes.
A hairpin is a series of gates including two gates with one closing gate.
A flush is a series of gates including three or more gates with one closing gate.
The worldwide governing body, FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski) has a set of regulations detailing what configurations are allowed or mandated for an official course.
Because the offsets are relatively small in slalom, ski racers take a fairly direct line and often knock the poles out of the way as they pass, which is known as blocking.
(The main blocking technique in modern slalom is cross-blocking, in which the skier takes such a tight line and angulates so strongly that he or she is able to block the gate with the outside hand.)
In modern slalom, a variety of protective equipment is used such as shin pads, hand guards, helmets and face guards.
Rules for slalom skiing are managed internationally by the International Ski Federation (FIS).  
As this class includes skiers with paralysis, amputations and cerebral palsy, a variety of skiing techniques and training types are needed.
Skiers in this classification who have paralysis as a result of hemiplegia, stroke or polio tend to initially favour a strong side of their body when they learn to ski, which sometimes results in overskiing.
Ski-bras and bungie cords are used in training to correct this.
If this is not corrected, skiers are likely to fall over when their skis cross in front of them.
Skiers with below the knee amputations get on and off the ski lift using the same technique as able-bodied skiers.
In this classification, skiers with cerebral palsy have difficulty walking in ski boots and sometimes require assistance when walking in them.
When going up hill, they often have their weaker side on the uphill side.
In learning to ski, a ski bra is often used to teach the proper technique.
Skiers sometimes have difficulty with the snowplough technique.
In teaching skiers with cerebral palsy, instructors are encouraged to delay the introduction ski poles as skiers may overgrip them.
Use of a ski bra is also encourage as it helps the skier learn correct knee and hip placement.
Some skiers with cerebral palsy have better balance while using skis than they would otherwise.
This presents challenges for coaches who are working with the skier.
Compared to other skiers in the class, the skier with cerebral palsy may tie more quickly.
One method of learning to ski for LW3 competitors with cerebral palsy is the American Teaching System.
They first thing skiers learn is what their equipment is, and how to put it on and take it off.
Next, skiers learn about positioning their body in a standing position on flat terrain.
After this, the skier learns how to side step, and then how to fall down and get back up again.
The skier then learns how to do a straight run, and then is taught how to get on and off the chair lift.
This is followed by learning wedge turns and weight transfers, wedge turns, wide track parallel turns, how to use ski poles, and advanced parallel turns.
In the Biathlon, all Paralympic athletes shoot from a prone position. 
Nordic Walking poles are largely similar to composite cross-country ski poles, just shorter in length and with a basket smaller than that of the racing cross country ski pole.
The nordic walking pole strap resembles a fingerless glove and is similar to the racing cross country ski pole strap. 
Chinese poles are vertical poles on which circus performers climb, slide down and hold poses.
The poles are generally between in height and approximately in diameter.
Some poles have a slightly larger pole that rotates around the static central pole using ball bearings.
This rotating pole allows a performer to spin on the vertical axis, giving a performer the ability to incorporate rate of spin into what would otherwise be static moves.
Bringing the body closer into the pole causes the performer to spin faster.
A few Chinese pole tricks have been incorporated with pole dancing techniques.
The poles are sometimes covered with rubber to improve grip.
However, the rubber can cause friction burns on parts of the Chinese pole artists' bodies.
Acrobats often wear multiple layers of clothing to prevent such burns and bruises.
The most famous trick is "the flag" where the artist hangs straight out from the pole with his or her hands.
This requires a very strong upper body.
A few people are able to do push ups in this position, and even fewer can rotate the legs around in a circle—this requires enormous core strength. 
When in use, trekking poles resemble ski poles as they have many features in common, such as baskets at the bottom, rubber-padded handles and wrist straps.
Unlike ski poles, however, they are often made in two or three sections and can be extended and retracted as necessary for use.
One-piece poles are proven to be safer and more durable.
Their maximum length is usually 135 cm (54 inches).
Some poles come with spring-loaded sections to aid walking under normal conditions and to reduce wrist strain, but such devices may only add unwanted weight and noise to the poles.
Trekking poles are usually made from lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber.
When fully retracted, they can sometimes be stored in the side pocket of a backpack.