Black Diamond Inc. is recalling about 3,000 ski poles because the stainless steel pick in the handgrip can break and fail to slow or stop users from sliding downhill on a snow or ice covered slope, posing a risk of injury.
This recall includes Black Diamond Whippet and Whippet Carbon ski poles manufactured May 2013 through January 2014 and sold by major outdoor retailers globally from January 2014 to November 2014 for between about $100 for the Whippet and about $140 for the Carbon Whippet. The poles are sold individually.
While no injuries have been reported Black Diamon is advising consumers to immediately stop using the recalled ski poles and contact Black Diamond to receive a free replacement for the upper shaft.
The Whippet is gray with two telescoping shafts and the Carbon Whippet is black with three telescoping shafts.
The upper shaft of both models is made of aluminum and has a black and orange rubber handgrip with a built-in, stainless steel, serrated pick and a black nylon wrist strap with a an orange Black Diamond logo. “Black Diamond” and the Black Diamond logo are on the upper shaft of both models.
The Whippet has an aluminum lower shaft with an orange and silver locking mechanism. “Whippet” and the logo are on the lower shaft. The middle and lower shafts of the Carbon Whippet are made of carbon fiber and have orange and silver locking mechanisms. “Carbon Whippet” and the logo are on the lower shaft.
Both models have a 4-inch plastic powder basket on the lower shaft near the tip and graduation marks on the shafts to show the various lengths of the pole in centimeters. The Whippet can be extended from 99 centimeters (39 inches) to 142 centimeters (56 inches) long. The Carbon Whippet can be extended from 67.9 centimeters (26.75 inches) to 142 centimeters (56 inches) long.
Recalled poles have picks with polished surfaces, a notch in the top of the pick and a date code between 13121 and 14015 etched on the pole as shown in the photo to the left. The date code can be found by removing the locking mechanism on the middle shaft of the Carbon Whippet and the lower shaft of the Whippet.
