Abstract: A ski pole shaft defined by a tubular element formed of a plurality of continuous filaments extending substantially rectilinearly end to end of the element and spaced in an annular array about the axis of element. The filaments are embedded in a matrix of set synthetic resin and are maintained in a longitudinally stressed condition by the set resin so as to define a prestressed tubular shaft wall.The shaft wall may have an outer diameter of approximately 10 times the thickness of the wall. In one embodiment the wall has a thickness of approximately 0.07 inches. The filaments in the illustrated embodiment are stressed to approximately 5 to 10% of their breaking stress. The filaments in the illustrated embodiment comprise approximately 60 to 70% of the volume of shaft wall. The filaments may include filaments made of different materials and the different filaments may be selectively uniformly distributed in the annular array in the tubular wall.