Evaluation of strength decreases of ski pole shafts made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP shaft) caused by surface impact damage during skiing were investigated in both bending and post-buckling tests. Aluminum-alloy ski pole shafts (Al-alloy shaft) were also tested for comparison. Compared to non-damaged CFRP shafts, 50% decrease in bending fracture load and 80% decrease in post-buckling displacement were found after giving an impact load of about 1 joule to the surface of the shaft. This was assumed to be the amount given by actual collisions with ski plates during skiing. Observation by X-ray showed that the strength decrease was mainly caused by inner damage such as delamination of composite layers. On the other hand, the strength decrease of Al-alloy shaft was smaller. As with post-buckling, the compressive fracture occurred at the impact-damaged surface region in CFRP shafts, while in Al-alloy shafts conventional buckling fractures were observed. On the basis of results obtained, it was finally proposed that the tests employed in this study were suitable for estimating strength of CFRP shafts of ski poles.