Using this snow shovel is a breeze. First, use the PIN LOCK locking mechanism to quickly connect the blade and the shaft. The telescopic shaft can be adjusted to your preferred length between 62cm and 76cm for different shoveling needs. Hold the ergonomic T - grip handle firmly while shoveling. When you're done with your skiing or snowboarding trip, collapse the shaft to its 45cm length for easy packing. As for maintenance, after each use, clean the anodized aluminum blade and shaft with a dry cloth to keep them in good condition. Although it's going through the UIAA certification process, always check the shovel before use to ensure it's in proper working order.