Poles bent in ski area (5)
I believe the answer is:
slope
'ski area' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'poles bent' is the wordplay.
'bent' indicates anagramming the letters.
'poles' with letters rearranged gives 'SLOPE'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for slope that I've seen before include "Inclination" , "A rise, possibly" , "decamp" , "Rake; Barchester chaplain" , "Poles for gradient" .)