Children's
Ski Equipment
As
children tend to grow out of their skis and boots fairly
quickly renting equipment is advisable for beginners and children who
ski
infrequently.
During school holidays and half terms demand for
children’s ski
rental is very high, choice may be limited and sizes unavailable in the
resort so book before you go if you can.
If you are
skiing for several weeks in a season and your child
has mastered the basics then it may be better value in the long
run to
buy your own equipment. Also this way you’ll be assured that
you have
the equipment you
want not what the rental shop has left in stock.
If you do buy
your kids ski equipment find a shop that offers a
"buy back" scheme so you can trade it in when you need larger boots or
skis. Don’t
be tempted to buy any ski equipment which is too big for your children
so
they can “grow
into it” this will only hamper their progress and could cause
injury.
Children's
Skis
Children's skis
are generally shorter, softer versions of
adult ones and the new style carving skis (with a side cut) turn more
easily
than traditional straight skis.
It's a good idea to choose skis with a side cut for kids because they
don't
exert too much leverage on children's legs. They're also shorter and
therefore
easier to turn when skiing and easier to carry when not.
As
with adult skis, you should take into account the child's weight,
ability and
aggressiveness when picking the correct ski length. The rental shops
should
always consult parents about their child's ability when they select
skis.
Carving
skis should come somewhere between the top of the shoulder (for light
kids) and
eye level (for the heavier ones).
Traditional skis
for children up to 6 years old should be
about 15cm below head height. For 6 - 10 year olds the ski should be
around
head height.
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Children's
Ski Boots
Whether renting
or buying you should always get help from
the shop technician when selecting ski boots for your child. They
should fit
like trainers - with enough room for toes to wiggle but still give
plenty of
support around the ankle. It can be hard to get feedback from smaller
children
so, if you can, take the liner out of the shell to see where their toes
are.
Children's
Ski Bindings
Choose a high
quality binding with a DIN setting that goes
low enough (maybe down to 0.5) for your child. Always get an
experienced ski technician
in a ski shop to set the bindings.
Children's
Ski Poles
Most children
don’t use poles until they have at least
learnt the basics. They can be distracting and get in the way on lifts.
More
experienced and older children may want poles, these should be the
right length
so that the
forearm is parallel to the ground when held upright.
Children's
Ski Helmets
It is strongly recommended
that all
children wear a helmet when skiing or snowboarding. Make sure
it fits snugly and does not obstruct vision or hearing.
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