How To Choose The Right Skis For A Child Depending On Age And Other Parameters + Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to choose the first skis for a child

In the winter season, skiing is a favorite sport. In addition to the fact that skiing is associated with a long stay in the fresh air, they also provide physical activity, strengthen muscles and develop endurance. Yes, it's just fun and great - to go to the winter forest with the whole family for an unforgettable experience. For a child to fall in love with such trips, you need to choose the right ski kit for him.

Content

• 1 At what age should you buy skis
• 2 Mountain or cross country

• 3 Choosing skis for children of different ages

  • 3.1 Up to three years
  • 3.2 4-10 years old
  • 3.3 Age 11-15
  • 3.4 Table of the correct ski length depending on the height and weight of the child
• 4 Mounts
• 5 What to buy shoes

• 6 How to choose ski poles

  6.1 Table for calculating the length of the sticks

• 7 Video: how to choose skis for a child

At what age should you buy skis

The age at which a child can be put on skis, of course, is not strictly defined. It depends on the desire of the child himself and the patience and perseverance of the parents. A kid who has barely learned to keep balance on his feet is unlikely to enjoy riding.

Kit for the little skier

Some parents teach their children to active sports from 2 years and 5 months. At this age, you can already take your baby out on the first skiing, but be prepared that you will often have to take off his skis, roll him, entertain him with games, etc.

A 3-year-old child has much more developed concentration, perseverance and focus on results. Children of 4–5 years old easily spend about half an hour on the track, they enjoy skiing down small slides.

Mountain or cross country

It is recommended to start skiing with cross-country skiing. It is easier and safer to learn how to keep balance and master sliding skills. However, parents who actively ski down the mountains often put their children on downhill skiing. On the ski slopes today, you can often see nimble skiers quickly sliding along the slope, while they are barely knee-deep to an adult. Constantly striving for learning and mastering a new space, the child often shows perseverance, enviable for an adult. Therefore, when choosing the type of ski, you need to be guided not only by your own preferences, safety issues, but also by the child's inclinations.

If the terrain allows you to choose between two types of skiing, it may be worth the first time not to rush to purchase skis, but to invite your child to try both types of loads by renting equipment

Choosing skis for children of different ages

Up to three years

At this age, skis are chosen short and wide. For now, the child does not need to develop speed, hone technique or fit into turns. He must learn to keep balance and master sliding. Long skis will only make pushing and cornering harder.

As the first, short (40 cm) wide (8 cm) plastic skis with rounded ends are suitable. When you gain confidence, you can switch to wooden or plastic skis equal in length to the child's height. Plastic is a more versatile material, as it is equally suitable for wet and dry snow.

Skis for the little ones

At an early age, purchasing special shoes is hardly advisable. The size of a child's foot changes rapidly. In addition, he will have time to grow from the first skis in one or two seasons. Therefore, metal mounts with rubber straps are considered the best option. This design can be easily attached to the child's comfortable, familiar winter shoes.

Keep in mind that you do not need to acquire poles at this age, since the main goal at this age is to find balance when skiing and master the principles of sliding.

4 to 10 years old

If you buy skis for a child who by this age has already learned to ride the simplest model, it makes sense to purchase a more sporty version. Narrower (5 cm wide) and long skis are chosen. The length of the skis is calculated using the formula: height + 15 cm.

Kids skis with semi-rigid bindings

Age 11-15

For adolescent children, skis are chosen not only based on weight and height, but also depending on the preferred style.

There are three types of cross-country skiing:

1. Classic. Designed for movement on a parallel track in a classic style. They are longer and have a sharper nose. The sliding surface features anti-rollback notches for beginners.

   

   Kids' classic style skis

2. Skating. For those who like to develop high speed on the track. Shorter than classic ones and equipped with a sharp edge to prevent slipping. To use them, you must have skating skills.
3. Combined. Suitable for both skating and classic skating.

High-quality skis do not differ from each other in weight, length and width. Make sure there is a smooth groove on the sliding side, no scratches or cracks.

A typical mistake is buying skis "for growth". Keep in mind that longer skis have more stiffness. This means they will be difficult to manage for a small child.

When choosing materials, plastic is preferable. First, it is more durable, stronger and more resistant to changes in weather conditions than wood. Secondly, wooden skis are gradually leaving the market, and soon it will not be possible to find them at all.

Table of the correct ski length depending on the height and weight of the child

Child's height, cm	Child's weight, cm	Ski length, cm
100-110	20-25	105-115
110-125	25-30	115-135
125-140	30-35	135-165
140-150	35-45	165-180
150-160	45–55	180-195
160-170	55-65	195-200

Mountings

Types of bindings for children's skis:

1. Soft (straps, elastic bands). Suitable for the little ones. They allow you to put skis on your everyday winter shoes (felt boots, boots).

2. Semi-rigid. They are made of metal, plastic, straps. They are also attached to ordinary shoes, but provide a more reliable fixation of the foot on the ski surface.

   

   Semi-rigid ski bindings

3. Hard. Mounts involve the purchase of special ski boots as a set for skis. There are two types of mounts:

• Old model with spikes (75 mm);

  

  "Old" ski carrier

• Modern, SNS and NNN standards.

  

  SNS mount

What to buy shoes

SNS Ski Boots

If the child is not more than 6 years old and he does not show an insistent desire to turn cross-country skiing into a favorite pastime, the question of purchasing boots need not be raised. Sliding semi-rigid bindings will allow you to use skis for several seasons, even taking into account the constant growth of the legs and changes in shoe size. If in ski lessons the child shows enviable constancy and perseverance, then you can buy special shoes.

Boots designed for old-style bindings have a range of sizes 28. Differing in a relatively low cost, they cannot boast of versatility: such shoes are not suitable for skating.

Modern shoes equipped with SNS and NNN bindings are significantly more expensive. Keep in mind that your child will have enough shoes and bindings for one or two seasons.

How to choose ski poles

We have already decided that the smallest children taking their first steps on the track do not need sticks. When the child learns the principle of sliding, pushing off and alternating steps, then we can talk about sticks, which will give additional speed and confidence on the track.

For children 3–7 years old, sticks are chosen that reach the armpits. The model should be equipped with rubberized handles and straps so that the poles do not drop or get lost when walking. The tip of the stick should not be sharp. The tip of the handpiece is in the form of a ring or an asterisk.

For older children, sticks are selected taking into account the riding style. The skating and classic styles use sticks of fundamentally different lengths. If for the classics you need to choose sticks no higher than the armpits, then for the skate they should reach shoulder height.

Stick length calculation table

The table shows the recommended length of the poles depending on the height of the child and what style of riding he prefers.

Height, cm	The length of the sticks for the classic move, cm	Poles length for skating
one hundred	80	90
110	85	95
115	90	one hundred
120	95	105
125	one hundred	110
130	105	115
140	115	125
150	125	135
160	135	145
170	145	155

Video: how to choose skis for a child

Choosing skis for a child is easy and enjoyable. The variety of the modern market will allow you to choose what is not only suitable in height and size, but also to your liking. Before you go shopping for your child's skis, assess how often they intend to use them. If winter walks take place in your family from time to time, it may be more expedient to abandon the purchase altogether, using the rental services.