How to Choose Kids’ Alpine Skis?
Boundless Family Fun
You probably remember your first ski outings. Whether they date back to early childhood or adulthood, those first days skiing are indelible moments. So it’s natural to want to hand your passion for skiing down to your offspring. This winter, experience a memorable adventure and create unforgettable memories on the slopes as a family. Guiding your child and sharing the unmatched joys of their first breakthroughs on snow begins with choosing the right alpine skis.
Ski Length
There are no universally applicable rules for ski length. That said, kids’ alpine skis should reach about nose height. They should generally be short, light, and flexible, but the length also depends on other factors, such as weight, size, and skill level.
The right ski size ensures manoeuvrability, responsiveness, comfort, and safety. The skis will accompany your child through the learning process and allow them to develop fundamental skills, such as balance and control during simple turns.
A poor choice of ski size will slow their progress and, above all, put a damper on their fun. Overly long skis are a hindrance during the first stages of learning on the slopes; they complicate learning the basic techniques, making them less intuitive. Conversely, skis that are too short limit speed and stability.
When choosing a ski, you should consider your child’s skill level. Here’s an overview of the three skill levels.
Beginners
These skiers are having their first experiences on skis. They ski down gentle slopes, still learning the basics of the snowplow and making their first turns. For this skill level, skis should make learning easier and allow young ones to gain confidence.
For these skiers, skis should be about chin height—about 15 cm to 20 cm less than their height. For example, a child who is 100 cm tall should have skis that are 80 cm to 85 cm. The shorter the skis, the more manoeuvrable they are. This means your child will have more control over them and be able to initiate turns more easily.
Budding Skiers Honing Their Skills
These young skiers are finally ready to take the chairlift and explore the mountain like the grown-ups! They’re beginning to parallel ski and are gaining more control over their speed
These budding skiers need skis that come up to their mouths, which is about 10 cm to 15 cm below their height. In other words, a child who is 100 cm tall should get skis between 85 cm and 90 cm.
Skilled Little Champs
Children who master skiing can make parallel turns at high speeds and generally demonstrate outstanding control. This level also includes kids who are progressing rapidly and display surprising skills.
Generally for these skiers, we recommend skis that reach the nose, which is 5 cm to 10 cm below the child’s height. For children who are truly excelling, you can get them skis the same length as their height. However, they shouldn’t be taller than the child.
Competitive Skiers
Competitive skiers normally learn in a structured environment, such as a competitive team.
Although this type of ski is aimed at a more limited range of children, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental principles to properly equip them if they fall into this category. First, you need to understand the discipline to align with its specific requirements and meet the demands of the event. When buying racing gear, it’s important to follow the advice of coaches and the guidelines established by federations (e.g., Ski Alpin Québec or International Ski and Snowboard Federation).
Purchase or Rent?
When it comes time to get alpine skis for your child, one question often immediately comes up: buy or rent? Multiple factors go into this decision.
Buying
Purchasing a pair of skis has the advantage of letting you choose from a wide array of models. Unlike rentals, which often have a more limited selection, purchasing skis typically gives you access to a much wider variety. You’ll be able to choose the skis that will work best for your child.
You can buy slightly longer skis so they can be used over a few seasons, as long as you follow ski experts’ recommendations.
Another economical and eco-friendly advantage is being able to hand down gear to siblings. If the whole family shares a love of skiing, you can give the first owner’s old skis to a younger skier when they become too short. If you do so, remember to adjust the bindings according to the new owner’s weight and size. The other option is to sell the equipment when your child has outgrown it.
Renting
You know as well as anyone else that your child is growing by leaps and bounds. And of course, it’s a real joy to see them develop and achieve major milestones. However, this means that his or her ski gear probably won’t be suitable for long. This is where renting becomes a worthwhile option.
The beauty of renting equipment lies in the fact that your child will have access to modern equipment with the industry’s latest technologies. Here at Oberson, the rental skis are from the last few seasons.
Plus, if your child is growing quickly, renting is less expensive than purchasing skis annually.
Moreover, unlike buying, which is a long-term proposition, renting gives you the freedom to try different types of skis and change them every year.
We recommend reading our article about all the reasons to rent kids’ ski and snowboard equipment.
This guide is intended as a general reference. Many factors can influence the size and type of skis chosen. That’s why we recommend consulting our expert ski consultants, who will help you make the right choice. Here’s to having a blast on the slopes with your family!
