What are children's downhill skiing and how to choose them?

Kids downhill skiing is no less popular than the adult downhill skiing. Parents more and more often take their children with them to ski resorts and put them on skis as early as possible.

These indelible impressions remain in the memory of children for a long time. But what are kids' downhill skiing and how to choose the right size for your child? You will learn about the features of such products for skating for children, their varieties and tips for choosing from the article.

There are not so many options for skiing for children. The selection of adult products is much wider, however, manufacturers of ski equipment and equipment are trying to meet the demand of all age categories. Children's skis are considered to have an average length of 70 cm to 1m 20 cm. I must say that there are much more requirements for children's products than for adult skis. This is understandable, because in the modern environment even two-year-olds are put on skis.

Riding safety, good stability and reliability are the main features of children's equipment. Alpine skis differ from other skis in size, shape and weight. And they are also very bright, which immediately attracts the attention of children, and each young skier is given the opportunity to stand out from the rest during the descent from the mountain. Parents do not have to buy new skis for their child: firstly, skiing on run-in skis will be more comfortable for beginners, and secondly, it will not hit your budget so much (their cost is lower than new ones).

Like adults, kids' skis are divided into three main types:

• products for the category "beginners";
• skis for advanced level lovers;
• options for professional riding.

The "beginners" category includes both children 2-3 years of age, and older children who get up on skis for the first time. Here the choice will depend on the weight and height of the child. The second type is intended for those who have already acquired the skills of skiing from the mountain, and the third is for those who want to make alpine skiing their professional activity.

Children are taken to skiing from the age of 5-8, many young athletes achieve good results by the age of 10. And if parents think that alpine skiing is only recreational or sports, they are mistaken. Each type of skiing has its own equipment.

For children from 4 to 7 years old who already express a desire to engage in mountain skiing on a permanent basis, choose skis from the "amateur" category, for the first steps in sports, a universal option is also suitable.

These products are easy to operate during the initial phase of a sports career. And then the equipment is chosen based on the standards of the required discipline: whether it is freestyle or all-mountain, freeride or freeskiting, and so on. Returning to amateur skiing, I must say that the ski industry is developing quite rapidly, and if new skis for adults appear, then literally after a short time, the same uniform is produced for children, so that they get used to riding these models from an early age. ...

Children can get their first experience of skiing at the age of 2 years. As for the choice of model and brand, expensive skis are not always the best. Many manufacturers offer the best options at an affordable price. From our rating you will learn about the most popular children's ski for mountain skiing.

• Salomon X-Race Jr. The mountain model of the corporate identity from the French manufacturer is distinguished by good vibration damping and a high level of contact with the snow surface (this is the highest level of contact with snow in its class). Model of a universal type, available in all children's sizes (from 70 cm to 120 cm), as well as for juniors (from 120 cm to 150 cm in length). The kit includes a mount. The design allows the product to bend easily, which provides the young skier with comfort when cornering.

• Stockli GS Team Lt. You will have to pay more for this Swiss brand: each item is made by hand, so these skis are not cheap. The children's range is available in the following sizes: 122-151 cm. The models are lightweight, very durable and impress with their stability, especially on steep descents. From this series, the GS Team Lt M skis stand out - an excellent model for children's skiing with excellent grip thanks to the special edges on the Kids Rocker surface.

• Head Monster SLR Pro. Country of origin - Austria, for entry-level skiing and carving style. They will provide a reliable descent for those children who got on skis for the first time. Due to the high rigidity of the grip, the skier stays stable on the track. But if you have to fall, then the risk of injury to the leg is excluded: the mounts instantly work when falling and release the boot. There are the smallest sizes here, it is not difficult to fit the ski under the small foot due to the special equipment with the SLR Pro rail interface. Models are made in lengths from 67 cm to 107 cm.

• Fischer RC4 Worldcup SL Jr. These kids' skis are a miniature version of the adult pro models. They are bought by those who are seriously passionate about skiing. The equipment is expensive, but according to experts, the high cost is justified by the fact that the skis are made of natural wood, and the mounts and other parts are made of titanium, carbon fiber and other high-strength materials. On such skis, a young athlete will be able to confidently keep in shape and manage well on hard tracks.Due to their high performance, it is good to improve the riding technique on them. Of the minuses - there are no mounts included.

• Elan Maxx QS. Skis of this brand, according to experts, are the most flexible, durable and "obedient". From the first days of riding, you can master virtuoso turns and make arcs on them. Perfect for beginners and the smallest, they are more attracted to boys by colors - at the sight of a bright design they literally take their breath away. Elan kids' skis are 25% more flexible than other brands. It is easy and safe to make arcs or to take a turn with special transverse grooves on a sliding base. And stability and good controllability can be achieved due to the fiberglass power profile.

And to give him more confidence from the first steps, be by his side or hire a professional instructor. At the very beginning, it is not so much the model and under what brand it is released that is important, but confidence and comfort, an understanding of how exciting it is.

Choosing skis is not so difficult, knowing what parameters should be taken into account when choosing a size... In principle, the size is determined only based on the age, weight and height of the child, but then you need to consider who you are buying for: for beginners or those who already know how to keep on the track, for a girl or boy, for adolescents or toddlers. Children's skis are chosen for children from 2-3 years old to 14-15, because then teenagers move to the youth and adult categories. But at the same time, it will be correct to divide young skiers into groups according to their age category.

Children who are 4 years old, 5 years old are included in the group from 3 to 6 years old. They are not yet as physically developed as older children. But those who have reached the age of 7 unite with those who are already 9 and 10 years old. However, these are conventions. When choosing skis, first of all, the height and weight of the child are taken into account. Let's take a closer look at how these parameters affect the length of the products.

Miniature skiers and those in the below average weight class for their age group are better off buying shorter skis so they can reach their chest. But it should be borne in mind that such equipment is not for high-speed skiing. A separate conversation on the selection of skis for a teenager who has decided to seriously engage in skiing. The coach is here to help you, but if the parents themselves decide to help their child and act as mentors, then they should know that products are purchased for slalom almost as tall as a teenager - only 10 centimeters less.

And for the "giant slalom", on the contrary, a little higher - the same 10 centimeters... But there are general rules for the selection of alpine skis for a child. Usually the skis should touch the tip of the nose in an upright position or reach the chin of a young skier. But here the weight must also be taken into account, because when turning, the child must make an effort to focus the load on the middle part, then the skis will slide along the slope.

Usually babies are put on skis when their weight reaches 20 kg. So for such small skiers they choose skis up to 70 cm.But 30-kilogram skis will cope with a length of 80-90 cm.Those who weigh up to 40 kg are offered options with a length of 100-110 cm. And for those who weigh more than 45 -50 kg, should be purchased from 120 cm products or from the adult line. If a teenager's weight has reached 60 kg, then he needs adult equipment, because it will be inconvenient to ride on children's skis. Another important nuance: skibboards are not suitable for a child. Yes, these are short skis, but they are designed for adult skiing.

They walk with increased rigidity and children will not be able to control them, and this is fraught with injuries. Also do not choose skis for a child "for growth". Yes, kids grow up quickly, but skis are not boots to buy one size larger.