How to Size Skis for Kids
Skiing is a vigorous sport that children can easily pick up with the rest of the family. Many families have successfully learned how to size skis for kids. If you haven't, here's how.
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Instructions
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Determine the age and ability of the skier. Small children under the age of three need shorter skis. Pick skis that come to the shoulder or chin when stood on end next to the child. This way the child can easily get up after falling on the slopes. A shorter ski is easier for a young child to maneuver and provides more agility when a child is learning the techniques required for skiing.
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Choose longer, yet flexible skis for a beginner or junior skier. These kids need skis that bend easily under the weight of the body so that the skis can grip the snow and add stability to the beginning skier. Choose skis that, when held next to the child, come up to the chin or nose.
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Pick longer, stiffer skis for kids who are aggressive, skilled skiers or whose body mass doesn't fall into the junior skier category of less than 140 pounds. Children who regularly ski varied and steep terrain are considered skilled skiers. Children over the weight of 140 pounds should choose a stiffer ski because it will still bend under their weight and securely grip the slope.
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Take the skis to a certified technician to have the bindings tested and adjusted. This is a vital part of choosing the right size skis for kids. If bindings are too tight, the skis will not pop off easily when a skier falls. When bindings are too loose, they allow skis to come off of the boot while a child is skiing.
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Evaluate the child for height and weight each ski season to ensure safety on the slopes. Also, evaluate the child's skill and familiarity with the given terrain. The kind of ski bought or rented may change even from one ski trip to the next. Therefore, it's important to have a technician check the bindings and abilities of each skier.
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Tips & Warnings
For safety reasons, it's better to underestimate than overestimate your child's skiing ability.
