How to choose children's skis?

For your children, you only want the best! But when it comes to choosing ski equipment, it's easy to get a little lost when taking a look at the multitude of models available on the shelves. Ekosport advises you on how to choose children's skis according to their age and level of skiing. Follow the guide!

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Skiing before 3 years old?

Although group ski lessons do not start until the age of 3, it is quite possible to introduce your child to the pleasure of skiing before their 3rd birthday. Here, no need for a powerful ski, it's above all a first contact with the practice.

Choose the shortest skis: the child must be able to "skate" with them, i.e. make his feet slide as if he were walking. There is no question of going down a slope, whatever color designation it may have. Stay on the snow front in a protected area that is as flat as possible. This is the time to get to know the equipment, learn to keep your balance and above all have fun!

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First ski test: recommended skis

Your child is making his or her first ski slopes this season. In fact, you have already signed him up for a group lesson. He or she will pass a test eventually, such as a the "First Star", it all depends on the energy, motivation and speed of learning of the little one.

Here again, it's not performance that's important, but rather handling. The shorter a ski is, the easier it is to control. For a beginner, it is better not to discourage the child too quickly with an unsuitable pair of skis. We generally recommend a ski between 15 cm and 10 cm below the child's height.

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Choosing children's beginner skis

As soon as the first star is obtained, the child is about to abandon the snowplough in favour of parallel skiing. From then on, the quality of the ski will influence the student's learning. In group lessons, groups of young skiers leave the protected areas of the "kindergarten" and the green slopes to venture onto blue slopes, and even red slopes at the end of the stay. It is therefore essential to equip your child with skis for beginners.

What are the characteristics of a novice ski? Who says novice, says mistake and technical error. This is normal when you are learning. That's why he needs a "tolerant" ski. Then, his equipment must be easy to handle, at the risk of putting him off and frustrating him in his learning process. For maximum manoeuvrability, you need a short ski. Finally, the waist should be narrow, as your child will mainly be skiing on the slopes. He therefore needs a narrow width under the boot.

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Junior vs. adult skis: the key differences

At 1.50 m or over 45 kg, one can already start looking at the adult ski's rather than the children's section. Yet, in terms of budget, the difference is obvious. Why is there such a variation in price for skis of roughly the same size?

A junior ski is designed for young teenagers and, with that in mind, these are skis to progress on and which, within a year or two, will have to be changed. For this reason, the materials used in the manufacture are not of the same quality as those used in the composition of adult skis. Indeed, the majority of junior skis are made of injected foam, whereas the skis of the big ones have a wooden core.

On the other hand, for the same height and weight, a child does not have the same physical strength as an adult. The flex of the ski, i.e. its stiffness and by extension its ability to deform, is much higher in the junior category. They are intended to be used by children with small thighs and muscles.

Finally, the bindings, which are of lower quality, do not have the same finish, although of course they will be equally effective in terms of safety if they have the same release value.

Junior ski or adult ski, the question really comes up when you are a teenager or pre-teen. Even if your child has had an unbelievable growth spurt, it may be better to go for the more flexible junior skis. On the other hand, if the child is very strong and already has a good level of skiing, adult equipment may be more suitable.

Making the right choice in children's skis means taking into account several criteria, including the age and sporting level of your child. It also means adapting the size of the ski to his musculature. And it's not forgetting to please him with a silkscreen that he likes. And then, after you've achieved this with brilliance, it will be necessary to complete the equipment of your small skier with some children ski boots, with sticks and a helmet.