Slalom racing helmets are usually required to have chin guards attached to protect the teeth and face from gates (we’ve seen widely-split chin scars from those who raced slalom without a chin guard and took a gate to the face). Look for lids with MIPS protection or other technologies that offer additional rotational impact protection. Ski helmets are designed to prevent head injuries by absorbing the impact of both direct hits and angled impacts. As they get older and more serious about their racing, this will become more critical and their precision skills as a tuner will need to improve, too. Most kids can also handle brushing and waxing their own skis, with a little instruction. Teach your child to towel dry the skis at the end of each day. Regardless of what type of ski your little grom uses, it’s important to take good care of the investment. These skis typically have more flex, a turn radius similar to SL skis, and a length closer to GS skis. Or, you may want to consider a hybrid “cheater” ski. If you can only afford to purchase one pair, SL skis are usually the way to go. SL skis should fall between the athlete’s nose bridge and forehead and have more of an hourglass shape (a deep sidecut for tighter-radius turns), while GS skis should be about four inches longer and have less of a sidecut. Over the age of 12, its ideal to have one pair for each discipline. Generally speaking, kids 11 and younger can use a single pair of skis for slalom and giant slalom (typically called a “combi” or “multi-event” ski), as long as they are waxed and tuned properly. If you and your family are new to racing, don’t get sucked into too many pairs of skis too young. If your child is participating in a recreational league or a competitive racing club other than FIS/USSA, you have more freedom when it comes to ski selection. The rules often change from one season to the next, so make sure you’re shopping according to the most current regulations. Both FIS and USSA have very specific equipment requirements for each age group. Use this guide as a starting point for slalom (SL) and giant slalom (GS) equipment.īefore buying skis, check with your coach for buying advice specific to your child’s age and ability as well as racing regulations. That being said, you don’t need to take out a second mortgage to buy a quiver of skis and a gondola full of other gear. Having the right equipment plays a significant part in your child’s enjoyment and potential success as a junior racer. Is your little racer ready to go against the clock and other skiers, bashing gates and charging hard? Yep, we’ve had that rush ourselves, and have enjoyed the great camaraderie of being part of a fun race team, so we love stoking out the next generation on it, too. Equip your kid to push through the wand comfortably and confidently.
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