Skiing is an equipment-intensive sport. Not having the right equipment can undermine an athlete’s performance. We recommend seeking advice from a Coach or a Ski Shop with experience with young alpine racing athletes.
Slalom (SL) skis are generally measured between the chin and bridge of the nose. Giant Slalom (GS) are generally a bit longer and are measured between the bridge of the nose and to just above the top of the head. Lighter-weight and less experienced skiers may want to go with a ski that is a bit shorter on the chart below. The opposite is applied to heavier or more aggressive ski racers, and you may want to go a bit longer. Again these are only general recommendations, and you should consult with your coach or a ski expert for more specific advice.
Boots are perhaps the most critical piece of equipment. Perhaps the biggest equipment problem coaches have is with the ski boots. Too often an athlete arrives with a pair of boots that are either too big or too stiff. Both of these issues will inhibit a skier’s ability to perform. Always have a professional help you with ski boots. For fit you should do a shell fit to start with the liner out of the shell. With the toes just brushing the boot toe there should be no more that 1 – 2 fingers of depth between the athlete’s heel and back of boot shell. The flex is just as critical. An athlete should be able to flex the boot (especially in a warm ski shop). This is also based on an athlete’s skill, the stronger the skier the stiffer the boot, but again not too stiff. With a boot that is too stiff it is difficult to initiate the turn, too soft and you lose stability and strength in the middle of the turn. The flex of the boot should be smooth and even. Most of the major companies have finally gotten on board with the youth boots and they are all generally flexible. Be aware that two pairs of boots may have the same cosmetic appearance but have different flex; look for the flex number as part of the graphic containing the brand name and/or model, generally on the outside of the boot upper.
Helmets are a critical piece of safety equipment and must fit properly. A helmet that is too tight or loose is as dangerous as not wearing a helmet at all. How to get a correctly sized helmet: Measure Head Take a soft measuring tape and wrap it around your athlete’s head about 1 inch above their eyebrows and ears. Most helmets are measured in centimeters, so unless you love calculations, measure your child’s head in centimeters. For example, if you measure the circumference of the head and it is 56 cm, your child will wear a 56 cm helmet or Medium (55-58cm) depending on the helmet’s size scale. Don’t have a soft tape measure? Take a piece of string and wrap it around your child’s head and then measure the string. Try the helmet on Before you purchase, have your child try the helmet on. The helmet should feel snug. A properly fitting helmet needs to be snug all the way around your child’s head so that it doesn’t move around. You don’t want any excess space between the helmet and the head. Be careful to pay attention to any pressure or pain points. The Shake Test With the helmet on, have your child shake their head around. If the helmet moves on its own or shakes separately from their head, it’s too big. With your hands, move the helmet to the left and right, up and down. The skin of your head should move with the helmet without the helmet shifting on its own. You can choose to buckle the helmet at this point if you wish, but it will not impact the fit.
Ski tuning is an important step in maintaining your ski equipment, so it performs its best for as long as possible. It includes a basic wax and edge sharpen or could include a more rigorous process for alpine ski tuning like a ski base grind or stone grind.
Having a decent edge and wax are crucial for everyday training, especially with the hard snow/ice that Wildcat can have. DO NOT JUST GET YOUR SKIS TUNED FOR RACES ONLY. If you are going from training on a crappy edge to a good edge, it will change the whole way the ski is going to ski. We want to make sure there is consistency between training and racing.
We suggest buying a file, a diamond stone, a cheap iron, and some basic wax. It is not rocket-science to tune your own skis and you will save yourself a lot of money if you learn the basics.
Tuning Education
If you have ANY questions, please seek the advice from a coach or a shop that has experience with young athletes.
USSA Rules & Regulations: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Equipment Guidance
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