What skis to buy for a child of 10 years. How to choose the first skis for a child. Mountain or cross country
IN winter time skiing is a sport loved by many. Besides that ski trips associated with long stays fresh air, they also provide physical activity, strengthen muscles and develop endurance. Yes, it's just fun and great - to go to the winter forest with the whole family for an unforgettable experience. For a child to love such trips, you need to choose the right ski kit for him.
At what age should you buy skis
The age at which a child can be put on skis, of course, is not strictly defined. It depends on the desire of the child himself and the patience and perseverance of the parents. A kid who has barely learned to balance on his feet is unlikely to enjoy riding.
Kit for the little skier
Some parents teach their children to active sports as early as 2 years and 5 months. At this age, you can already take your baby to the first ski trips, but be prepared that you will often have to remove skis from him, ride him, entertain him with games, etc.
A 3-year-old child already has much more developed concentration, perseverance and focus on results. Children 4–5 years old can easily spend about half an hour on the ski track, they enjoy skiing down small hills.
Mountain or cross country
It is recommended to start skiing with cross-country skiing. It is easier and safer to learn to keep balance and master the skills of sliding in them. However, parents actively skiing from the mountains often put their children right on skiing. On the ski slopes today you can often see nimble skiers gliding quickly down the slope, while they are hardly knee-deep in height for an adult. Constantly striving to learn and master new space, a child often shows perseverance, enviable for an adult. Therefore, when choosing the type of ski, you need to be guided not only by your own preferences, safety issues, but also by the inclinations of the child.
If the terrain allows you to choose between two types of skiing, it may be worth the first time not to rush to purchase skis, but to invite your child to try both types of loads by renting equipment.
The choice of skis for children of different ages
Up to three years
At this age, the skis are short and wide. For the present, the child does not need to develop speed, hone technique or fit into turns. He must learn to balance and learn to glide. Long skis will only make pushing and cornering more difficult.
As the first fit short (40 cm) wide (8 cm) plastic skis with rounded ends. When gaining confidence, you can switch to wooden or plastic skis equal in length to the height of the child. Plastic is a more versatile material, as it is equally suitable for wet and dry snow.
Skis for the little ones
IN early age the purchase of special shoes is hardly advisable. The size of a child's foot changes rapidly. In addition, he will have time to grow from the first skis in one or two seasons. Therefore, metal mounts with rubber straps are considered the best option. A similar design is easily attached to a child's comfortable familiar winter shoes.
Keep in mind that sticks are not needed at this age, since the main goal at this age is to gain balance when skiing and mastering the principles of gliding.
4 to 10 years
If you are buying skis for a child who has already learned to ride the simplest model by this age, it makes sense to purchase a more sporty option. Narrower (5 cm wide) and long skis are selected. The length of the skis is calculated by the formula: height + 15 cm.
Children's skis with a semi-rigid binding
Age 11–15
For teenagers, skis are selected not only based on weight and height, but also depending on the preferred style.
There are three types of cross-country skiing:
High-quality skis do not differ from each other in weight, length and width. Make sure that the sliding side has a smooth groove, no scratches or cracks.
Important! Children's skis must be soft. Rigid skis will not allow you to make comfortable pushes and can turn the presence on the track into torture.
A typical mistake is buying skis "for growth". Keep in mind that longer skis have more stiffness. This means that they will be difficult to manage for a small child.
When choosing materials, plastic is preferred. First, it is more durable, stronger and more resistant to change. weather conditions than a tree. Secondly, wooden skis are gradually leaving the market, and soon it will not be possible to find them at all.
Table of the correct length of skis depending on the height and weight of the child
| Child's height, cm | Child weight, cm | Ski length, cm |
| 100–110 | 20–25 | 105–115 |
| 110–125 | 25–30 | 115–135 |
| 125–140 | 30–35 | 135–165 |
| 140–150 | 35–45 | 165–180 |
| 150–160 | 45–55 | 180–195 |
| 160–170 | 55–65 | 195–200 |
Mounts
Types of bindings for children's skis:
Boots and bindings of the old type are much cheaper than modern ones, but are suitable only for the classic move.
What boots to buy
If the child is less than 6 years old and does not show a persistent desire to turn ski race in your favorite pastime, the question of purchasing shoes can not be raised. Sliding semi-rigid bindings will allow you to use skis for several seasons, even taking into account the constant growth of the foot and changing the size of the shoe. If in skiing a child shows enviable constancy and perseverance, then you can buy special shoes.
Boots designed for old-style bindings have a range of sizes from 28. Differing in relatively low cost, they cannot boast of versatility: such shoes are not suitable for skating.
Modern footwear equipped SNS mounts and NNN are significantly more expensive. Keep in mind that the child will have enough shoes and bindings for one or two seasons.
How to choose ski poles
We have already decided that the smallest children who take their first steps on the ski track do not need sticks. When the child learns the principle of sliding, repulsion and alternating steps, then we can talk about sticks that will give extra speed and confidence on the track.
For children 3–7 years old, sticks are selected that reach the armpits. The model should be equipped with rubberized handles and straps so that the sticks do not drop or get lost when walking. The tip of the stick should not be sharp. Nozzle of a tip - in the form of a ring or an asterisk.
For older children, sticks are selected based on riding style. In skating and classic style, sticks are used fundamentally different lengths. If for the classics you need to choose sticks no higher than the armpits, then for the skate they should reach shoulder height.
Stick Length Calculation Table
| Height, cm | The length of the sticks for the classic move, cm | Length of skating poles |
| 100 | 80 | 90 |
| 110 | 85 | 95 |
| 115 | 90 | 100 |
| 120 | 95 | 105 |
| 125 | 100 | 110 |
| 130 | 105 | 115 |
| 140 | 115 | 125 |
| 150 | 125 | 135 |
| 160 | 135 | 145 |
| 170 | 145 | 155 |
Video: how to choose skis for a child
The choice of skis for a child is a simple and pleasant matter. The variety of the modern market will allow you to choose what is not only suitable for growth and size, but also to your liking. Before you go shopping for your child's skis, consider how often he intends to use them. If winter walks occur in your family from time to time, it may be more expedient to completely abandon the purchase, using the rental services.
At some point, it was digitized-scanned by someone (apparently, the guys from skisport .narod .ru were the first, after all), and after that the material took on a life of its own on the Internet. Today "Parents of Growing Skiers" in whole or in the form of some fragments can be found on dozens of children's, women's, ski, sports, leisure, automotive and other sites and forums. In fact, this article turned out to be a mini-encyclopedia on the choice of skis, ski poles, ski boots, ski wax, ski rollers and accessories.
Finally, it occurred to us that this is wrong: this article is published anywhere, but not on skisport.ru. On the other hand, 11 years have passed since the writing of this text - a long time by the standards of the ski industry. Is the material outdated? So I asked Ivan Kuzmin, the author of this article, to take a fresh look at the text.
Do you want to make a kind of upgrade of the article? Kuzmin laughed.
Well, why not? I smiled back as well.
Good idea, send the text, - Ivan answered.
…However, when I called Ivan again a week later, he looked a little embarrassed:
You know, I carefully re-read it and, by and large, I have nothing to add to it. It seems to me that it has not lost its relevance to this day.
Thus, we present to you a text that came into being 11 years ago, was repeatedly quoted, disassembled into its constituent and disparate fragments and published on the Internet, and which has now returned, finally, to its “historical homeland” - to the website of the magazine “Ski sport”, in which this article was first published 11 years ago. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that we illustrated the text of the 11-year-old article mainly with modern photographs (ointments, machine tools, accelerator powders, iron, ski poles etc.).
The text of the article is below.
Ivan Isaev,
editor-in-chief of the magazine "Skiing"
“... The last issue of the magazine came, the son fell ill with paraffins, accelerators. You know how much it costs even without me, but neither I nor the coach know what is really necessary and what can be done without. Without your advice on the choice of poles, classic skis, we cannot solve these issues.
(From a letter from the mother of a growing skier, published in the magazine "Ski Racing" No. 7)
Ivan Kuzmin,
Honored Master of Sports of Russia,
world champion in ski orienteering.
FOR PARENTS OF GROWING SKIERS
This letter touches on a big issue. Progress in the development of ski equipment leads to its rise in price. Prices for skis, poles, sportswear, grease, ski boots are a serious disadvantage in the fight against other sports for the younger generation. Even for the initial equipment, the parents of a growing skier or skier have to lay out tangible amounts. Compare at least with the costs of the parents of a growing volleyball player or athlete.
Yes, and adult lovers of skiing have to sacrifice a lot in order to acquire the coveted equipment that promises success on the track. But many of the adult skiers and parents of younger skiers buy skis, poles, ski boots, only focusing on the "promoted" brands and all the "latest".
SKIS
Let's start with the most important - skiing. It is generally accepted that the weight deflection of a ski determines 60% of the sliding properties of skis, 20% are determined by the material, condition and structure of the sliding surface of the skis, and only the last 20% are determined by the lubrication of the skis.
So, the most important thing in a good pair of skis is the weight deflection.
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Skating must have a weight deflection that distributes the skier's weight along the track as evenly as possible. At the same time, the pressure of the ski on the ski track from the toe should increase smoothly - this is the key to good glide. The skating ski should not be completely crushed when pushing off with the foot - this slows down. I would like to note that the widespread opinion that the ski "catapults" the skier after a push is a delusion. Anyone who knows school physics understands that an overly stiff ski is more likely to "catapult" lighter snow under the ski than the skier. At the same time, a hard ski glides much worse on the often non-rigid Russian track.
When testing skis, the above means that when you squeeze and release a pair of skis with both hands in the middle (vertically placed skis are wrapped around a 3 cm to the heel behind the center of gravity) and while looking between the skis at the toe, the compression of the front of the ski from the toe occurs gradually, you observe that the gap between the skis closes.
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Before you buy new skis, develop a “feeling of a good pair” for yourself - squeeze the skis that you “roll”, feel the skis of your friends on which they “rolled” you. In many stores (for example, the Moscow "Olimp"), flextesters began to appear - devices for determining the stiffness of skis.
Typical cases of not very good skis:
- The ski is compressed with a noticeable effort from the very beginning.
- At first, the ski compresses very easily, and then a "stop" occurs, with such a ski, with repeated frequent compression, you can hear a knock in the front of the block.
- When compressed, the toes of the skis diverge.
- When strongly compressed by the owner*, the skis touch under the block.
- With strong compression by the owner*, a gap of more than 2 mm remains under the block (except for skis on ice).
*Note: As a rule, the maximum grip force of skis with the hands of a skier is proportional to the weight and power qualities that determine the push of this skier.
Weight deflection classic skis. In terms of gliding qualities, everything is similar to skating. It is very important to choose skis with the right block. The block must be of sufficient length to ensure the grip of the ski with the snow when pushing, and optimal rigidity, so that, on the one hand, when sliding on two skis, the holding ointment would not slow down on the snow, on the other hand, so that the skier can easily crush the ski when push and achieve adhesion of the holding ointment with snow.
Do not buy hard classic skis for your child! He will not be able to push properly, the skis will slip, and this will discourage him from any desire to ski.
By the nature of the block and weight deflection, classic skis are usually divided into three types:
Skiing on soft fine-grained dry snow;
Skiing for transitional weather around zero;
Skiing on plus and hard skiing.
Skiing on fine snow usually non-rigid with a long last 45-60 cm and an elastic toe.
Skiing plus and hard skiing- rigid, with a short block of 35-50 cm and with a smaller contact area of the sliding surface of the ski with snow.
Skiing for transitional weather are a cross between the two types described above.
So, we now know how to "find" the right ski. The next question is how many pairs to have and which ones. It is advisable to have at least two pairs of skis per skate - one training and one racing. If you can afford only one racing pair, it is better to give preference to a pair of skis for dry snow, non-rigid (with strong compression, a gap of 0.5 - 1.5 mm remains under the block). A uniform elastic front whip of the ski is important. If it becomes possible to buy a second racing pair, buy harder skis, they are well suited for racing on hard tracks and firn.
Classic - preferably at least two pairs racing skis- one pair for soft fine-grained dry snow, another pair for plus and hard skiing, if necessary, this pair will also go for transitional weather with a slightly adjusted lubrication zone. When moving with a classic, the chance to spoil the skis is less than when moving with a skate, so training skis are not so important, except for rolling in.
The sliding surface of the ski
At the moment, all racing ski manufacturers use bases made of high molecular weight polyethylene with various additives from a very limited number of suppliers that guarantee high quality. Sliding surfaces with various multi-colored inclusions in the form of granules, villi, etc. are not recommended.
Skis go on sale with a surface polished with an emery stone (in German "steinslip"). Due to storage in the warehouse, the surface of the skis oxidizes, so competitive riders are advised to carefully cycle the skis and go through with a bronze brush 50-70 times. Sometimes a “wave” appears on the sliding surface from grinding with an emery stone. Do not buy such skis - the "wave" will be very difficult to cycle.
It is very important that during the operation of the skis the sliding surface is not oxidized, for this it is necessary to wax the skis regularly, even with an inexpensive non-rigid paraffin (such as Sviks CH7).
Rostov skis
Do not buy too short skis! Skate - athlete's height plus 10-15 cm. Classic - adult man - 205-210 cm, woman 195-200 cm. Teenage classic skis - height plus 20-25 cm.
Remember that on short classic skis there will be nowhere to place a lubrication zone with holding ointment, and short skating skis glide worse and do not allow you to implement a full-fledged stroke technique.
What skis to buy?
With limited finances, a great solution is to buy used skis with bindings from a sponsored elite racer for the price of $70-150. Another option is skis from previous years, they usually sell for less than $ 200, and often differ little or only cosmetically from the "latest" skis. Another possibility is to buy skis not of the "top" model, but of the model following it. All over the world, the main volume of sales just falls on models of this class. These skis have the same geometry, they have the same sliding surface as the "top" model, the main difference is that the construction of these skis uses less expensive materials. For example, polyurethane foam is used instead of acrylic foam, or fiberglass is used instead of carbon fiber. Typically, such models weigh 150-200 grams. more, but cost $80-100 less. The brand of skis does not matter, it is important that the skis have good sliding qualities and fit the weight of the skier. Another thing is that among skis of certain brands, good skis are more common, among others - less often.
Lubricant
Limit range! After all, you do not have the opportunity to test a dozen lubrication options. No need to be smart, save your energy for the race itself!
So, using the "SWIX" example, the possible minimum set:
One powder or tablet (a tablet is more economical!) FC200/PC2005
Maximum four slip waxes - LF4, LF6, HF7, HF8
Solid ointments - primer VG80, VF60, V55, V45, V40, V30, V10
Liquid ointments - K110, K115, K120, K124, K130
On the above assortment, with proper use, you can successfully compete at races of the level up to the Russian championship.
Rubbing on the street under the fist can show good results in testing, but no more. Recommended methods are rubbing at room temperature followed by intensive rubbing with a cork, even better with a rotating cork roller, or melting with a not very hot iron (temperature as on LF6) through fiberlen paper (T150) placed under the iron. The padded paper protects the surface from burning and allows you to evenly distribute the organofluorine over the ski. After processing with a cork roller, the skis are polished without pressure with a very soft brush (T160), after melting through the paper, the cooled skis are treated with a brush stuffed with horsehair (T1 50). In very wet weather and rough snow, the procedure for rubbing under the cork can be repeated 1-2 times.
Lubricating iron
Get a special iron! A thick heat-absorbing soleplate of a special shape and an accurate thermostat that maintains a constant temperature distinguish special irons from household ones and save your skis.
The profile machine is necessary and is the key to successful ski preparation.
Invest in knowledge and skills! Do not skimp on specialized literature that gives you knowledge on lubrication. Smear more often - and you will support your skills at a height!
ski poles
Ski poles differ in weight, stiffness and strength. The best combination is a light, stiff and strong pole, but ski poles with this combination of qualities are very expensive. Between the most expensive sticks and the cheapest, the price can differ by more than 10 times!
Very important:
- do not purchase ski poles "for growth";
- purchase ski poles of the correct length;
- do not buy ski poles with miniature "legs" supports.
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Do not buy your child expensive sticks "for growth". It’s better to buy more modest sticks, knowing that next season you can afford to buy a new pair of the correct length, and “attach” the old sticks in your own ski club- sports school. In general, avoid buying your child any equipment "for growth". This is a prerequisite that everything will work out for the growing athlete, and classes will bring joy.
Club "markets"
Let's hope that over time in Russia there will be an inventory exchange system similar to that practiced in Scandinavia. There, once a year, usually in the fall, clubs host an equipment exchange "market" where people can sell, buy, or simply swap used equipment. The main volume here falls on the exchange and sale of children's equipment, because children grow up very quickly.
Getting sticks of the correct length is especially important for classics! The universal rule for the classics is the athlete’s height is minus 30 cm, for the skate it is the athlete’s height minus 20 cm. Sticks that are too long for the classics make the athlete stretch up and forward at the moment the stick is set, it becomes more difficult for the athlete to make a competent squat, and the push easily breaks.
About "paws". Miniature supports - "legs" are good for Olympic tracks. Supports are needed on the Russian ski track bigger size often sold as spare parts.
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height, cm |
skate, cm |
classic, see |
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162 Good skis, high-quality bindings and comfortable ski boots - that's what your little one needs in order to feel absolutely free in any situation. |
Binding systems and boot brands are not as important as comfortable, warm ski boots that you can afford. Shoes from different manufacturers have different lasts. Choose ski boots that fit your feet. Boots of past releases are, of course, not so “cool”, but buying such shoes will save money. skate boot differs in more rigid on a bend in comparison with a classic sole. The foot in the skate boot should move easily in the longitudinal direction. The degree of support required in a skate boot is determined by the wearer's technicality in the skate. The more technical a rider is, the less boot support they can get by with. There are international athletes who prefer low boots for skating. Combi boots are a good idea, but if you really want to enjoy classic move, buy special shoes for the classics.
Ski rollers
Roller skis are a training tool that, in terms of speed of movement, in terms of technique and effort expended, should resemble skiing on snow as much as possible. Therefore, avoid buying fast rollers with easy-to-spin wheels. Roller skis with large diameter wheels are good for skating, giving a smooth ride even on rough pavement.
Choosing skis for a child is not a very difficult task, it is enough to follow the recommendations of experienced specialists, take into account the anthropometric data of a young skier and take into account his preferences. At the same time, it is important to remember a great responsibility - in some cases, improperly selected equipment increases the risk of injury, besides, uncomfortable skis, sticks and shoes can cause discomfort, interfere with the child's mastering of the skiing technique, which will lead to a loss of interest in this very useful activity. occupation.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing can be:
- classic,
- skating
- universal.
Skating should be chosen for the technique of the same name - skating. They are distinguished by the absence of notches and the rounded shape of the spout. Such models allow you to develop significant speed, but many coaches are confident that moving to skating it is advisable only after mastering the "classics". Length skating- the height of the child plus 10 cm.
Classic skis can be distinguished by sharp long noses. The presence of notches on them limits the speed, and, therefore, reduces the risk of falling during acceleration. It is best to ride the "classic" on a prepared track, then the notches will not be clogged with snow, which often increases the weight of the equipment and makes riding less comfortable. The optimal length of classic skis is the height of the child plus 20 cm.
Universal models are often purchased "for the future" so that a novice skier masters first classical technique, and then moved on to speed skating. Such a solution is not always practical due to the rapid growth of children and the need to change skis. Universal skis have an increased width and a rounded nose.
Skiing
Children's skis for skiing from the mountains are shorter and softer, necessary for cushioning the relief. To choose the right model for the baby, you need to take into account its weight. For those whose weight is less than 20 kg, a length of 70 cm is suitable, for 20-30 kg - 90 cm, for 30-40 kg - 100 cm. Pay attention to the shape - it is easier to manage with “fitted” skis.
For older children weighing more than 40 kg, alpine skiing should be selected taking into account height and degree of preparedness. If you have some experience, you can choose more authentic models. Placed next to the skier, they reach him up to the nose. More short models(up to the chin) are optimal for beginners and provide ease of maneuvering.
Material selection
Modern models of children's skis are made of wood or plastic. Wood is optimal in frosty weather, but it is sensitive to humidity and at temperatures close to 0°C, riding becomes quite difficult. To obtain an optimal coefficient of friction and easy glide, it is recommended to use ski waxes.
Plastic models are immune to moisture and are lightweight. They have a lower coefficient of friction, but lack of surface grip can interfere with riding. It is optimal if plastic skis have a high-quality and large notch.
Shoes and bindings
It is better to choose skis for the smallest with the possibility of using ordinary shoes. For this, soft (rubber, cotton, made of elastic rubber) mounts are used. Their cost is less compared to other options, but they are not always comfortable - the leg can fly out, the straps and belts can unfasten and get confused. Semi-rigid bindings also allow the child to ride in felt boots or regular boots, but they provide a more rigid and secure fixation. Rigid bindings require the use of special ski boots.
It is important to choose them correctly:
- fitting is done on a woolen sock,
- shoes should sit tight and fix the foot, protecting it from injury, but the toes in the shoe should move freely,
Rigid ski mounts for children are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- safety (good fixation and no risk of leg pinching in any position),
- softness of movement for the child's ability to independently cope with the equipment,
- the presence of a large handle, which makes it possible to fasten fasteners without removing mittens.
Sticks
On initial stage training can be done without sticks. At this stage, they may not be a help, but a hindrance. It is important for a child at this time to learn to stand straight, ski and maintain balance.
The optimal stick length is determined by the style of riding and is selected according to height. Sticks for the "classics" rest against the armpit, for the skating style they are slightly higher than the shoulder.
It is better to choose sticks for children:
- with comfortable handles
- light (eg plastic),
- with straps that do not allow them to drop out of hands,
- with strong but safe and not sharp tips,
- with a support in the form of a ring or an asterisk.
IN modern life there is an active passion for winter sports activities not only among adults, but even among children. At the same time, the greatest preference is given to classes skiing.
And if suddenly your child expressed a desire to start skiing, you should not dissuade him from this decision. After all, skiing quite well strengthens the children's body, hardens your baby, and trains his vestibular apparatus.
Ski selection
This is quite a responsible event. Especially when your child is still quite small, six or seven years old. At this age, children have a fairly tolerable coordination of their movements, normally stand on skis and are able to move independently.
And although this is not yet a professional ride of a sports or classical style, but your child can get a lot of fun from skiing in the snow. When buying, you can select skis for him according to the required parameters. The most important thing in this case is to take into account the age, height, weight of your child.
You should know that from the age of six, a child skiing can begin to pick up ski boots. It is recommended to take two or even three sizes larger, it's not scary. The baby's foot grows very quickly, but you should have enough shoes for a couple of seasons. Now about the selection of skis. Here it is important to know the height of the child, because the length of the skis should be 15 centimeters longer than the height. Skis can be bought plastic, with normal slip. Choose the width of the skis 45-50 millimeters. If you use ski boots, ski bindings should be automatic.
For a seven-year-old child, before choosing skis, the type of use is already important. You can choose the classic version with sticks, or cross-country skiing without sticks. The most acceptable type is universal skis. When choosing, pay attention to the degree of rigidity of the fasteners. It is recommended to purchase a ski kit right away - skis, poles, bindings, armrests.
In this option, it will be more economical in terms of money than buying all this separately. Among the materials for skis, select plastic. It glides remarkably on the snow, giving pleasure when driving.
