Your child likes to ski, or you think your child would like to ski, competitively. Great! Ski racing is a fun sport and there are many ways to achieve success. Sure, you can get on the podium (a podium might be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or, 1st-5th, or even 1st-10th). You can also compete with yourself – maybe you’ve been in the top 30, and you aim to make it into the top 20, the top 15, the top 10.
Whatever your child’s goals, as a parent, you need to get them gear. The advice on any team, whether you’re brand new or several years in, is to consult a coach. That’s easier to do when the coach knows your child, has worked with them in past years, knows their challenges, knows their capabilities, and can consider that in light of their recent growth… but sometimes you can’t reach a coach, or maybe your child hasn’t even started racing… so there’s no one to ask.
This site is designed to give you a starting point, if you’re new, and give you some insight even if you’re not. There are many questions to answer, including:
- What type of skis should I try to buy? Slalom? Giant Slalom? Multi-event? (even Super G, Downhill?!?)
- If I know the TYPE, then what SIZE ski should I buy?
- If I know the TYPE and SIZE, what BRAND should I buy (if that’s important)?
- How do I judge the CONDITION of the ski?
- How do I know the AGE of the ski? Does that matter?
- How much should I PAY for these skis?
- What about bindings? Some skis come with them, some don’t. How do I buy bindings? Can I use the bindings from my kid’s current skis?
- Do they need special boots? What size/brand/type/flex do I get?
- What about helmets (very important), race poles (slalom, GS, etc.), goggles (multiple lenses), protective gear (shin guards, arm guards, back protectors), race suits, and more?
- Where do I buy this equipment? At the ski shop in my neighborhood? On eBay? Facebook Marketplace? Sideline Swap? A ski swap?
It’s OVERWHELMING.
This site is designed to help you on that journey, or at least get started, focusing on one of the most important considerations: the skis (and bindings) first, with some basic insight on finding boots and helmets. After that, you’re really getting into advanced territory… the territory that a coach can tell you if you’re ready to explore.