Ski season is just a few short weeks away! So now is time to dust off your kid’s equipment out and see what still fits and what needs to be replaced.
Using the steps below, do a quick inventory and see where you stand. Early fall is a great time to shop for bargains, trade with friends and pick up gear at local ski swaps.
Stand Tall to Measure Skis
Have your child stand next to her skis. The tip of the ski should reach somewhere between his chin and the top of his head. The skis should not be taller than the top of the head (unless you’ve got a teen in the process of sprouting), but they can be a couple of inches below the chin. This is especially true if the child has just started skiing, is a timid skier or doesn’t weigh very much.
Easy Peasy Ski Pole Fitting
Place the pole upside down. Have your child grasp the pole above the basket, pushing the top of the grip into the floor. Her arms should be bent at an approximate right angle.
Boot Fitting 101
Sole Length. Center your child’s bare foot against the exterior sole of the boot. There should be about an inch of sole remaining on each end.
Shell Size. Take out the liner. With a ski sock on, have the child put her foot in the boot shell. While standing, ask her to move her toes forward to the tip of the boot. Have her flex her ankles and bend her knees and move into a skiing position. Using a flashlight, look into the boot behind the child’s heel. There should be 5/8” – 1” of room between her heel and the back of the boot.
The Whole Boot. Put the boot back together. Using both hands, pull the tongue out-of-the-way and separate the overlapping fronts of the boots as wide as you can. Your child now has a clear entryway for his foot into the boot. Buckle the boots and have your child walk around a bit. If your child complains that the boot is too tight, but the shell measured to fit, don’t give up on the boot. Boot liners can be stretched to get another season out of them. Take them to your ski shop for stretching. If your child has a chubby foot, you may need to go up a size.
Flex, flex, flex. For boots to fit properly, you child needs to be flexing his ankles and driving his knees forward in an athletic stance. This stance moves his heel to the back of the boot and should provide room for wiggling his toes. In a front entry boot, you can tell if he is flexing the boot by watching the boot hinge forward at the ankle. Push down on the top of the boot while it is on the floor and without a foot in it to see what you are looking for in flex. Rear entry boots are sometimes easier small, young skiers to flex.
The Word on Bindings
Junior boots go into junior bindings. ‘Nuff said.
I hope this helps. If in doubt, check with your local ski shop and have a great season!
Enjoy!
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At Surefoot we support making sure kids get on the snow and enjoy their time. We want the kids to have fun and grow up to be passionate about skiing just like us. Development in their skiing starts with equipment. At Surefoot we have a Growing Pains program that ensures that the kids have the proper fitting equipment going into each season. If within two years of the date of purchase of a pair of ski boots, the buyer outgrows (in size) the boot they can return the boot for a 50% credit toward the purchase of a new pair of boots.
http://newyork.nearsay.com/nyc/upper-east-side/custom-children-ski-boots-ski-shop-surefoot
Lets keep growing the ski community!
The Growing Pains program is excellent! Kids grow in spurts so one day the boots fit and the next day they don’t! If you’ve got a Surefoot near you, it might be worth checking out!
Thanks!
As the leaves are starting to change and the evening chill in the air appears, ski season is right around the corner. We were just wondering if our son’s ski boots still fit him — your post is timely spot on!
So glad I can be of help! It’s definitely that time of year! Cheers!
How about their mittens and gloves?
Good point. I am a big fan of mittens — kids can ball their fingers up to stay warm. What do you prefer?
Thanks!
Thanks for this timely reminder! As a kid’s ski instructor, the first few trips of season inevitably produce a crying child with poorly fitting boots. It can ruin a kid’s day on the slopes, so check for fit before that first trip!
There you have it! Advice from a PRO! Thanks!
Great post!
A good thing to look into for the youngsters are Adjustable ski boots, so that as the kids feet grow 2 full sizes throughout the ski season, the boot can as well! Just have to make sure the bindings will also move to fit the bigger boot, ask or go to a local ski shop for that info.
Roces Adjustable Kids Boots
Another thing to keep in mind as far as mittens vs gloves, usually with mittens, your hands stay warmer, but you lose the functionality of gloves. Some companies are now making “Three finger mitts,” or “Lobster Claw” gloves, that are mittens with the pointer finger separate from the rest of your fingers. This helps with keeping the warmth of a mitten, but functionality of a glove.
Happy winter!
Great tips from Scott at http://www.levelninesports.com!
Thanks for sharing these. Cheers!
Great hints on fitting kid boots! I will be trying them out.
Thanks!