Is it worth buying skis and ski boots for your children when they will very likely need to be replaced every season? If your family goes skiing more than twice a year, you’ll probably want the reassurance of buying gear that is perfectly suited to your child’s size and ability.
If it’s your child’s first time skiing, or you ski only once or twice a year, you may prefer to hire. Your child will get the opportunity to try out different brands and lengths of ski and, more importantly, decide if skiing is for them.
Ski and boot rental can often be a tedious process. The queues can be interminable, and children can very quickly grow bored and disruptive. Sometimes a child may end up with skis or boots that don’t fit properly, spoiling their experience and wasting time.
However, when you book one of our luxury catered ski chalets, our staff will liaise with you in advance of your trip for sizing information, and will arrange for a range of skis, boots and other equipment appropriate for your party to be brought to your chalet on the day of arrival. This instantly eliminates hours of boredom and makes the whole process fast, stress-free, and even fun.
SKIS
The most important factor in a child’s ski is length. To get an accurate sizing, ask your child to stand up straight – the ski tip should end between the collar bone and chin, depending on your child’s weight and athletic ability. If in doubt, choose a shorter ski, which is easier for your child to control and turn.
Also, go for shaped skis instead of traditional straight skis, as they don’t exert as much leverage on children’s legs, are more stable and easier to turn.
Try not to push your child beyond their comfort zone when choosing skis. Skis that are too long or heavy make skiing difficult and tantrum-inducing at best, but potentially dangerous at worst!
BOOTS
Our experienced and reputable ski partners are very experienced in fitting for children. Your child will be offered several pairs of boots, in different styles and widths, to try. Your child should also be able to bend their knee over the toe of the boot without any discomfort.
The main aim of your holiday is for everyone to have lots of fun, which means comfortable-fitting skis that are easy to control, pain-free ski boots, and a beautiful catered chalet to head back to at the end of a fabulous day on the slopes!