Ski Size For Kids: Everything You Need To Know… But Didn’t Know To Ask
Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. I only recommend products that I personally use and love.
Let’s talk about ski sizing for kids. Everything you could possibly want to know before you buy kids skis. I mean how the heck do we know if their skis are too long or too short? Does a kids ski length really matter anyway?
YES! Yes it does…
A ski that is way too short will:
make stopping with a wedge more difficult
not provide good stability at higher speeds
make it harder to keep up with riders who have longer skis
A ski that is way too long will:
be difficult to control and maneuver
go faster than the skier wants them to
throw them into the “back seat”
So what length ski is ideal for your lil’ ripper this season?
Rule of thumb: When you stand your kids skis on their tails, you generally want the tip of the ski to land somewhere between your child's shoulder and forehead. Knowing which side of the spectrum to lean depends on the four factors I talk about below.
Your child's age -
For children 3 and under stay closer to shoulder length. At this age you can dare to go even shorter than the shoulder (chest area), just know that this is only beneficial for the youngest lil’ rippers because big heavy skis can be hard to maneuver. Toddlers, who are still developing fine motor skills, will benefit from having less of a ski to work with.
For children 4 - 6 choose a ski somewhere between the shoulder and the nose. At this age most children are strong enough to handle a little longer ski and the extra length offers a little more stability.
For children 7 and older choose any length between the shoulder and forehead. At this age your child’s ski ability will become more of a factor than their age (see below).
Your child's ski ability -
Beginners always benefit from having a shorter ski. Stick with a ski length closer to the shoulder until your lil’ rippers skills progress past the beginner hill.
Intermediate skills make a longer ski, measuring somewhere between the nose and forehead, more necessary. This extra length allows for stability as your lil’ rippers increase their speed on the mountain.
Advanced skiers begin to make decisions about ski length according to their personal preference. Once your lil’ ripper gets to this level the terrain they prefer to ski becomes a deciding factor in ski length.
The terrain your child skis -
In the Terrain Park, length gives a rider more speed when dropping in but too much length just gets in a freestylers way. The real key on this type of terrain is to keep the skis lightweight.
On the Race Course you may need to own a couple different sizes of skis, depending on what type of racing they like to do. Most racers lean towards a longer ski because remember, length gives us speed.
In deep powder you want as much surface area as possible so length is helpful but width is the more important factor.
In the trees (especially the tight trees of the PNW) generally shorter is better. Short skis are easier to maneuver quickly between the trees and down tree trails.
On groomed runs you can get away with any length of ski. This is where your child’s ski ability plays more of a factor.
If your child is an all mountain skier, meaning they spend most of their time riding a variety of the above terrains, in all conditions, then seeking something mid-length (around the nose) is best. This allows for stability on the groomers while keeping flexibility in the trees.
Your child’s weight -
If your child is of average weight you DO NOT need to consider weight as much of a factor, it will be more important to consider the factors above.
If your child is well above average weight consider a longer ski for more stability.
If your child is well below average weight consider a shorter ski. The lighter equipment will ease the stress on their legs and free up their movement.
In summary, kids ski sizing is important! I find the temptation for most parents is to buy a long ski that their little ripper can grow into, with hopes they will last a few seasons. This isn’t a bad idea but, there are circumstances under which you want to stay on the shorter end for maneuverability and on the flip side, there are times you definitely want to go longer to offer stability. The ideal choice depends on the child-centered variables I talk about above and this means your little rippers needs and preferences will change season after season. Knowing your lil’ ripper as well as you do is a huge asset in choosing the right ski size. Yet another reason I believe YOU are your child’s best ski instructor
Ready to buy your kids skis?
One of my favorite brand of skis has always been K2. They have the ability to make a FUN and STABLE, all mountain ski for kids, that can handle playing off-piste and still carve hard on the groomers.
Grab the K2 Mindbender JR. for your lil’ ripper and watch out… you might have a hard time keeping up!
Remember kids ski sizing is measured in centimeters. Click on the button below to use a conversion chart for your measurements.