How to choose your child's first skis. How to choose your child's first skis How to choose ski poles

IN winter time skiing is a favorite sport for many. In addition to the fact that skiing involves a long stay on 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. In order for your 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 start skiing is, of course, not strictly defined. It depends on the desire of the child himself and the patience and perseverance of the parents. A child who has barely learned to balance on his feet is unlikely to enjoy riding.

Set for a small skier

Some parents teach their children to active species sports since 2 years and 5 months. At this age, you can already take your baby on his first ski trips, but be prepared that you will often have to take his skis off, 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 and enjoy skiing down small slides.

Mountain or cross-country

It is recommended to start skiing with cross-country skiing. They make it easier and safer to learn to maintain balance and master sliding skills. However, parents who actively ski from the mountains often put their children immediately on skiing. On the ski slopes today you can often see nimble skiers gliding quickly down the slope, while they are barely knee-high in height to an adult. Constantly striving to learn and master a new space, a child often shows perseverance that is enviable for an adult. Therefore, when choosing the type of skis, you need to be guided not only by your own preferences and safety issues, but also by the child’s inclinations.

If the terrain allows you to choose between two types of skiing, perhaps you should not rush into purchasing skis at first, but invite your child to try both types of loads by renting equipment.

Selection of skis for children of different ages

Up to three years

At this age, skis are chosen to be short and wide. The child does not yet need to develop speed, hone technique or fit into turns. He must learn to maintain balance and master sliding. Long skis will only make pushing and cornering more difficult.

Short (40 cm) and wide (8 cm) are suitable as the first ones. plastic skis with rounded ends. Once you gain confidence, you can switch to wooden or plastic skis equal in length to the child’s height. Plastic is a more versatile material, as it is equally suitable for wet and dry snow.

Skis for the little ones

IN early age purchasing special boots is hardly advisable. The size of a child's feet changes quickly. In addition, it will have time to grow from the first skis in one or two seasons. That's why the best option Metal fastenings with rubber straps are considered. This design can easily be attached to a child’s comfortable, familiar winter shoes.

Keep in mind that there is no need to purchase poles at this age, because the main objective at this age - gaining balance when skiing and mastering the principles of sliding.

From 4 to 10 years

If you are buying skis for a child who by this age has already learned to ski on a simple model, it makes sense to purchase a more sporty option. Narrower (5 cm wide) and longer skis are selected. Ski length is calculated using the formula: height + 15 cm.

Children's skis with semi-rigid binding

Age 11–15 years

For children adolescence skis are selected not only based on weight and height, but also depending on the preferred style.

There are three types of cross-country skis:

High-quality skis do not differ from each other in weight, length and width. Make sure that the sliding side has a smooth groove and is free of scratches and cracks.

Important! Children's skis must be soft. Hard skis will not allow you to make comfortable pushes and can turn being on the ski track into torture.

A typical mistake is buying skis “for growth.” Keep in mind that longer skis also have greater stiffness. This means they will be difficult to operate for a small child.

When choosing materials, plastic is preferred. Firstly, it is more durable, stronger and more resistant to changing weather conditions than wood. Secondly, wooden skis They are gradually leaving the market, and it will soon be impossible to find them at all.

Table of the correct ski length depending on the height and weight of the child

Fastenings

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 ride.

Which boots to buy

If the child is no more than 6 years old and does not show a persistent desire to turn ski race during your favorite pastime, you don’t have to raise the question of purchasing boots. Sliding semi-rigid bindings will allow you to use skis for several seasons, even taking into account the constant growth of your feet and changes in shoe size. If a child shows enviable constancy and perseverance in skiing, then you can buy special shoes.

Boots designed for old-style bindings range from size 28. Notable for their relatively low cost, they cannot boast of versatility: for skating These shoes won't fit.

Modern shoes equipped with SNS and NNN fastenings are much more expensive. Keep in mind that your child’s shoes and bindings will last for one or two seasons.

How to choose ski poles

We have already decided that the youngest children taking their first steps on the ski track do not need poles. When the child masters the principle of sliding, pushing off and alternating steps, then we can talk about poles, which will give additional speed and confidence on the track.

For children 3–7 years old, choose sticks that reach the armpits. The model should be equipped with rubberized handles and straps so that the poles do not drop or get lost when walking. The tip of the stick should not be sharp. The tip is in the shape of a ring or an asterisk.

For older children, poles are selected taking into account their riding style. In skating and classic styles, poles are used in principle different lengths. If for classics you need to choose poles no higher than your armpits, then for skating they should reach shoulder height.

Table for calculating the length of poles

Video: how to choose skis for a child

Choosing skis for a child is a simple and enjoyable task. The diversity of the modern market will allow you to choose something that is not only suitable in height and size, but also to your liking. Before you go shopping for skis for your child, evaluate how often he intends to use them. If winter walks happen in your family from time to time, perhaps it would be more advisable to abandon the purchase altogether and use rental services.

Winter is a great opportunity to spend time outdoors in a fun and healthy way: play in the snow, go sledding, skating or skiing.

Remember your childhood and agree that the time spent on snow slides, on an ice rink, or just a small piece of a river cleared of snow is one of the most vivid childhood memories. And for some these winter fun turned into a lifelong hobby or even a profession.

Did you know that, according to statistics, out of 100 people who start skiing for the first time, 47 always return to this activity?

Last time I told you what items it consists of. Now let's talk about how to choose skis for a child.

Don’t rush to buy your child skis right away. If this is a one-time trip ski resort and you are not yet sure whether he will want to continue skiing, perhaps at first it is better to get by sports equipment, rented. In addition, a small child grows quickly, and the next season you will have to buy new skis.

But if you still decide to buy children's skis, how to choose them correctly? This question is probably puzzled by many parents who dream of teaching their child to ski. To choose skis for a child, you first need to decide where and how you are going to ski. This determines whether you need alpine skiing or cross-country skiing. In addition, the choice of skis for a child depends on his age, weight, height and his ability to ski.

Skiing

Children's alpine skis differ from adult models in size and lightness. For children and teenagers, the best skis are those designed for beginners, which are the softest (by “softness” we mean that such skis “work” as they should at low speeds and absorb the terrain well) and are suitable for a universal skiing style.

Skiing for children has its own characteristics, and here the correct selection equipment. The main factor when choosing alpine skis for children is their length. To ensure safe skiing, alpine skiing must fully comply physical abilities and anthropometric data of the child.

If we are talking about small children, then experts recommend starting training on short skis with modern geometry (“fitted”). You can learn turns faster with them, and children will not get tired quickly.

For children weighing less than 40 kg, the length of children's skis directly depends on the child's weight:

• for a baby whose weight is 10-20 kg, skis 70 cm long are suitable;
• for children weighing more than 20 kg, the length of the skis should be 90 cm;
• for children whose weight is 30-40 kg, the length of the skis should be 100 cm (for more experienced skiers of this weight category Longer ski lengths are also allowed).

For children weighing over 40 kg, skis are selected depending on height in the same way as skis for adults (vertically placed skis should reach the chin or nose). The difference in selection is determined by the level of experience of the skier. For beginners, it is recommended to take skis 5-10 cm less than height, that is, approximately up to the chin. For a young skier with experience who knows how to coordinate his movements and moves confidently, the length of the skis should reach the nose.

Experts note: do not confuse adult shortened skis for adults (“skiboards”) with children’s alpine skis. They are characterized by great rigidity, they are not suitable for children's skating, and such an experience can discourage a child from skating for a long time.

Depending on such a parameter as “stiffness,” children's alpine skiing can be divided into three levels: beginner, advanced (improving) and expert. This factor also affects their cost.

For starters, you can get by with inexpensive “soft” skis. In addition, they are easier to operate, which is a big plus for beginners. True, it will not be possible to develop high speed on them.

But ski coaches note that children learn very quickly and skiing on very simple skis soon becomes uninteresting for them. Hence the advice - it’s better to overpay right away than to buy new, more “advanced” skis in a couple of weeks.

Professional skis and expert-level equipment are already for children who have achieved certain results and have seriously decided to take up this sport.

Ski boots

For children, special children's shoe models are produced, which should not be confused with small women's models.

What to pay attention to:

• Boots should be warm, with reliable soles, soft enough and comfortable for the feet.
• Equipped with a convenient and simple fastener (on children's shoes, usually this is one clip).
• The size of the boots must correspond to the size of the foot (the “buy to grow” rule does not work at all in this case).
• When trying on boots in a store, it is best to try on a thick wool sock. When properly fitted, the shoe should fit snugly, but the toes should move freely and the heel should not sag.
• You shouldn’t get hung up on any particular manufacturer; it’s better to focus on sensations and convenience.

Ski poles

Very young children do not need sticks. For older children, the recommended length depends on height (they should not reach the armpits).

Ski bindings

There are special facilities for children ski bindings. They differ from adults in having lower marks on the effort scale (note that the lower the level physical training child and his ski experience, the lower the effort value should be on the scale).

To protect a child from injury, a helmet is required; in windy weather, it is a good idea to wear a balaclava and a mask.

Cross-country skiing

Children's cross-country skiing There are three types: skis for classic skiing, which is most often used by young skiers, skis for skating and universal skis. Without mastering the “classics”, there is no point in purchasing skating skis.

Classic skis are longer than skate skis, with a longer and sharper tip. The sliding surface of the skis has special notches that prevent them from rolling back. These skis are ideal for beginner skiers, especially if learning and skiing takes place off-piste. The disadvantage of skis of this type is that it will not be possible to develop high speed on these skis, and in warm weather, wet snow, sticking to the notch, can slow down the movement.

Skating skis are for more “advanced” skiers who dream of skiing down their favorite hill with the breeze. They are shorter in shape than the classic ones; there should be a sharp edge at the edges to prevent them from sliding to the side.

All-mountain skis are equally suitable for both styles of skiing.

The safety and reliability of modern children's skis is ensured by some design features: rounded toes and increased width of the ski surface make the skis more stable and safer when falling, “fitting” (side cutouts) helps to better take difficult turns.

Very young skiers can get by with the simplest, lightest skis. Indeed, in this case, the main task is to teach the baby to stand on skis and enjoy joint ski trips with his parents.

For children from 2 to 6 years old, experts advise buying skis that are slightly longer than the child’s height, simple, wide and safe models. On long skis It is very difficult for small children to maneuver, especially around turns.

For older children, the following principle can serve as a guide: the child’s height is plus 15-20 cm.

Cross-country skiing for teenagers is similar in level to adult models, but is simplified technical characteristics, softness and lightness.

Selection table for cross-country skis and ski poles for children:

Ski poles

Little skiers can do without ski poles altogether . Their task is to learn to stand firmly on their skis and at the same time maintain balance.

The length of the poles, like skis, depends on the child’s height, as well as on the skiing style. For classic style the sticks should reach and rest against the armpit, for skating style should be slightly above the shoulder.

Besides, ski poles for children they should be light, with comfortable handles for gripping, with straps (so that the child does not lose the stick while moving). The tips should not be sharp, with a strong and sufficiently large supporting element in the form of an asterisk or ring.

Ski bindings

Children who have just begun to master cross-country skiing will most likely not need special shoes. It is much more comfortable and warmer for them to ride in felt boots or their own warm boots. Therefore, for starters, you can purchase skis that are sold complete with bindings for regular children's winter shoes.

The cheapest and simplest fastenings are soft fastenings made from a belt made of cotton, elastic leather or rubber. Their disadvantage is the not very reliable fixation of the leg on the ski. In addition, such ribbons and elastic bands often get tangled and dislodged during skating.

Semi-rigid bindings (special shoes are also not required) - the design is more reliable and firmly fixes the skis to the shoes.

Rigid fastenings require the presence of special shoes - ski boots.

Bindings for cross-country children's skis, of course, must be safe, durable and moderately rigid (so as not to injure or pinch the child's leg with fasteners). They are usually equipped with a softer fastening mechanism and a large latch handle (so that the baby can take off and put on the skis independently, and it is convenient for him to grasp it with a mitten).

What materials are children's skis made from?

The service life of skis depends on the material from which they are made.

Wooden

Wooden skis are good in frosty weather, but already at zero temperatures they become practically unsuitable for skiing. In addition, they break quickly and require constant treatment of the sliding surface with special ski waxes, otherwise wet snow will not allow the child to move easily on skis.

Plastic

Plastic skis are more durable and have increased sliding properties, which in this case can rather be considered a disadvantage than an advantage. To prevent skis from moving apart in different directions, plastic skis must have a high-quality anti-slip notch that is large enough in area. The presence of notches is especially important if the child is skiing for the first time.

Plastic skis are durable, glide easily on snow, do not get wet or crack when in contact with wet snow.

• Never buy boots and skis for children to grow into. Saving money can easily turn your vacation into a complete misery or even lead to injury.
• You need to select skis and boots taking into account the height, weight and foot size of the child at the time of purchase.
• When choosing ski equipment, it is better to take the advice of an instructor or an experienced sales consultant.
• When going on a trip, check your skis in advance and carry out the necessary preparation: prevent the edges and sliding surface, check and adjust the ski bindings (they should come unfastened when falling). In a dangerous situation, these measures will serve you well.
• When purchasing skis, pay attention to the absence of mechanical damage and the symmetry of the pair of skis in width, length, weight and thickness.
• You should not buy ski poles longer than required for the child’s height.

Good day, dear readers! They promise a harsh winter this year, but you and I are not afraid of the cold?! Let's dress up, brew hot tea in a thermos and go to the skating rink! . Don't want to go skating? Welcome to the ski track! A snowy winter is a great opportunity to spend time usefully and fun, dashing down a hill or racing along a ski slope with skates or classics.

They say that out of a hundred people who go out on the ski slopes for the first time, half return there again and again. So if you don’t yet have skiing equipment, but the decision to join the active and healthy is ripe, read how to choose skis.

This information will also be needed for school. After all, this is an indispensable winter attribute for physical education in some regions of Russia. So you can kill two birds with one stone: buy it for your child for lessons, and buy it for yourself, your loved one, for a sports outing.

So, if you are a beginner and this is your first time on the ski slopes...

Lesson plan:

How can you drive?

Skiing is certainly a sport that, like any other, is for beginners, for those who can already do something, and for professionals. I think that the society of the latter is unlikely to be interested in the article - they themselves can give a dozen useful tips, so that “fire, water and copper pipes” have already passed. Let's talk about us, ordinary people.

So how are we going to ride? There are two ski styles that even schoolchildren can master:

Did you know? We owe the appearance of skating skiing to the Swedish athlete Gund Anders Swan. For the first time in the 80s, he tried to ski like speed skaters on ice skates. As you can see, he did a great job!

Depending on the style, the skis also differ.

In general, real athletes have not just one ski, but at least two or three for all occasions. But you and I are amateurs, and why do we need to go for a walk once a week and for a growing child? school lessons some. Therefore, we forget about skate shoes and choose the right classic or universal ones. Here the question is: natural or synthetic? Let's compare.

Wood or plastic: in whose favor?

A bit of poetry... Fashionable plastic skis appeared during our school years. Today you won’t surprise anyone with them. What could we observe? Those whose parents could pay an order of magnitude more money for skis, after the usual wood, could not ski on plastic. Such an unpleasant phenomenon as “recoil” turned their skiing into real torture.

Why then do you need this expensive plastic if you always end up in the rear? The thing is that this synthetic material glides much faster than wood if used correctly. Remember your childhood. Previously, wooden skis were coated with ointment along their entire length, and they rode without kickback. Having bought plastic, we expected miracles from it, completely forgetting about its preliminary preparation. From there the “first pancake is lumpy.”

In addition, wooden ones feel great in cold weather, but in temperatures around zero they are absolutely impossible to ride. And our tomboys often bring home wooden skis without a tip or back.

As for the plastic, it is lighter and more durable. If you choose plastic skis with the right anti-slip notches, you can easily avoid the “cow on ice” image. Also, for wet snow, plastic comes in handy.

So, as they say, it comes down to taste and color...

What matters?

In addition to quality, skis are distinguished by two more important characteristics. This is length and stiffness. More about this.

Length

How did we choose skis before? That's right: according to height, for which they raised their hand at the top. We reached the spout - let's take it! Athletes advise classic ones to take 20-30 centimeters more than their height, skate ones to be 15 centimeters longer than themselves, and universal ones to add 15-20 centimeters to their height.

Rigidity

This parameter is selected based on the weight of the skier. The rigidity determines how much the middle is pressed against the snow surface and ensures sliding. Skis that are too soft glide poorly, and skis that are too hard do not press down and slip in the rebound.

The rule here is simple: the greater the weight, the higher the rigidity.

This parameter is written on skis, and consultants in stores have a special calculation to help you choose the right one, as well as devices called flextesters. When you stand on skate skis, the gap should be no more than two millimeters, for classic skis it is half as much.

It is important! Do not choose skis that are oversized or have high rigidity for your child. Children's skis should be soft and also suit their height. Otherwise, the young athlete simply will not be able to cope with them.

Loaded with skis

Well, we seem to have decided on the main thing. But you will also need boots with bindings and poles.

Ski shoes

Of course, for a schoolchild, felt boots with elastic bands for skating are a non-discussable option. The bindings require special boots. It turns out they are also different.

Skate skates bend more rigidly, unlike classic ones. They have a durable ankle cuff. But the classic ones are lower in height, and their soles are soft. If you plan to ride both ways, it’s better to take combined ones, which have medium stiffness and a removable holding cuff.

On a note! Check for bend without trying on ski boots simple: the soft sole can be easily bent at a right angle with both hands.

Fastenings

Of course, they match boots, but they also have alternatives. Which one is better is up to you to choose. But experts recommend manual ones for children. I'll explain why.

The machines jam when water gets in, and may also not open without the support of a ski on a hard surface in a problematic situation, for example, when a child falls. If last case fixable, then in the first force majeure, going to a warm room in a ski to defrost the automatic mount, you see, is not very convenient.

Sticks

Usually, schoolchildren's first skiing experience occurs without poles. Moreover, teachers even prohibit using them while skating, so that no one hits each other. But by the second class, ski poles are a must.

They can vary in weight, strength and rigidity. It all depends on the material:

• carbon fiber - the most expensive, but light;
• fiberglass - the complete opposite of the previous ones, the cheapest and heaviest in weight, but are a good option for beginners;
• plastic with fiberglass - an intermediate option;
• aluminum - well suited for amateurs and beginners, as well as athletes with considerable weight.

The loop of the ski poles should be fastened with Velcro so that the size can be adjusted. But the small tips - the paws are designed for Olympic reserve. For us, ordinary people, the support rings and stars should be sufficient so as not to fall over when leaning on a stick in the snow.

We also select sticks according to height. The well-known folk method of choosing for classics is up to the armpit, for skating - a little above the shoulder. If you can’t try it on, you can select poles by subtracting 25-30 centimeters from your height in the classic style and 15-20 centimeters in the skating style.

Did you know? The performance of skis is ensured by 60% of properly selected stiffness, 20% by material and structure, and another 20% by ski wax.

These seem to be all the main points that needed to be mentioned when selecting skis. Don't forget to pick up ski lubricant at the store, which will improve gliding properties. Happy shopping and good skiing!

Let's include doctors in our conversation. Let them also give their recommendations.

That's all for today!

Always yours, Evgenia Klimkovich.

IN modern life there is an active interest in winter sports types not only among adults, but even among children. In this case, the greatest preference is given to skiing.

And if suddenly your child expresses a desire to start skiing, you should not dissuade him from this decision. After all, skiing is a great way to strengthen a child’s body, harden your child, and train his vestibular apparatus.

Ski selection

This is quite a responsible undertaking. Especially when your child is still quite young, about six or seven years old. At this age, children have fairly good coordination of their movements, stand on skis normally and are able to move independently.

And although this is not yet professional sports or classic style skiing, your child can get a lot of pleasure from moving on snow on skis. When purchasing, you can select skis for him according to the required parameters. The most important thing is to take into account the age, height, and weight of your child.

You should know that from the age of six, a child skiing can begin to select ski boots. It is recommended to take two or even three sizes larger, it’s not scary. Your baby's feet grow very quickly, but the boots should last you for a couple of seasons. Now about the selection of skis. Here it is important to know the child’s height, because the length of the skis should be 15 centimeters greater than the height. You can buy plastic skis with normal glide. Select the width of the skis to be 45-50 millimeters. If you use ski boots, the bindings on your skis should be automatic.

For a seven-year-old child, before selecting skis, the type of use already matters. You can choose the classic version with poles, or cross-country skiing without poles. The most acceptable type is all-mountain skis. When choosing, pay attention to the degree of rigidity of the fastenings. It is recommended to immediately purchase a ski kit - skis, poles, bindings, armrests.

This option will be more economical in terms of money than purchasing all this separately. Among ski materials, choose plastic. It glides wonderfully through the snow, making driving a pleasure.

At some point, it was digitized and scanned by someone (apparently, the first were the guys from skisport .narod .ru), and after that the material took on a life of its own on the Internet. Today "For 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, automobile and other sites and forums. In fact, this article turned out to be a mini-encyclopedia on choosing skis, ski poles, ski boots, ski wax, roller skis and accessories.

Finally, it occurred to us that this was wrong: this article was published anywhere, but not on skisport.ru. On the other hand, 11 years have passed since this text was written - a considerable period 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 unique upgrade to the article? – Kuzmin laughed.

Well, why not? – I smiled back.

Good idea, send a text,” Ivan replied.

...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 was born 11 years ago, was repeatedly quoted, disassembled into components and scattered fragments and published on the Internet, and which has now finally returned to its “historical homeland” - on the website of the magazine “ skiing", 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 article from 11 years ago mainly with modern photographs (ointments, machines, 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 arrived, my son fell ill with paraffins and accelerators. How much it costs, you know without me, but neither I nor the coach know what is really necessary and what can be done without. Without your advice on choosing poles and classic skis, we cannot solve these issues.

(From a letter to the mother of a growing skier, published in the magazine “Skiing” 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, lubricants, and ski boots are a serious disadvantage in the fight against other sports for the younger generation. Even for basic equipment, the parents of a growing skier have to shell out significant sums. Compare at least with the costs of the parents of a growing volleyball player or track and field athlete.

And even adult ski lovers have to sacrifice a lot in order to acquire the coveted equipment that promises success on the ski slopes. But many of the adult skiers and parents of growing skiers buy skis, poles, ski boots, only focusing on the “promoted” brands and everything “latest”.

SKIS

Let's start with the most important thing - skiing. It is generally accepted that the weight deflection of the ski determines 60% of the sliding properties of the skis, 20% is determined by the material, condition and structure of the sliding surface of the skis, and only the last 20% is determined by the lubrication of the skis.

So, the most important thing in a good pair of skis is deflection.

Skate skis 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 track from the toe should increase smoothly - this is the key to good gliding. When pushing off with your foot, the skate ski should not be completely crushed - this slows you down. I would like to note that the common belief that the ski “catapults” the skier after a push is a misconception. Anyone who knows school physics understands that an overly stiff ski is more likely to “catapult” the lighter snow under the ski than the skier. At the same time, a hard ski glides much worse on the often soft Russian track.

When testing skis, the above means that when you squeeze and release a pair of skis with both hands in the middle (upright skis are grasped with your hand about 3 cm to the heel behind the center of gravity) and at the same time look between the skis at the tip, the compression of the front of the ski from the wear occurs gradually, you observe that the gap between the skis is closing.

Before purchasing new skis, develop the “feeling of a good pair” - squeeze the skis that “roll” you, feel the skis of your friends that they “rolled” you on. In many stores (for example, the Moscow "Olympus") flextesters began to appear - devices for determining the stiffness of skis.

Typical cases of not very good skis:

- The ski compresses with noticeable effort from the very beginning.

- The ski compresses very easily at first, and then “stop” occurs; with such a ski, with repeated frequent compression, you can hear a knock in the front part of the block.

- When compressed, the ski tips move apart.

- When the owner compresses strongly*, the skis touch under the block.

- When the owner compresses strongly*, a gap of more than 2 mm remains under the block (except for skis on ice).

*Note: As a general rule, a skier's maximum grip force on skis is proportional to the weight and strength characteristics that determine that skier's push.

Weight deflection classic skis. In terms of gliding qualities, everything is similar to skate skis. It is very important to choose skis with the right last. The block must be of sufficient length to ensure adhesion of the ski to the snow when pushing, and of optimal rigidity so that, on the one hand, when sliding on two skis, the holding ointment does 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 the snow.

Don’t buy hard classic skis for your child! He will not be able to push normally, the skis will slip, and this will discourage him from any desire to ski.

According to the nature of the last and weight deflection, classic skis are usually divided into three types:

Skis for soft, fine-grained dry snow;

Skis for transitional weather around zero;

Skis for plus and hard skiing.

Skis for fine snow usually non-rigid with a long last of 45-60 cm and an elastic toe part.

Plus and hard skis- hard, with a short block of 35-50 cm and with a smaller contact area between the sliding surface of the ski and the snow.

Skis for transitional weather are a cross between the two types described above.

So, you and I 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 only afford 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 you have the opportunity to buy a second racing pair, buy harder skis, they will be well suited for racing on hard skiing 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 be suitable for transitional weather with a slightly adjusted lubrication zone. When moving with classic skis, the chance of damaging your skis is less than when moving with a skate, so training skis are not so important, except for rolling in.

Sliding surface of the ski

IN this moment All racing ski manufacturers use high molecular weight polyethylene sliding surfaces 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, fluff, etc. are not recommended.

Skis go on sale with a surface polished with an emery stone (in German "steinslift"). Due to storage in a warehouse, the surface of the skis oxidizes, so competing racers are advised to carefully cycle their skis and brush them with a bronze brush 50-70 times. Sometimes, when sanding with an emery stone, a “wave” appears on the sliding surface. 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 regularly wax the skis, even with inexpensive, non-rigid paraffin (such as Sviks CH7).

Ski sizes

Don't buy too much 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 skiing there will be nowhere to place a lubrication zone with holding ointment, and short skate skis glide worse and do not allow for the implementation of a full-fledged skiing technique.

What skis to buy?

If you have limited finances, a great solution is to buy used skis with bindings from a sponsored elite racer for $70-$150. Another option is skis from previous years; they usually sell for less than $200, and often differ from the “latest” skis only slightly or only cosmetically. Another possibility is to buy skis not of the “top” model, but of the model next to it. All over the world, the bulk of sales falls on models of this class. These skis have the same geometry, they have the same sliding surface, like 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 gliding properties and are suitable for the weight of the skier. Another thing is that among skis of certain brands, good skis are more common, among others - less often.

Lubrication

Limit your assortment! After all, you don’t have the opportunity to test a dozen lubrication options. No need to split hairs, save your energy for the race itself!

So, using "SWIX" as an example, the possible minimum set is:

One powder or tablet (a tablet is more economical!) FC200/PC2005

Maximum of four gliding ointments - LF4, LF6, HF7, HF8

Solid ointments - primer VG80, VF60, V55, V45, V40, VZ0, V10

Liquid ointments - K110, K115, K120, K124, K130

With the above assortment, if used correctly, you can successfully compete in races up to the Russian Championship.

Rubbing it under your fist on the street can show good results in testing, but nothing 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 lined paper protects the surface from overburning and allows the fluoride to be evenly distributed over the ski. After processing with a cork roller, the skis are polished without pressure with a very soft brush (T160); after melting through paper, the cooled skis are treated with a brush stuffed with horsehair (T1 50). In very humid weather and coarse snow, the procedure of rubbing under the cork can be repeated 1 - 2 times.

Grease iron

Buy a special iron! A thick, heat-intensive sole of a special shape and a precise thermostat that maintains a constant temperature distinguish special irons from household irons and will preserve your skis.

A profile machine is necessary and is the key to successful ski preparation.

Invest in knowledge and skills! Do not skimp on special literature that gives you knowledge on lubrication. Apply more often - and you will maintain your skills at their best!

Ski poles

Ski poles vary in weight, stiffness and strength. The best combination is a pole that is light, stiff and strong, but ski poles with this combination of qualities are very expensive. Between the most expensive poles and the cheapest, the price can differ by more than 10 times!

Very important:

- do not buy ski poles “for growth”;

- buy ski poles correct length;

- do not buy ski poles with miniature “foot” supports.

Don't buy expensive sticks for your child to grow into. It’s better to buy more modest poles, knowing that next season you can afford to buy a new pair of the correct length, and “attach” the old poles in your own ski club - sports school. In general, avoid buying any equipment for your child to grow into. This is a prerequisite that the growing athlete will succeed in everything and the activities will bring joy.

Club "markets"

Let's hope that over time a system of inventory exchange will appear in Russia, similar to that practiced in Scandinavia. There, once a year, usually in the fall, clubs hold an equipment swap “market” where people can sell, buy, or simply exchange used equipment. The main volume here falls on the exchange and sale of children's equipment, because children grow very quickly.

Buying poles of the correct length is especially important for the classics! The universal rule for classics is the athlete’s height minus 30 cm, for speed skating - the athlete’s height is minus 20 cm. Poles for classics that are too long force the athlete to reach up and forward when setting the pole, it becomes more difficult for the athlete to make a competent dip, and the push easily fails.

About "paws". Miniature “foot” supports are good for Olympic tracks. On the Russian ski track, larger supports are needed, often sold as spare parts.

The binding system and brands of boots are not as important as comfortable, warm ski boots that you can afford. Boots from different manufacturers have different lasts. Choose ski boots that suit your feet. Shoes from previous releases are, of course, not so “cool,” but buying such shoes will save money. The skating boot has a more rigid sole in comparison to the classic one. The foot in the skate boot should move easily in the longitudinal direction. The amount of support needed in a skate boot is determined by the user's skill in the skate. The more technical the rider, the less boot support he can get by with. There are international level athletes who prefer low boots for skating. Combi boots are a good option, but if you really want to enjoy... classic move, buy special shoes for the classics.

Roller skis

Roller skis are a training tool that, in terms of speed of movement, pattern of technique and effort expended, should be as similar as possible to skiing on snow. Therefore, avoid buying fast roller skates with wheels that spin easily. Roller skis with large diameter wheels are good for skating, giving a soft ride even on rough asphalt.