KIDSPORT is dedicated to providing informative, useful tips on how to keep your kids dry, warm and happy outdoors during the winter. Since 1978, we have derived all sorts of information pertaining to children and their winter needs and wants. Please feel free to phone our expert staff with any questions or concerns regarding your kids outdoor winter needs.
- Skiers Checklist - Ensure your kids are prepared for every ski or snowboard outing
- Layering will keep your kids warm and dry throughout any cold winter day. We've compiled great tips for layering including layering recommendations from Obermeyer Kids & Hot Chillys
- Hydration is extremely important in keeping your kids safe in high altitudes or hot summer days. Camelbak hydration provides the right equipment to keep your children safe.
- Burton snowboarding clothes has dominated the snowboarding market with their advanced technologies and styles to keep your little snowboarders warm and with the latest looks.
- A Deuter backpack child carrier will make aide any parents active lifestyle.
- When are goggles required? Find out by visiting our Smith Goggles information.
- Sunglasses can make the difference between needing prescription glasses later. Find out how to protect your kids from harmful rays with protective eyewear from Julbo Sunglasses.
- Are helmets mandatory for skiing or snowboarding? Although not required, we offer some great reasons to ensure the safety for your kids & tips for finding the proper helmet size is located at Giro Helmets & Boeri Helmets.
How to buy kids’ ski jackets – some useful tips for parents:
· Children tend to outgrow their ski clothing quickly. Choose ski jackets that have a ‘grow’ feature built into the clothing. This feature allows a jacket to grow with a child and is especially important for 2-8 year olds.
· Observe the sizing chart carefully when you buy kids’ ski jackets. Properly measure your child so that you don’t pick a jacket that is too large or too small. If the jacket is too big, it won’t keep your child warm. On the other hand, if it is too small, snow will enter the jacket easily.
· Check the fit. Have your child stretch his or her arms straight out. If the jacket cuff is between the wrist and fingertip, then the jacket is a proper fit for your child.
· Whether you’re buying ski jackets for infants, teenagers, or girls’ ski jackets, good jackets are ergonomically sound and apply a sensible design. They have lots of pockets for goggles and wipes as well as a ‘pit zip’ for venting in armpits. These jackets also have lycra cuffs that your child’s thumb can slip through so that the jacket stays down on the arm even if they fall. Top quality ski jackets have elastic powder skirts to keep the snow out.
With a little thought, you can buy kids’ ski jackets that will endure long skiing sessions with your kids over many years.
Your Buying Guide for Kids' Ski Pants for the winter Ski Season
When it comes to kids' ski pants, you have so many choices to choose from today. There are pants with suspenders, pants with adjustable waists, pants that are sturdy enough to be worn for ski expeditions, and pants in different colors and prints. However, the trick to selecting a good pair of kids’ ski pants is to look closely at those that will last. You want to choose a pair that will not wear down too easily and can be adjusted to the size of your growing child.
With a few pointers, you can get exactly what you are looking for in your kids’ ski pants:
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Choose kids’ ski pants that have a built-in growth system. This is important because the growth feature allows you to extend the length of the pant by 2 inches. You can get these ski pants for bigger sizes too. So no matter what age your child is now, he or she can use the ski pants for a long time. There are several options offered by the top name brands, and especially stylish choices in girls’ ski pants.
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Suspender ski pants are great for kids who are slender. The suspenders can be adjusted to hold up the pants and they can even be removed when not required. On top of that, they look cute and are fashionable too! You can find some great choices in girls’ ski pants as well.
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If your child is skinny, you may want to consider ski pants with a Velcro or button waist. These pants are adjustable and do a good job of keeping the pants up.
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Make sure that the ski pants are made of waterproof, breathable material. Your children will definitely make more than a few snow angels; go sledding, skiing and generally roll around in the snow. You can’t and don’t want to put a stop to their fun, so you may as well prepare them for it. Good quality fabric ensures that your child is warm and dry in any type of snow conditions.
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Also look for reinforced hems at the bottom. Kids tend to walk on the back of the pant cuffs, wearing them down. Reinforced hems prevent the cuffs in kids’ ski pants from getting worn down too quickly.
Kids’ Snow Boots – Your Buying Guide for the Winter
It’s exhilarating to watch children stomp out into fresh snow. Their confident strides and their energetic play are the little joys that make winter absolutely wonderful. It is important to note, though, that an enjoyable and memorable winter begins with a great pair of kids’ snow boots. With a pair of snow boots that keeps your kids feet warm and dry, your child is all set to conquer the alpine landscape!
There are so many varieties of kids’ snow boots. To find a pair that is comfortable and ideal for your child, keep a few things in mind:
HOW TO SIZE YOUR CHILD FOR A SKI HELMET
We start at the point at which a baseball hat fits around your child’s head. Using a tape measure, we measure the circumference of the head. Generally, all helmets are measured in centimeters, so we use a metric tape measure. Once you know what centimeter size you are looking for, we recommend you try on a number of helmets as some helmets fit round heads best while others fit more oval shapes. By trying on a variety, your child will be the one to determine which helmet feels the best. Remember, in order for a helmet to provide the protection it offers, it must fit properly and the chin strap must be securely engaged. OVER SIZING FOR SEVERAL SEASONS OF FIT IS NOT RECOMMENDED!
HOW TO SIZE YOUR CHILD FOR GLOVES AND MITTENS
With the child’s hand in the glove or mitten, check to see that there is a pinch of room between the end of their finger tips and the end of the glove. This little bit of space offers additional insulation and allows for growth through the ski season.
HOW TO SIZE YOUR CHILD FOR SKI LENGTH
For the “never-ever” (anyone who has never been on skis before) we recommend staying short, somewhere between the top of the chest and the bottom of the chin. For the “novis” skier (anyone who is still learning the basics of skiing) we recommend a little longer length, say between chin and eye length. For the young “accomplished” skier, (anyone able to make parallel turns) we recommend yet a little longer length, somewhere between nose and head height. In all cases above, if your child is more rambunctious, and more aggressive in their play, we recommend staying to the longer end of the recommendations. And, naturally if your little one is more timid and cautious, stay to the shorter end of the recommendations. By following these guidelines, you can best assure your child will progress while enjoying their skiing experience.
HOW TO SIZE YOUR CHILD FOR SKI BOOTS
This is best left to a professional as they will have the proper measuring device for measuring U.S. as well as Mondo and European sizes.
HOW TO PICK A POWDER SKI FOR KIDS
What constitutes a child’s powder ski? Kids powder skis, just as with adult powder skis, are much wider, often softer and in most cases for kids, are twin tip models. Most all of the brand name ski manufacturers now produce “powder skis” for kids skiing lengths from 110cm. and up. The waist measurement for a kids powder ski start at 85mm. and are offered in waists up to 105mm. Naturally, the wider the ski, the more the “float”. The idea here is that by floating higher up in the deep snow, the resistance is decreased, and speed is increased, making for a more exhilarating powder snow skiing experience, and thereby enhancing the “grin factor”, and, after all, isn’t the grin factor what it’s all about?
So, how do you choose the width for your kid’s new ski? Here’s where some personal decisions have to be made regarding the intent of the use of this specialized ski. If this is intended only for powder days, (say 8” or more) go as fat as is available, as the fatter the ski, the easier it is to turn, making deep snow skiing a blast that any kid will really enjoy. In fact, if the season proves to be a snowy one, these powder skis may end up being the ski of choice for much of their season, as these fat skis ski plain old soft pack wonderfully! Just be careful not to compensate width for length. Here, all too often skiers are advised to buy a shorter length than their more traditional everyday ski because for some reason width makes up for length. Don’t, because it doesn’t. Buy them in the same length you would their traditional ski. They will not be any harder or slower to turn, and in fact will be easier to ski in the deep than their regular everyday ski can ever be! See above, (How To Size Your Child For Ski Length).
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH TWIN TIP SKIS, ARE THEY FOR MY KID
We have been asked to explain what the big deal is with twin tips, and why are so many adults as well as kids skiing on them as their everyday ski? The answer is really a simple one, evolutionary fun! Twin tip skis have been around the world of skiing on and off for many years, albeit in modified and various iterations of how turned up the tail has been. The twin tip concept initially came from sponsored athletes trying to improve their ”trick” abilities to “ride switch” and to help “stomp big air landings” with the advantage provided by the soft, turned up tails. Because the turned up tail actually improved those athletes abilities to push the envelope in regards to park tricks, big mountain skiing and even their “free riding”, the twin tip found a home in the manufacturers catalogs, and has become a standard in virtually every western ski shop’s ski rack offering. In their present form, twin tip skis have transcended the world of sponsored athletes, and are now offered to the recreational skier looking to take advantage of the twin’s ability to offer a variety of turn shapes, their great ability to “smear” turns, as well as their turned up tail’s ability to “machine gun” (spray) anyone skiing too close behind! There is also a playful aspect to the way a twin tip ski skis. They seem to ski short, and in fact do. It’s the result of the twin tip’s shorter running surface. Because the ski’s contact point in the tail is decreased by the turning up of the tail, the ski seems to, and in fact does ski shorter and “looser” under foot than a ski with a traditional tail configuration. They are truly meant for fun, and can go virtually anywhere.
WHAT IS ROCKER AND WHAT DOES IT DO FOR A SKIER
Now offered in children’s skis, rocker, simply put, is a second upward bend of between 10mm. and 40mm. It is generally found between 10cm. and 30cm. past the tip of a ski. In the case of a double rockerd ski, the same bend may also be found placed similarly in the tail of a ski. What rocker does is amazing! One of the first things you notice is how effortlessly the ski initiates a turn, regardless of whether you’re skiing hardpack, junk, crud or powder. This is a result of the “no catch” sweeping action of the ski tip rising slightly up off of the snow. Another benefit is greater floatation in deep snow as a result of the rocker in the tip. The additional bend helps prevent the tip from diving down into the deep snow, resulting again in a ski that seems effortless to turn on in deep powder! As manufacturers continue tinkering with the placement and degree of rocker, skis seem to get easier and easier to ski on in virtually any snow condition. None-the-less, it’s in deep powder that a rockered ski shines, allowing even novis skiers the ability to ski in conditions they never would have comfortably skied in before. And, for advanced and expert skiers, rocker makes powder skiing absolutely divine! Check it out, it works.
WHAT IS REVERSE CAMBER AND WHAT DOES IT DO FOR A SKIER
Simply put, reverse camber is variation of rocker, resulting in much of the same benefits.
INTRODUCING YOUR TODDLER TO SKIING
At KIDSPORT, we sell an excellent product to help you get your little one ready for their first trip to the slopes. LUCKY BUMS, provides us with a little 65cm. epoxy ski complete with an adjustable, free heel binding that allows you to slip in a pair of slippers, tennis shoe or snow boot, depending on whether your youngster is “skiing” on the carpet in the living room, on the grass in the yard or in the snow out back! In short order little ones develop a sense of balance, coordination and how to shuffle their feet. They really are a great aid in making the initial transition to real alpine skis and boots a far less involved and daunting task by giving the little one a sense of familiarity. Plus they are great fun anyway, as evidenced by every little kid who comes into our store wanting to immediately strap them on their feet and go for a shuffle.
A MUST HAVE SKI PRODUCT FOR TEACHING LITTLE ONES THE BASICS
The ubiquitous EDGY WEDGY has been, and continues to be the must have, go to aid for any parent wanting to take their little skier alpine skiing. We sell hundreds of these little ski tip ties which really help keep the skis from doing the splits as a new skier learns to control their skis while going downhill. You simply twist the two clamps onto the tips of the skis and presto! you’ve eliminated the chance of the skis running off in two different directions.
