SELECTING EQUIPMENT FOR YOUNG RACERS

Choosing the right equipment is essential to the enjoyment and success that youngsters find in skiing.  Here are some hints to properly outfit young skiers:

Good skis and boots take priority over fancy race clothing.  We cannot stress that point enough.  It is important that you get the right size boots and skis.  We have seen way too many people order the wrong sizes and have to spend too much time having to deal with returns, etc.  

Skis – F or J2 and older there are strict rules for ski sizing.  Men's minimum sizes are 165 cm SL, 180 GS, 200 SG, 215 DH.  Women's minimum sizes are 155 SL, 175 GS, 195 SG, 205 DH.

All racers will need a good pair of race/training skis and a pair of rock skis.  If athletes will have one pair of race skis it is best to get a SL model.  Some athletes may want to have separate skis for slalom and giant slalom, but this is not required.  Some of you may want to use last year’s G.S. skis for your slalom skis this year.  You may want to use last year’s skis for this year’s rock skis. The correct length is always a question and should be answered by the Company representatives.  A general guideline is:  Slalom – to the chin; G.S. – to the top of the forehead; S.G. – 10 cm longer than G.S.  If using one pair of skis size to the nose.

Boots and  Footbeds – The athlete must be able to flex the boot as basic skiing skills involve ankle and knee flexion.  The boot should be shell sized (take the liner out, insert foot, push to front, there should be no more than 2 fingers space behind the heel).  Boots should not come up and constrict the calf muscle.  We strongly recommend having a foot be made (each year for growing feet) to prevent foot fatigue, stress, and to keep the skeletal alignment of the foot correct.  The boots are the critical part of the equation and it is not the place to skimp!  Jeff Bokum is our club contact for boot fitting.  He charges $75 for a footbed and that is about half of the normal rate.  He will also replace them each year for growing feet at a minimal cost.   He can be contacted at skiiboot@aol.com or 491-4917 (cell).

Poles – Poles need to be of the proper length.  We like to see slalom poles about up to the chest, so that when the athlete is standing in an athletic stance, with pressure on the tongue of the boot, the hands can be held at chest height without having to drop the hands to plant the poles.  Athletes who are clearing the gates in slalom (usually  J4 and older) need to have hand guards on their slalom poles.  If you choose to buy bent poles for G.S. and speed events (not required), they need to be a bit longer than slalom poles.

Eye protection – PPST participants are required to wear proper eye protection at all times.  Goggles are required when training gates.  Athletes need to have different lenses for varying light conditions.

Slalom Protection – For older athletes blocking gates, a face guard or mouth protector is mandatory.  If athletes don’t have the face guard on their helmet, inexpensive mouth protectors are available at sport supply stores.  Shin guards and pole guards will be necessary as the athlete begins to get closer to the gates.  A padded “stealth” is also a good thing to have, though not required, for the more advanced slalom skiers.

Helmets – Helmets are mandatory in G.S. training and racing as well as in all speed event activity.  We encourage wearing a helmet for slalom also, or at least a face guard.

Wax- With the advent of very expensive high flouro waxes, it is important that you get your own supply if you are racing at the upper levels.  Do not use high flourocarbon waxes on your skis regularly as this will change the base structure.  Use regular wax and then for races use the expensive stuff.  Topical additives such as Cera F or Wet jet, etc. will definitely make a difference in certain snow conditions.  PPSC coaches will occasionally have some on hand for the big races but as a general rule we can't afford to use it all the time.  So, you may want to get your own.  We will have a wax and tuning clinic later on in the season where you can order wax also.