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Toddler Ski Recommendation?
- Erik Henne
- [erikhenne]
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My question is around gear and what other folks would recommend. Most "kid" skis I'm finding seem much too long for toddlers. The Lucky Bums toy skis (compatible with snow boots) seems like a decent option, but I imagine learning turns would be more difficult with these skis and standard rigid ski boots (even if they don't fit right) would be helpful to a child who has just learned to walk.
What equipment have others had success with?
How well do boots need to fit at a young age?
Any recommendations for helmets?
Any other suggestions for successful introduction to skiing at a young age?
Thanks!
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- androolus
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- flowing alpy
- [flowing alpy]
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- ski_photomatt
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www.rei.com/product/890104/komperdell-ro...=cm_mmc:cse_PLA_GOOG
He's had fun walking around the house with them and we've taken him out to flat areas and pushed him around while wearing them. We haven't taken him to one of the "magic carpets" yet but plan to before the end of winter if we can find a sufficiently warm and sunny day. I imagine that at best this would involve snowplowing very slowly with him between our legs.
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- wickstad
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- MurphyTheDog
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Found some 80cm skis on craigslist which work great for her. The boots are too big but leaves room for socks that dont fit right without giving her foot pain and ruining our whole day. And since she isn't making turns as much as just a balance and the occasional pizza pie she doesnt need much more.
Picked up the Lucky Bum backpack with leashes which have worked really well. Need the leashes to stop her on the slope and the backpack is great for loading her on and off the chair as I can pick her up by the handle and ski on/off the chair with my little sack of potatoes.
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- weezer
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should be starting up in a few weeks. We started with little snow walks and felt successful
if we made 100yrds(mini skis and mini cables). Laps on the magic carpet were always fun.(almost free gear) It helps to avoid the busy times, Its crazy but sometimes the magic carpet is really busy
Some of our kids are kamikazes, and others are more into just looking around and snacking
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- chrism
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That said, I understand and feel the sense of urgency to get them skiing. Realizing that urgency is solely created by me was helpful. She's only a year and a half, and she's already playing in the snow and having fun. I call that success so far.
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- markharf
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When we take her to the hill, its so far just been with the goal of getting used to the bulky clothing and making sure she has fun playing in the snow with us. Eating snowballs, running around, and sliding just on her pants with us pulling her has produced plenty of happy giggles. That's the goal for now - I feel like they just have to enjoy being outside in the snow and cold first, and then they'll be psyched on sliding on the skis as an addition to that.
That said, I understand and feel the sense of urgency to get them skiing. Realizing that urgency is solely created by me was helpful. She's only a year and a half, and she's already playing in the snow and having fun. I call that success so far.
This sounds very wise. Starting out with specific goals like "getting my toddler skiing" can be a big mistake, since a significant number of little kids will respond to your urgency by resisting for all they're worth. If you've been chomping at the bit for several years, e.g., since infancy, conception, or concept, you're really loading the odds.
Instead, you want them hooked on the fun of being outdoors in the snow first and foremost. That accomplished, you can start to offer possibilities for building specific skills, including skiing. If the situation is not already fraught with parental expectations and plans, your kids will automatically want to do whatever they see you doing.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
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- Randito
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- blitz
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Our older kid learned skiing in the day care at the ski slope. Peer pressure is amazing in that age group - no crying or fussing - they went out twice a day with the day care instructors. Our second kid learned skiing following the older brother around. Again, peer pressure goes a long way, parents just cant do that...
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