How to Size Skis for Kids

Skiing is a great activity that can be done with the whole family. But, skiing can also be a fairly scary experience when you're initially starting out. That's why it's important that when you go to get skis for your child you make sure that they are the right size. You can measure for size either at home or by bringing your child to the ski shop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Tape measure
Conversion chart

Step 1

Measure your child from toe to somewhere between their chin and nose. If you have a cloth measuring tape that would be ideal. If not, a plain old tape measure will do the job.

Step 2

Convert the inches in to centimeters. Funny but skis don't come in inch lengths but, instead, come in centimeter lengths. You can find a good conversion chart online. Or, simply remember that every inch is equal to 2.5 centimeters.

Step 3

Go to the ski shop and find the appropriate length of skis. With children, you should be on the lookout for deals because kids grow fast and you'll be buying them new skis in a year or two.

Step 4

Have your child hold the skis up to his body. It's best if you can bring your child with you when purchasing the skis. That way, you can tell through this simple exercise whether your measurement was correct.

Step 5

Fit the skis. You'll want to make sure that you get boots that are properly fitted as well. There should be no more than 1/2 inch of wiggle room in the front. When you fit the skis with your child there, the installer can also adjust the binding on the skis to avoid any mishaps after crashes.

Tips & Warnings

Don't buy new. Kids skis don't get used for long and so used ones are generally in very good condition and can be bought for much less.

When setting bindings, you'll need to know your child's weight to have the tension set properly.

Article Written By Patrick Cameron

Patrick Cameron is a freelance writer with 10 years of diverse experience in consumer goods branding, promotions and retail communications. He works out of his home in Denver, Colo. He received his Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from the University of Minnesota.

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