How to Size Cross Country Skis for Kids

While some parents are content to rent gear for their kids, those who ski with any sort of regularity know that getting a child his own equipment makes him take more ownership of the sport. Having his own gear will help him get a predictable performance and improve more quickly. When sizing skis for kids, several factors, including height, weight and ski type, come into play. Classic Nordic track skiing is done on longer skis in tracks pre-cut in the snow, with the skier kicking and striding in the track, while skate skiing is done on shorter skis with an ice-skating stride on a groomed trail. Backcountry touring takes the skier off-trail into ungroomed and often untracked snow.

Instructions

    • 1

      Research the terrain in your area and figure out what type of your skiing your child will be doing the most. Cross country skis are more specialized than they were 20 years ago; some are designed for classic track skiing, some for skate skiing, and some for backcountry touring.

    • 2

      Consider whether your child will need metal edges or not. Metal-edged skis provide better performance on traverses and when skiing downhill, so they are ideal for backcountry touring. Some skis are made with partial metal edges, a compromise for all-around performance. For skiing at nordic resorts, metal edges are superfluous.

    • 3

      Factor in the weight of your child when choosing the ski. For children of normal weight skiing in average conditions, a ski that is 10 cm to 30 cm longer than the child's height is ideal, while for children between the ages of 3 and 5, skis should be about the same height as the child. Lighter skiers can go shorter, while heavier skiers should go longer. The manufacterer of each ski will provide additional size guidelines.

    • 4

      Check the width of the ski at its waist. Wider skis are more stable, while narrower skis ski faster. Choose a width that is best for the terrain you will be skiing. If you are in a location with heavy snow and will be skiing off trail, go wider. For Nordic resorts, narrower skis are better.