Junior Nordic Kindergarten

 

 

 

What can I do to get ready?

• Make sure your child's equipment fits and is functional. 
  • The best thing to do is take your child, with all their gear and clothing, to one of the local sporting good stores and have everything checked out.
  • The following local sports stores specialize in cross-country gear:  Leavenworth Mountain Sports, Der Sportsman, Arlberg, and The Second Wind

  

Have your kids ski around the living room.  It's a great way to test skis and boots for fit, and it's fun too!

 

Kindergarten Equipment:

Skis: Waxless Classical

• What are waxless classical skis?  They are cross-country skis made for set tracks, and they have a 'fish scale' pattern printed in the center of the base.
• What size skis should I get for my kid? 
  • (1) Ask this question at your local sports store, or bring their current skis to have them checked for fit.
  • (2) If it's not possible to have a local ski store check your child's skis for fit, then call me.  Kevin's phone number 548-0815 

Poles: Classical Poles

• With the poles pointed down and your child standing straight, the top of the grips should be snug in their armpit, thereabouts, or slightly shorter. 
• Well fitted poles are important for propulsion.
• The poles need to have a strap attached to the grip
• We won't introduce poles until after the first week of practice, so it's okay to come without them, at first.

Bindings/Boots

• The bindings and boots must work together (there are two different types of noncompatible classical bindings).
• Make sure your childs bindings fit with their boots:  Have them try on the boots and skis, and have them ski around your living room. 
• Please, no strap in bindings!  We will need to have your child skiing with real skis, boots, and bindings.

Mittens/Gloves

• Your child will let you know if their hands are cold.  Hands are important, so let's get them covered.
• I recommend you have a couple choices of mittens and gloves on hand for your little skier.  Check the local ski stores, there are many options out there. 

Parka

• Again, choices reign.  It's a good idea to have more than one with you, and let the conditions at the trailhead dictate the final choice.
• Keep in mind that it gets cold pretty early in the afternoons in January.  Forget about what the weather is doing at 3PM when you are packing for this evening's practice session.  Instead, keep in mind that your child may be out there until well after dark.

Pants

• As long as they are warm, they fit, and they are made for snowsports they'll be fine. 

Socks

• Make sure they fit on your child's feet when their feet are inside their boots.
• Important: Make sure there are no big wrinkles--those wrinkles will bunch up against their skin and cause pain.
• Kids feet tend to get cold easily, so get socks that are made for cold weather sports.

Thermal Underwear

• Thermal underwear should be made for snow sports (synthetic or wool as opposed to cotton).
• There's lots of choices at your local sporting goods store, and one set of bottoms and tops are all you will need.

Ski Sweater

• Depending on the thickness of your childs jacket, this may be needed.

Ski Hat

• They will need this!  Try to get a warm one.

 

 Here's an example of a well equipped young skier.  Though we would prefer the poles have straps.