Race Equipment Recommendations

There are only a few “rules” when it comes to finding the right equipment, and Rule One is hand me downs rarely work well since they were intended for someone else, and unless the person receiving the hand me down is identical to the original user, then a compromise is being made.

Equipment Summary by Age

· All participants must wear a FIS approved helmet at all times – see notes below.

· Participants are not permitted to wear speed suits – not necessary at this age.

· Only one pair of skis required – see Ski Selection Chart below.

· A Racer’s Boot Bag that can store boots and helmet – very helpful for any away event. There are knapsack styles available which keeps hands free for carrying skis and poles.

· All participants must wear a FIS approved helmet at all times – see notes below.

· Participants are permitted to wear speed suits

· Only one pair of skis required – see Ski Selection Chart below.

· A Racer’s Boot Bag that can store boots and helmet – very helpful for any away event. There are knapsack styles available which keeps hands free for carrying skis and poles.

· Side zipped ski pants or shorts that can easily be removed just before the racer starts.

In U12, racers will be introduced to blocking a full slalom gate. This requires pole guards to protect their hands and a separate set of poles to mount the guards on as well as shin guards and face guard or bar to attach to their helmet. The coach will indicate when the time is right for your racer (most frequently in second year of U12) to begin learning this technique.

· All athletes must wear a FIS approved helmet at all times – see notes below.

· Athletes are permitted to wear speed suits.

· At U14 most athletes have both slalom and GS specific skis – this is recommended

· See the ski selection charts below.

· Many athletes as well have separate GS and Slalom poles.

· Athletes need slalom shin guards and slalom pole guards for slalom training and racing and it is highly recommended that they have a face guard on their slalom helmet and a mouth guard which they wear to protect their teeth.

· Slalom face guards may not be worn on helmets for GS or SG training or racing.

· Slalom Pole guards may not be worn during GS or SG training or racing.

· Boot bag/knapsack and side zipped warm up pants/shorts.

· You may find it more convenient to have two helmets (Slalom and GS) to avoid having to install or remove the slalom face guard depending upon the training and/or racing schedule – very often both events are trained/raced on the same weekend.

For Super G training and racing athletes must use Super G specific skis – see the ski selection charts above – many athletes do not purchase Super G skis but rather rent of borrow them for the few days that they require them – please consult your coach for details
For Super G training and racing athletes must wear back protection specifically designed for alpine speed events.

· All athletes must wear a FIS approved helmet at all times – see notes below.

· Athletes are permitted to wear speed suits.

· At U16/U19 athletes need to have both slalom and GS specific skis – See the ski selection charts below.

· Athletes must have separate GS and Slalom poles.

· Slalom face guards may not be worn on helmets for GS or SG training or racing.

· Slalom Pole guards may not be worn during GS or SG training or racing.

· Boot bag/knapsack and side zipped warm up pants/shorts.

· For Super G training and racing athletes must use Super G specific skis – see the ski selection charts below – many athletes do not purchase Super G skis but rather rent of borrow them for the few days that they require them – please consult your coach for details.

For Super G training and racing athletes must wear back protection specifically designed for alpine speed events.

Alpine Ontario Equipment Reference Chart

boots

The most important item of equipment is the boots. They have to be a correct fit and style for the user. For racing kids, boots need to be snug when they put them on, and when the buckles are done up the boot must tighten up slightly – not so tight that the feet go numb but tight enough that their shins do not rotate in the cuff of the boot and that their heel stays on the sole of the boot when they flex (bend) forward. The toes should not cram up against the front of the boot at any time. Leave room at the toes and ensure the ankle is secure in the boot. Do not get boots which are too stiff. This is the most common fault that young racers make when they purchase new boots. The boot may flex a little in the store, but outside when the temperature is well below zero, if the boot is too stiff it will prevent the child from making the correct move forward which will result in sitting back while skiing. This is poor technique and can also contribute to knee and ankle injuries. The boot is the child’s connection to the ski and the snow; if the fit is not right then it will be difficult for the child to progress.

helmets

Helmets are mandatory for all members of the Mansfield Race Programs.

Training Squad participants may wear a children’s ski helmet that is specifically designed for alpine skiing. At this age group we often see helmets that have soft covering over the ears. While these are not recommended they are permitted for Training Squad participants.

At all times during training and racing, all NFS and U8 through U19 participants must wear a crash helmet specifically designed and labeled for alpine skiing – it must have a smooth surface with no spoilers, protrusions or attachments (including camera mounts) other than a slalom face guard attached to the front of the helmet as per the helmet manufacturer’s instructions and which is only used during slalom training and racing. With the exception of helmets manufactured specifically for U14 to U19 slalom events, which may have soft ear covering, all ski crash helmets must have a hard shell over the ears.

Slalom specific helmets (soft eared with face guards) are only permitted for slalom gate training and racing – they are not permitted for free skiing with the team or for GS or Speed training and racing.

To be effective a helmet must be a perfect fit. A helmet should fit snuggly and have no pressure points.

It should not droop down over the eyes, and at the back it should not extend below the bottom of the skull where it meets the neck (the occipital bone).

The helmet must allow for goggles to fit inside the face frame, and it must have a functional chin-strap.

U14 to U19 athletes are recommended to wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth.

Skis

*See selection chart below

For U10 and U12 racers one pair of skis is preferable. Generally a GS or Sport Race ski is the most versatile choice. The length of the ski depends entirely upon the height, weight and current ski ability of the child. Do not get skis that they will grow into, long skis are harder to turn and a child will make slow progress if the skis are too long. The side cut of the skis also greatly determines the ease of turning. Skis with a narrow waist (center) and a wide tip and tail will turn and carve more easily.

As kids approach the U14, U16 and U19 age groups many of them need to have GS and Slalom skis. The difference is in length and side-cut. Slalom skis will be between 130 and 165 cm while GS skis will be between 150 and 185cm depending upon height and weight. Junior race skis should serve your child well until they are at least 14 years of age.

poles

For younger kids one set of poles is all that is necessary and a Slalom (straight shaft) pole is preferable as it is most versatile. Proper pole length is very important. If the pole is too long the child has to swing it excessively and pop up in order to make a correct pole plant, and if it is too short then they have to lean too far forward to plant the pole. Both of these situations contribute to poor technique and slow progress. The proper length is to have the child stand straight, in a pair of street shoes, and measure from the ground to half way between their navel and their sternum. This is the correct length for poles. Children should not have slalom blocking guards on their poles until they are strong enough skiers to cross block. These guards tend to encourage young skiers to reach across their body in order to hit the pole which causes excessive rotation and actually makes it harder to learn how to cross block. Junior poles are relatively inexpensive and need to be changed frequently as the child grows.

Once the kids have GS and Slalom skis, then they also need GS and Slalom poles. Use the method above to determine length for the slalom pole and add 5+ cm for a GS pole.

Ski Selection Chart U10 to U19

Turning Radius indicates the minimum TR > suggested lengths greater than or equal to

Age/Gender	U10	U12	U14	U16 Women	U16 Men	U19 Women	U19 Men	FIS Women	FIS Men
Weight LBS	> 60	60-75	60-90	80-100	100-120	100-130	130-150	100-150	130-170
Slalom Ski (cm)	120+	120-130	135-140	145-150	145-150	155	155-165	155	155-165
GS Ski (cm)	125+	130-140	145-150	158-165	165-172	178-183	183-188	183-188	190-195

Weight		75-85 lbs	90-110 lbs	100-120 lbs	120-140 lbs	130-160 lbs	170-180 lbs	150+	170-180

Slalom Ski (cm)		130-135	140-145	145-150	150-155	155	155-165	155	165
GS Ski (cm)		140-145	155-165	165-172	172-177	178-183	188-191	183-188	190-195

Weight		85-100 lbs	110-130 lbs	120-140 lbs	140-160 lbs	160+ lbs	180-190 lbs	160+	180-190
Slalom Ski (cm)		135-140	145-150	150-155	155-160	155	165	155	165
GS Ski (cm)		145-150	165-175	175-180	178-183	183-188	188-191	183-188	190-195

Weight		100+ lbs	130+ lbs	140+ lbs	160+ lbs		190+ lbs		190+
Slalom Ski (cm)		140-145	150-155	155	160-165		165		165
GS Ski (cm)		155-165	175-178	175-180	183-188		191+		190-195

Turning Radius			GS TR >17M	GS TR >21M	GS TR >23M	GS TR >25M	GS TR >30M	GS TR 30M	GS TR 30