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For the U10 skier

  • SL Ski

    Votes: 9 50.0%
  • GS Ski

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • They need both, an SL and GS ski.

    Votes: 3 16.7%
  • Combo ski

    Votes: 6 33.3%

  • Total voters
    18

oldschoolskier

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I’m going to throw the question back to you as an industry insider you have a better idea of how big a selection is available. In this age group is the selection that big and does it really make a difference?

Second part is form an athlete development program, at this age it is about 2 things. First is setting the hook to develop the passion to train and race. The second is skill development, snow feel and coordination. Specialized equipment hinders that as it steers development one way. From my perspective in sports in general, go a combination ski. Keep cost down learn all aspects and progress into specialized tools later.
 

James

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Second part is form an athlete development program, at this age it is about 2 things. First is setting the hook to develop the passion to train and race. The second is skill development, snow feel and coordination. Specialized equipment hinders that as it steers development one way. From my perspective in sports in general, go a combination ski. Keep cost down learn all aspects and progress into specialized tools later.
If one is in a specific program, they might have different ideas. Apparently in France or Austria you’d be told - that’s great, now just go get a sl and a gs ski.
 

HardDaysNight

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If one is in a specific program, they might have different ideas. Apparently in France or Austria you’d be told - that’s great, now just go get a sl and a gs ski.
Well overall when one considers the record of Austria and France in developing tech racers compared with the US ... Alternatively find out what Shiffrin’s parents did and do that :ogcool:
 

oldschoolskier

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If one is in a specific program, they might have different ideas. Apparently in France or Austria you’d be told - that’s great, now just go get a sl and a gs ski.
Wasn’t asking as an Austrian, the moment you start to walk you start to ski, which I how I started (so yes there are exceptions).
 

Brian Finch

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As the parent of a U10, SL ski:

•Kids are learning to ‘match angles’
•SL will be easier to carve in small spaces
•Most brands combi skis are flat, SL usually gets you a 2 piece plate for the first time
•Shorter & more likely to be carried by your kiddo than a longer ski
•U10s tend to run a 60 flex boot & loading a SL ski worked better
 

oldschoolskier

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Well overall when one considers the record of Austria and France in developing tech racers compared with the US ... Alternatively find out what Shiffrin’s parents did and do that :ogcool:
I’m glad you said this as LTAD (long term athlete development) is starting to realize that push at at early age advances a very select few top the very top of the world (these are the lucky few to physically survive it), however the rest in this system are cannon fodder and a physically damaged by such a system. The slower but better yielding system produces more at the top level through a less aggressive approach. You can see this in all sports

Think of it as the “My kids going to be the best, so lets push them as hard as possible”. Down side Is long term physical health issues (generally joints).

Talk to a pediatric arthritis specialist and see what they say about joint wear on early teenage athletes. Scary actually that some have joints of 30-40 year olds.
 

JTurner

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The most consistent advice I got from coaches and race shops when I had a U10 was make sure to get a vertical sidewall ski with real construction and sintered bases. I think many (most) of the multi event skis are built like cap rec skis and some even have extruded bases that don’t take wax well or hold up to a sharp poly scraper. And I did notice on the first pair of multi event skis we had at U8 they didn’t like to stay flat very long, just not built rigid enough I guess.

In any event, then the recco was SL if only one ski, but that might be due to our limited vertical locally, it could very well be a region and program philosophy specific thing.
 
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Philpug

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We are putting the smaller kids on combi skis. Some of the coaches are suggesting GS's but when we can, err to the SL.
 

Rudi Riet

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It depends a lot. Frankly, at the U10 level we just try to keep things fun. A kombi ski means the young skier only needs to master one set of boards for the season. That said, they're more ideal for the lighter weight junior. A junior slalom ski has a bit more "oomph" than a similar kombi ski, a bit more sidecut (but only slightly more). The SL approach is better for the more technically adept U10s, as they can work the ski better. But a kombi ski will work well for the majority of training and racing situations for these youngsters.

One thing to keep in mind is that these junior skis have two seasons in them at the very most. For those whose seasons are longer, maybe one season of true performance from the ski.

Frankly, I'd rather see the kids not specialize at U10 levels and simply enjoy skiing. These kids should be building skills, testing their limits on all kinds of terrain and snow, developing balance and tactics and developing a full quiver of skills.

And to wit: starting the arms race with ski purchases at a U10 age will shut more families out of the sport more quickly. So get the best pair of skis for the individual athlete. Have the coach engage with the ski shop to guide the purchase so the athlete doesn't get a ski that will fight against them.

Once they are U12s, then it's worth thinking about separate skis for SL and GS, especially if the kid has a growth spurt and can handle a longer ski for GS. Typically that's in the second year of U12s from my experience, but sometimes athletes get bigger earlier (especially the young women).

So the TL;DR answer:

Lighter/less technically adept U10s: kombi ski
Heavier/more adept U10s (or those who can't track down a kombi ski because they're sold out): SL ski in a similar length to a kombi
 

Gar

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I am a U10 Coach and a USSA Coach, all depends on their ski level and is highly dependent on where they race. Here in the Midwest the courses tend to be tighter and shorter and you can get away with using a slalom skis for a few years, but most do eventually jump into a GS ski with a shorter radius 16-19. I would typically go with a longer SL pair, as Comish put it.
 

Swede

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I am a U10 Coach and a USSA Coach, all depends on their ski level and is highly dependent on where they race. Here in the Midwest the courses tend to be tighter and shorter and you can get away with using a slalom skis for a few years, but most do eventually jump into a GS ski with a shorter radius 16-19. I would typically go with a longer SL pair, as Comish put it.

After a few years they’re no longer U10:s ;)
 

Rudi Riet

AKA songfta AKA randomduck - a USSS coach, as well
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After a few years they’re no longer U10:s ;)

Under the the U.S. Ski and Snowboard definitions, they're "U12 and Younger" - U10 and U8 no longer technically exist in the grand scheme of things. ‍:huh:
 

Gar

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Rudi, that pretty much sums it up, seems like the rules get re-written yearly, especially when it comes to USA/USSA/FIS ski length and radius. Maybe some ski manufactures sit on the board over at US Ski Team... LOL ;) Try turning a 193cm 30 meter radius on a hill around the Midwest, it's like steering a Semi on Ice! ;) You bring up some great points above on (Ability level etc) My U16 son, is on FIS skis, but ran Cross Country this year and became taller and lighter, now those stiff FIS skis don't want to flex much, so I might be looking at putting him on a different ski that has more flex (Fischer or Rossignol non-FIS) might do the trick. Trying to get him to bulk up, but he runs a 4:31 mile, so his options are much better in the running realm for scholarships verses Skiing!:thumb: Regardless he is trying to get back to State Championships and Nationals, so I need to act quickly trying to change him to a different brand mid-year isn't going to happen, so a non-FIS model should do the trick. (hopefully).
 
Last edited:

karlo

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Length isn't the issues we are pretty solid on where to go there be it SL or GS.
Who is “we”?
Seems to me a U10 has a coach. And the coach will have a preference.
 

ella_g

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@Gar just tuning in to say, 4:31 is very fast! Dont let him get hurt skiing!!! Just kidding but thats an impressive goal. Must be a great kidogsmile
 

markojp

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Who is “we”?
Seems to me a U10 has a coach. And the coach will have a preference.

You'd be surprised at how many U10 level coaches are fairly discontected from specific gear knowledge and don't have active, ongoing gear conversations with parents of younger kids. Age level program directors though should be a solid resource.
 

Comish

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Nice work on the 4:31! I thought my 4:35 wasn't too bad back in the day after 4 years of training. If he did that after 1 year he should definitely keep running!

Agree on the comment that many U10 coaches have no clue. I asked them for opinions before buying skis and basically got none, even after they had my son for a year or two. I go buy a bunch and last spring get the "he needs to gain 20 pounds or get softer skis". Would have appreciate the input that for a smaller/lighter kid I should have been looking to Rossi/Dynastar all along...
 

hbear

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SL ski if only one ski. Better skiers should also spend time on a GS ski (not for specilization) but instead to properly learn to carve the ski rather than just ride the sidecut.
Fundementals are key, GS ski illuminates things that can be masked with SL ski at that age.
 

Marin

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I would say SL skis .
The reason is, at that age to me is most important to learn perfect short SL turns then long GS turns. Once they know how to do short SL turns it is very easy to shift to GS turns.
With SL skis you can do both short or Long , with GS skis vnot easy to do short turns specially at that age.
This is my theroty but I may be wrong.
 

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