BC Nordic for The Babies (!?!?)

[greatgt]

Telekid has some of those strap on to any boot contraption....Two days ago Granddaughter holds them up with a big grin....."skiing".....Believe me...she will get anything this old fool can give....TM

[Johnny]

Although mine is only 3yo, she already has 7 pairs of skis (Which I think is a good age/skis ratio to follow...)

BC mostly consists in playing around the house here... More serious than this and it wouldn't be fun... But she had a season pass at the ski resort for 3 seasons now.. And she likes it a lot...!

[Young Satchel]

Although mine is only 3yo, she already has 7 pairs of skis (Which I think is a good age/skis ratio to follow...)

BC mostly consists in playing around the house here... More serious than this and it wouldn't be fun... But she had a season pass at the ski resort for 3 seasons now.. And she likes it a lot...!

[emoji24][emoji23][emoji108][emoji2532]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lilcliffy]

Hey man,
Great to hear from you.

I have a couple of sets of those very short toddler skis that have been mentioned- they are plastic with waxless scales. There are a number of designs out there- some of which do not have a free heel binding. The bindings that do not have a free heel are truly terrible and to be avoided. These skis are- well- meh...

As a note I have started all of my children on toddler snow shoes (younger than 2 years old). Snow shoes are a great way for them to build some strength and balance walking on deep snow without the added dimension of gliding.

You can buy NNN boots in VERY small sizes.

The most important thing is to find skis that are low cambered and soft enough so that they do not have to learn a Classic Nordic kick when they are first starting out. Learning how to ski on stiff double-cambered skis can be a very slippery miserable experience.

GRIP is everything when you are learning to XC ski. I won't allow my children to ski with poles until they have a couple of seasons in. Using poles to start is a real handicap because they will rely on the poles rather than learning to balance and move on the skis alone.

I cannot say enough good things about the Altai Balla Hok ski for little children. It is a dream Nordic touring ski for small children and is wide enough that it truly floats in very deep soft snow. My youngest has been using hers since she was less than 3 years old- she will be 5 on Xmas Eve. Last winter she spent countless hours yo-yo skiing on the little hill behind our barn! I wish I had had the Balla Hok for my older children!

As a next step up, I cannot say enough good about a 165cm Madshus Eon. This is a very soft ski that children can easily manage. I am planning on mounting a NNN binding on a 165cm Eon for my youngest this winter. Looking for a 165cm Eon cheap...
Gareth

[Young Satchel]

Hey man,
Great to hear from you.

I have a couple of sets of those very short toddler skis that have been mentioned- they are plastic with waxless scales. There are a number of designs out there- some of which do not have a free heel binding. The bindings that do not have a free heel are truly terrible and to be avoided. These skis are- well- meh...

As a note I have started all of my children on toddler snow shoes (younger than 2 years old). Snow shoes are a great way for them to build some strength and balance walking on deep snow without the added dimension of gliding.

You can buy NNN boots in VERY small sizes.

The most important thing is to find skis that are low cambered and soft enough so that they do not have to learn a Classic Nordic kick when they are first starting out. Learning how to ski on stiff double-cambered skis can be a very slippery miserable experience.

GRIP is everything when you are learning to XC ski. I won't allow my children to ski with poles until they have a couple of seasons in. Using poles to start is a real handicap because they will rely on the poles rather than learning to balance and move on the skis alone.

I cannot say enough good things about the Altai Balla Hok ski for little children. It is a dream Nordic touring ski for small children and is wide enough that it truly floats in very deep soft snow. My youngest has been using hers since she was less than 3 years old- she will be 5 on Xmas Eve. Last winter she spent countless hours yo-yo skiing on the little hill behind our barn! I wish I had had the Balla Hok for my older children!

As a next step up, I cannot say enough good about a 165cm Madshus Eon. This is a very soft ski that children can easily manage. I am planning on mounting a NNN binding on a 165cm Eon for my youngest this winter. Looking for a 165cm Eon cheap...
Gareth

Excellent recs and insight as always man! And yeah, I’ve been browsing some of the inexpensive plastic offerings with no free heel and can’t help but feel like it isn’t what I’m after. My younger guy is 3.5yrs, but is basically 5 as far as size, aptitude, and general abilities. I’ve gotta check out the Altais you mentioned. They may be a bit too advanced for him at this stage, but we’ll see....what Boot/binding setup did you use with her when she was on those at age 3???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lilcliffy]

https://us-store.altaiskis.com/product/balla-kids-hok/
Balla Hok with universal binding
The bomb for soft snow.

[Young Satchel]

https://us-store.altaiskis.com/product/balla-kids-hok/
Balla Hok with universal binding
The bomb for soft snow.

Says “Out of stock”

Also discovered these guys but that’s a hell of a lot of bread for some skis for the little man: https://www.gearx.com/oac-skis-poh-uc-100-w-binding


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lilcliffy]

Yeah- just did a quick search- doesn't seem to be any Balla Hoks out there at the moment. I would contact Altai directly.

I have a pair of OAC XCD 160cm- I hate them actually. They are totally bizarre- they have a camber and flex suited for hard consolidated snow, but they are waaaay to short to offer any glide or stability. They are bizarre.

No idea what the POH is like. The OAC KAR is reportedly very different from the Hok in terms of camber and flex.

[Johnny]

Yes, Altai Balla Hoks here too...!
Along with Kabooms and Asnes Blafjellskis...

[lilcliffy]

Yeah- I really want a couple pair of the Asnes Mountain Race Jr. for my two youngest...
Should have remembered that a few months back!!!