Kids Tele Gear Setups

[s_k_i_]

How do you all set up your kids? Resort/Backcountry etc...

My alpine racing kids want to tele ski like dad! I'm excited, they're excited, can't wait for snow. I've found both my boys some Garmont Teledactyls and G-Rex's to get started on. Now for the 3-pin binding question? Which one? Would a Voile 3-pin cable binding be enough? Or do I need a hardwire? Preface that these are for resort skiing and the boys are 5 and 8 years old. I'll throw a 3-pin on some cross country skis for them as well since that trail goes through my backyard too.

[Chick Maldonado]

Fun question to reply to - what a blast it was teaching my kids to ski.
The first two years, I started them them all off on Goodwill/Salvation Army (normally fitted - i.e. wrist) XC skis, 3 pins, and spaghetti boots. This developed balance and good, basic XC technique. The all learned the basic turn on skinny skis. Next I got them on short wide planks (new old stock LL Bean (Rossi) Boreals) with Chillis and NOS Asolo doubles (small boots are so easy to find on ebay... hated seeing them grow out of those beautiful Asolos). A couple of years later they graduated to Scarpa T2s, Tua Mini Megas and Fischer Freestyles - and again - NOS Chillis on SuperCarve risers. Now they're 16 and ski on twin tip Fischer Prodigies, the old Chilies and Supercarve setup, and Scarpa T1s. I can't keep up with them anymore - ha! They'll use the same setup this year and anticipate next year they'll be buying there own gear (I suppose I'll be helping). Overall - I equipped them with good used gear and made them start on skinnies to get the technique correct. I see a lot of young telemarketers with bad form - no idea how to actually turn - crouch and drag the trailing ski - they all learned on parabolic skis with plastic boots and beefy bindings - tons of edge control and easy turning skis - makes for quick stand-up and ski - but you might as well make them pay the price early. They'll thank you for it. Have a blast!

[bauerb]

I started Tele skiing when I was prob 9yo or so. we used our XC racing gear at the local alpine ski area. worked fine for us with no steel edges and no real boot support...later on it was old ski jumping bindings/boots mounted to alpine skis...things progressed from there. I don't know if learning Tele on all the "wrong" equipment taught me better technique or bad habits that I have to this day.

[Chick Maldonado]

I started Tele skiing...

Depends I guess - if your athletic learning on garbage equipment develops excellent balance control and edging. If you're not athletic I could see frustration and crappy habits forming. So -yeah I guess - it depends on the person.

[bauerb]

yeah, I was an xc racer, ski jumper and alpine skier at the time. I was used to a free heel. I knew edge carving from alpine skiing, but was used to having no ankle support or edges from xc skiing. I'm prob not the best person to ask for kids just starting...

[Chick Maldonado]

yeah, I was an xc racer, ski jumper and alpine skier...

Cool - We live near Eau Claire Wi - the local club's been around since 1890 and still has pretty good membership (also it helps to have a few super dedicated families). They are just completing a brand new 55 M ski jump. My 15 year old boys who both telemark gave it a shot last winter. The coaches were impressed with the telemark landings and thought they had some potential even tho starting late. Unfortunately, it just didn't click. They only tried it 3 nights and got to the 15M jump then the plague struck. I'm trying to get them to try it again this winter. A few more nights they would have been up to the 30 M jump and I think that's when the excitement really begins.
Regards -

[bauerb]

very cool. glad to hear that kids are still getting the chance to try classical ski jumping. I competed in Nordic Combined for years. my breaking point was the 70M in Lake Placid. I did it 1 time, and I knew I was done. I was about 15yo at the time, and 10-11yos were jumping the 70 like it was no big deal. I knew at that point I needed to focus on XC racing and let jumping go.

[Woodserson]

Boreals... that was a good idea, Chick!

[Chick Maldonado]

Boreals... that was a good idea, Chick!

Thanks - wish I would have used the supercarve risers with them tho - hard to get an edge on hardpack. Mounting them was a chore - had (Spring Street Sports) to grind the screws down so they wouldn't break thru. I don't want to remount them with the risers - leave well enough alone - they're great for bushwacking around woods in the midwest with light snow cover. Wish they still made them!

[BennyBlanco]

Anyone have some size 22 kids Teleboots they would like to sell, and ship to Canada? Got a couple young skiers who are interested in the tele!

Cheers,

Ben