Best Boy’s All Around Skis
Buying skis for (and with) your kids should be a fun experience; however, every one of the well-known ski companies has a high-quality junior line, which can sometimes make it hard to choose. In this review, I focus on all-around ski models, meaning that these skis work well for most conditions and can be used by advanced beginners and beginning advanced skiers alike. Unless your kid is a junior racer or wants to exclusively hit the terrain park, these skis will do just great from the slopes to easy powder.
When buying skis, first make sure you know your kid’s level of ability. There is really no gain in buying the most expensive race ski (the ones that usually cost the most) when for now your child only feels comfortable skiing at medium speeds down easy blue runs. Advanced skis are usually stiffer, much less forgiving, and even an intermediate skier can easily become frustrated on them. The rule of thumb is that beginner’s skis are soft and forgiving, while more advanced skis are stiffer and thus more responsive. Don’t try to be skimpy though by buying the lowest model you can find. When your boy tries to ski fast on a true beginner’s ski, he’ll soon notice that the edges aren’t gripping as firmly and will give out, especially in fast, tight turns. This is not a good thing, and can be dangerous. The skis reviewed here are all stiff enough to hold up safely at moderate speeds (nobody should go too fast on crowded slopes anyway), but are also forgiving enough to ensure a pleasurable day on the slopes.
These days, skiing the terrain park is the coolest thing to do, so when I recommend the best all-around ski for kids, I definitely have to take the terrain park into consideration. A number of the skis reviewed here feature “twin tips” (on both ends of the skis the tips curve upwards) and this feature is helpful, if not essential if your youngster wants to do tricks like skiing backwards or doing the rails. Snoqualmie Pass has a small terrain park (next to a major one) that has been designed mainly with kids in mind. I use it often with my students, as the terrain park has become a part of today’s skiing.
Since the introduction of shaped skis, I have always been an advocate for shorter skis. Yes, longer skis will offer more stability at higher speeds, but I just don’t believe anyone should go too fast these days because the slopes are crowded and accidents can happen so easily. In my opinion, a good middle-of-the-road length is what you need to look for. Standing up on their ends, the skis tips should reach somewhere between nose and chin, give or take an inch or so.
Generally, most kids’ skis are built to support skiers with a weight of up to about 140 lbs. If your child weighs a little more than that, or is especially tall, I suggest trying a shorter adult ski. Generally, adult skis are made from stronger materials and will much better support the extra weight.
Atomic Kids’ Rascal Alpine
A nice, light ski that will give your kid the versatility needed to conquer all slopes and all types of terrain and snow with confidence. I hear the ski turns quickly and its twin tip design will be beneficial if he wants to take it to the terrain park. Atomic skis are known for their fantastic edge grip. The ski feels very light and has the right amount of torsional stiffness for superb edge grip and stability. The ski, with its overall green and white design looks very cool.
Atomic Kids Rascal Alpine
Rossignol Blast
Like the Atomic, this twin tip ski will do its job perfectly on the slope, and will be awesome in the terrain park as well. It is very lightweight and shines at quick and easy turns. One of my weekly students loves this ski. Last season, he finally got his short turns dialed in and now we’re also going faster altogether. In his free time, he loves doing the smaller jumps in the terrain park and his Rossignol Blast performs wonderfully in all turns and all places he takes it to. The ski is forgiving, yet precise. Even though it is geared toward the terrain park, it gets my full recommendation as an all-around ski for the slopes as well. The ski comes with a durable, chip-resistant cap that will keep it from looking beat up after a season of ripping. The design rocks, too.
Rossignol Blast
K2 Apache
The Apache Junior must be one of the most popular skis among my junior students, because I see it a lot on the slopes and in the lift lines. It performs wonderfully, and seems to give my students amazing control and enough snappiness to do those short-turn drills I put them through. The ski is stable when they go faster, yet forgiving enough to not wear them out too soon. This ski has a wood core, which makes for a nice smooth ride. Edge grip is fantastic. A kids’ classic that I highly recommend!
K2 Apache
Völkl Mantra
The Völkl Mantra is quite a bit wider than your average all-mountain kids’ ski, which makes it a great ski for the powder! My Völkl connection tells me that even though the Mantra has a wider cut, the ski is amazingly easy to turn. It has a wood core for responsiveness and torsional stiffness, which is exactly where it should be to provide snappy performance as well as good edge-grip. On top of that, I am told that the ski is surprisingly forgiving. For a field report, the eleven-year-old brother of one of my girls owns and loves this ski. He is an intermediate to advanced skier and tells me that the ski feels really smooth when he skis it fast. I have seen him lay down some nice, tight short turns, and whatever he puts in, the Mantra seems to comply. The ski is black with a red Völkl logo and light gray patterns.
Volkl Mantra
Dynastar Team Trouble
Another twin tip ski, and a great choice not only for the park, but also for the slopes and pretty much all conditions he’ll encounter in a day of skiing. The ski is very light and has a good amount of torsional stiffness to get a good edge-grip, even in icy conditions. Most kids eventually want to get into the terrain park, that’s what’s in, and that’s what’s cool these days! However, some of the skis specifically designed for skiing the park (what is called jibbing) are too soft, and in my opinion, are not shaped enough to be a good choice for regular slope skiing. With the Dynastar Team Trouble, you have the best of both worlds, a ski that has enough stiffness and shape to beautifully perform on the slopes, while at the same time incorporating the twin tip design needed for the terrain park (allows him to ski backwards). It has a very cool, colorful design!
Dynastar Team Trouble
Head Monster Team Junior Skis
The Head Monster Team is probably one of the best choices for your beginning little skier. The Monster Team has a very forgiving flex, but that is by no means limiting. With this ski your kid can easily transition from beginner to intermediate skier without the need for having to upgrade. It performs wonderfully in all terrain. I know this because one of my students owns it. He’s progressed from pretty much a beginner level to skiing the steeper blues in only one season. We’ve also gone faster on the intermediate blues, and the ski held up very well when he put it on edge, carving nice medium and long turns. I love the way this ski looks, mostly red with a black and white bird design. The ski is well made with a durable snakeskin top finish and reinforced tips.
Head Monster Team Junior Skis
Völkl Tigershark Jr.
The Tigershark Jr. is a very good ski and proudly owned by two of my young students. Labeled as an entry-level ski, I believe it also finds its place in the intermediate category, and with even some room for advancement from there. With the Tigershark, we do everything from tight turns to fast long ones, one of my students have gone down several black diamond slopes with me using this ski. The ski has very good edge-grip and holds up nicely, even at faster speeds. Of course, there are other skis maybe better suited for ripping down the hill at high speeds. However, the Tigershark can be safely pushed to go a little faster as well. It is softer in flex, which makes it a perfect learning ski. A very nice ski for the beginner and intermediate young skier who wants to master all conditions.
Volkl Tigershark Jr. skis
K2 Kids’ Bad Seed
Let’s be realistic, most kids dig the way their skis look, and for them looks are sometimes more important than the way the ski perform. Cool looking skis are in, and right now what’s really cool is to look like a jibber, which is another word for a terrain park skier. For a long time now, snowboarding was the hip thing to do among the younger crowd, skiing was for adults and somewhat boring. Well now, with the introduction of jibbing, skiing is again rising on the coolness scale, with jibbing having its own style of fashion, its own vocabulary, and lots of fun gear to choose from. So in comes the K2 Bad Seed. This ski is a great all-around, all-mountain ski that is wide enough for awesome performance in the powder, and quick and snappy enough to do tight short turns or cruise down the groomers at a fast speed. The ski has a wood core to ensure a good flex. The core is wrapped with a fiberglass layer that gives the ski the torsional rigidity needed for good edge grip and quick reaction. With twin tips and a jibbin’ design, this ski is great in the park, but most importantly, delivers on the slopes and in all conditions. Your kid will look like a jibber, even if he’s just starting to master the blues!
K2 Kids Bad Seed
Armada Coda Junior
Armada makes everything from jackets, gloves, fleece, poles and t-shirts, but it is definitely one of the more unknown companies when it comes to skis. The Armada Coda is a unique looking and very good ski that is just as reliable on the slopes as it is in the terrain park. With its versatile side cut, it will give junior enough width underfoot to easily sail through the powder, and enough shape to be able to carve a nice, medium turn. Short turns should also be high on this ski’s list of tricks as the Armada Coda is snappy with an effective torsional stiffness. With its twin tips and durable finish, the ski will do very well in the terrain park (for which it seems to have been primarily designed). The ‘08 model is primarily white with a blue and black design. The ‘09 model looks even cooler. It’s a green ski with a reddish cartoon figure stretching over both skis.
Armada Coda Junior
Blizzard RC Race IQ Jr.
Coming up for the 2008/2009 season, the Blizzard RC Race IQ is going to be an amazing choice of ski for your kid this winter. Even though it has “Race” in its name, this ski is not intended to use in the gates. In fact, it is a great all-around ski that will cover all terrain and conditions beautifully. The ski has a very versatile side cut for the slopes and, due to its forgiving flex yet good edge grip and lively feel, it can be used by beginners and more advanced skiers alike.
Blizzard RC Race IQ Jr.
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I've personally been skiing on Rossi's since I was a kid. Now My kid is on them too! He's just about mastered parallel skiing and is having a "blast" on these Rossignol Blasts
While all these skis have their merits, an eight year old cares about the graphics the most. If it looks cool, he will ski better!
It's amazing how ski technology has changed. The Rossignol Blast are my nephew's fave.
