Arrowhead Ski Team - Equipment SeminarBasics - Head to Snow 1) Helmets - Race Specific Helmet is required for both training and racing. No exceptions. U14 and older must have a FIS Sticker on their helmets. 2) Goggles - Good pair of goggles go a long way. Multiple lens options especially for night training is critical 3) Jacket and layers - Come dressed to the conditions. No cotton. 4) Pants - Full Zip Off pants are strongly suggested 5) Race Suit - Strongly suggested but not mandatory. 6) Thin pair of socks - never double layer or cotton 7) Boots - Most important piece of equipment, do not skimp, ‘grow in to’, or rent. • Must fit this criteria: Correct fit (they will be ‘tight’), not too stiff, not worn out (look at toes and heels and liner).
9) Skis - Most important thing about skis? Must be tuned and waxed WEEKLY.
Why? A pair of slalom and GS skis are highly encouraged for Comp Hybrid athletes. Fat skis are also crucial to this as well since we spend the majority of our time free skiing powder, crud, moguls, trees, etc. This teaches the athletes all of the fundamentals required for racing, plus it’s way more fun than just drill after drill and course after course. As we continue to grow, this is going to be extremely important to meet our philosophy of creating strong skiers first, racers second, and competitor’s of all. Race Vs. Recreational - Get the race ski. Don’t get a ‘Recreational Carver’. No rentals. Please. So… what should my athlete get? This is dependent on each athlete, but here are our suggestions: These will apply to Mavericks as well. Sizes will vary; consult with your coach for which size to get. Not everyone will need the “All in Packages” those are there for those that do. Used is often a GREAT way to go for park and fat skis, not always for race skis, but sometimes you can get lucky. All in Package:
Comp Hybrid Required Equipment:
What Brand? This is all preference and really doesn’t make a huge difference unless your athlete has a unique style of skiing at U14 and up that suits a certain brand better. Nordica race skis are Coach Tyson’s preference for junior skiers as they tend to last longer, are super fast, and are more aggressive (stiffer tip) which makes the athletes work a little harder. Once they hit the U16 level, finding a brand that works best for their skiing and sticking to it is important. Having the same brand for Slalom and GS is also important so they don’t have to adjust anything. However, how the ski is tuned will have the greatest effect on how it skis. Come to our tuning seminars to learn how to get them just right for you. Boot BrandsThis would take another 10 pages to explain, at least. Each brand will have a different fit and many lines to choose from. The best suggestion is to try on as many as possible until the perfect one is found (with your coaches help). If you’ve never worn a race boot before, they will be uncomfortable at first. That’s normal. If fit properly, they’ll work just peachy after a day or two of wearing them around the house. Each year in September we’ll have an Equipment Night where all athletes can come try on boots from various manufacturers and get fit properly by their coach or a professional that understands the unique needs of a ski racer. You can also purchase all other gear needed for the year here. Stay tuned for more info on our Ski Swap as well. Vocab -
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