Very Little Kids' skis for cheap?

[Severine]

Anybody know of a good source for cheap very little kids' skis? Like $60 and under, preferably including the shipping (and definitely including the bindings)? Used is perfectly fine. I'm looking for a pair of 67cm-70ish cm skis for my 17 month old. We have boots already, just need skis. He'll likely only be shuffling around, but who knows: he started walking at 9 months and is a daredevil, so it's quite possible we'll get him up the Magic Carpet this season. I don't want to invest a lot of money, though, since he won't be getting much use out of them overall.

Already tried the ski swaps, been checking eBay (though that size is HARD to find and when I can find them, they're expensive)... Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sususkier]

I would try Craigslist for your local area. I believe under "For Sale" there is a Sporting Goods section. I might post what you're looking for there. Also, eBay might be worth a shot.

 

[ski&bfree]

Have you tried kijiji?

 

[Severine]

I've been watching Craigslist... no luck there. Tried posting a WANTED on our local freecycle, too.

What's kijiji?

ETA: Nevermind, googled. Just checked: nada. :( Maybe I'm being too cheap, but last year we got a pair of 90cm skis at the local ski swap for only $10. So it's not impossible...

 

[itri]

Let me know if you find anything! Although I think we're probably going to opt for the kind with snowshoe-type bindings this year at least. I know my little man, and I'm relatively sure that an actual ski boot would freak him out. :D

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Wow, 60. That's INCREDIBLY tiny!
If you don't find anything, if I were you, I would make the focus outdoor snow play and perhaps find something "quasi-ski" for him to get used to the feeling of having something attached to his feet, even if for the walking around.

The general consensus is that large muscle coordination doesn't altogether kick in with children until at/around age 3, sometimes 4. (always are exceptions, of course) I didn't even bother with regulation equipment with my son until he was approaching 3 (December baby), and I recall that the skis (straight ski era) were 90's, bindings DIN range 0.5-2.5 (). (with a distinct body weight minimum)

Get him used to the whole "wind in your face" concept, being held facing downhill with parent in gliding wedge.

Will try to get to ski swap early at Sugarloaf for you next fall - one of the biggest in our region is in October at Fall Festival, and I believe that a lot of "Mini-Cuffer" (seasonal program for ages 3-5) equipment is traded at that time.

DS's 90 cm Fischers went through at least half a dozen kids after he outgrew them! Coveted! (wish I still had them, though :( - kinda like a kid's first pair of shoes!)

 

[KatyPerrey]

I will check in the Recycle Ski and Sport here in Frisco. Last time I was in they had a bunch of kids skis.

 

[itri]

Katy, that would be awesome if you could do that and let us know. My DS is 2 1/2 and while we don't expect to get him skiing per se this year, we definitely want to get him started getting used to the feel of having them on!

 

[Severine]

Let me know if you find anything! Although I think we're probably going to opt for the kind with snowshoe-type bindings this year at least. I know my little man, and I'm relatively sure that an actual ski boot would freak him out. :D

I would have gone with those plastic skis but I know they're forbidden at our local hill. And since the intent is to get him shuffling around there and up the magic carpet by the end of the season (when he'll be nearly 2 years old), we figured we'd go for the real deal. :D He loves his ski boots. Asks to put them on nearly daily.

The general consensus is that large muscle coordination doesn't altogether kick in with children until at/around age 3, sometimes 4. (always are exceptions, of course) I didn't even bother with regulation equipment with my son until he was approaching 3 (December baby), and I recall that the skis (straight ski era) were 90's, bindings DIN range 0.5-2.5 (). (with a distinct body weight minimum)

Get him used to the whole "wind in your face" concept, being held facing downhill with parent in gliding wedge.

Will try to get to ski swap early at Sugarloaf for you next fall - one of the biggest in our region is in October at Fall Festival, and I believe that a lot of "Mini-Cuffer" (seasonal program for ages 3-5) equipment is traded at that time.

I don't expect him to excel; just want to get him used to it. Plus it will make things more interesting for him when we're hanging out as a family at the local hill this winter. Thank you for the offer on checking out the swap next fall. :D

I will check in the Recycle Ski and Sport here in Frisco. Last time I was in they had a bunch of kids skis.

Thank you for offering to check this out!

 

[MaryLou]

We put our 2.5yo on skis last winter (he's an Aug. baby), bought those plastic ones for around the yard, etc...but they were a big PITA and didn't work so well. I really did not plan on getting him on real skis, but our mountain added a magic carpet last year, and figured we'd put him on it since he hangs out at the lodge with us anyway many days. The mountain would rent for $10 day (skis and boots), so we did that about 6-7 times last winter. HE LOVED the magic carpet - it was awesome. Not that he developed life long skills, but he's taking ski school this winter, so it's great to talk it up to him and he knows what to expect, etc. He actually thought skiing was the way to get back to the magic carpet.

Anyway...for this year we are leasing the boots and skis from a ski store for $99. Not the most economical, but since I expect he'll have a foot growth spurt sometime between now and the spring - this way we can trade up in boot size w/o added cost, so it may end up being a deal. Next year we'll probably buy boots b/c we have skiis we bought for our DD that should fit him (forget length, but second smallest). That may be an option for you.

 

[lilsmile7]

Little skis...

Head makes a 67cm ski - we started my daughter on them when she was 2 1/2 - and she had no problems - we actually got them used from our local little ski shop - they were used in the kids ski lease program that they have. I know a bunch of the shops around here do trade up programs - might be worth looking into... I think we paid under $100 for skis, boots, tip clips, harness and an awesome little t-shirt to go along

 

[Severine]

Thanks for the tip. We found a lot of used pairs for $70+ but didn't want to pay that much. Actually got a pair used from a fellow AZer for something like $40. Already had the boots so we're all set. :D Can't wait for Santa to deliver!

 

[lilsmile7]

Happy skiing... enjoy the thigh burn from trying to crouch down as low as the little ones can!!!