Freeskiing skis can be what ever you can find.
Companies do not make many race skis for 8 yr olds.
When they are gone. . .  Remember, she can get race form.
Used kids race skis in good shape are hard to find.  

Take care of the race skis and put your next kid on them.
I agree with the post about finding a good ski boot.  Smaller
the foot the harder it is.   Used kids boots can be sketchy.
They tend to use softer plastic and the soles wear out if the 
kids walks on pavement.   

Kids boots have been improving.  I hate the Rossi kids race boot that
has the plastic diamond on the back that inhibits flex.   Lange jr boots
tend to flex well.

One thing about our council.  GS suits are not allowed.  So he won't feel
the need to buy one of them until she is 11.

Thanks for the nice words Ben.  Kids in race program:
- ski with a decent skier/coach that is not their parent.
- get pushed by their group.
- learn to carve at an early age.

It is amazing what that combination can do.   There are 7 yr olds making
turns that use to only be seen on the world cup.   The reason this is 
happening is the new equipment.

Good equipment won't ensure your kids will win any medals.  Mediocre
equipment will ensure she won't.  

As an eight year old, she will be one of the older kids in her age
group (7-8).   Most of the eight year olds will have had one year of racing
already.   So she has some catching up to do.  Make it easy on her.

Kids ski racing is a long journey.  Enjoy every step of the way.  Just let
it happen.   There are some many highs and lows, but it is worth it.

I love it when parents or other relatives tell me how their 8 year just 
gave a polling clinic.  My kids are all ways telling me what I am doing 
wrong.  They are always dead on, unfortunately old habits die hard.



On Thu, 1 Sep 2005 11:16:24 -0700, John Crowley, Jr. <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>FWIW - I agree with what Dana said in the below post and his previous one.
>
>P Salt's kid is 8 and a first-timer to the program.  New skis, sure, I
>can see that (and earlier I didn't mean she wouldn't be able to know
>the difference; I just meant she will improve no matter what).
>
>But race skis and a free ski pair, to start the season?  They didn't
>sign up for the World Cup (yet).
>
>Her and P Salts aims for starting this season should be on fun and
>becoming a better overall skier, not winning races.  Not that winning
>races isn't fun, but that focus will come with time and that's when
>they can become more serious and spend the money.
>
>Maybe sooner, maybe later... perhaps even mid-season, but not right now.
>
>
>On 9/1/05, Dana Dorsett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Benjamin Kulas [[log in to unmask]] writes:
>>
>> > I think it was with TOS that I took about 10 racing tykes into some
>>
>> >gnarl off the double, and let me tell you, I was impressed with the
>>
>> >way they could carve after they had survived the woods and cliffs....
>>
>> And HOW many of them were 8 years old, on race skis as their first pair of
>> shaped skis, and in their first ever season of racing???
>>
>> I'm bettin' the answer is zero. (Cood be rong, offen am.)
>>
>> Certainly by the time she's skiin' trees & cliffs a race ski will make an
>> important difference, but I don't have the impression that she's anywhere
>> near that league yet. (Again, cood bee rong... )
>>
>> I've Peter's made of money, sure- set her up, build a quiver even, but I
>> dunno- he seems like one o' them best-bang-for-buck kind o' guys to me.
>>
>>
>> dana
>>
>> _____________ ________ __
>>
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>>
>> __( ________ __ $B;3%9%-!< (B!_
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>> ___ (J\ (B ________ ________ __
>>
>> ____) ______ __________ _
>>
>> ___/ ______ ___________ _
>>
>> __(  o ____ __________ __
>>
>> __  (J\ (B(| (J\ (B.____ _______ ____
>>
>> ___` (J\ (B>/______ ____ ______
>>
>> ____  (J\ (B` ______ __ _______
>>
>> ______`________ _ _______
>>
>> _______________ __ ______
>>
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