Slalom racing anyone? (Or your DC?) - in search of kit and tips!

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Our 2 dc have been going to our local ski club for the past couple of months and they love it! We're hoping that they'll have a go in the Gloucester Summer Series this year.

Dc1 is 12 so needs more kit than dc2 (9).

Has anyone got any experience of this and can offer any tips?
We've never serviced skis for example!

We're also after 2 pairs of mondo size 23.5 /24 boots, some 128 cms skis, a helmet with chin guard (57 cms) and some small leki trigger s straps.

Please dm if you can help us at all - we seem to have discovered a whole new world!

Your best bet is the ski club tbh. Ours have a big sale every year and you can pick up second hand skis, boots etc very cheaply. They probably have a board where people advertise stuff for sale and you could put up a wanted post.

I'd second buying second hand or seeing if you've got shops that do a seasonal rental my kids are in the ski club and I hire their boots. This is the first year they've both had their own skis (7 and 9 with bronze and vermeil flèche respectively) at this stage kit doesn't make that much difference.

We have slipped into this ski race thing too.

Facebook page called Skibay and another called Racers Skibay but you have to get a friend to add you as it is a secret group.

Thanks, the club are supportive but we've not had a lot of luck with getting the right sizes yet.

I keep getting told about racers skibay but don't know anyone who can add me!

Any idea on where to start with edging and waxing skis once we acquire them?

Where are you getting the skis for your kids just now? If it’s a hire place then they may service too. Otherwise your nearest ski shop should be able to service the skis for you.

Our kids ski at a dry slope and I got them to set the bindings on DS’s new skis and service my skis.

We bought DS’s old skis on eBay, but you need to be careful and know what you’re buying as there’s a lot of ancient skis being sold on there.

They're just using kit at the dry slope at the moment.

I'll ask if they can service skis for us as unfortunately our only local shop closes for the summer!

We've got half of what we need now from people within the club so we're getting there slowly! I'm wary of buying anything that I can't see first.

DS1 does ski racing, and we've built up a fair bit of kit along the way. For servicing, you need a bench with clamps, waxing iron, wax (for dry slope or snow), a corner guide and file, brake retainers, horsehair brush and a plastic scraper (DS just told me that list...). You might also want a sidewall remover but it's not essential. Others you might want include a diamond file and a scraper sharpener. Apparently. That's what I've been told to write here.

DS1 was shown how to service skis by his coach, and there have been various workshops organised by the team along the way. There's always a lot of servicing activity going on at all of races. DS now services skis for us and friends...

If you're taking it more seriously, there's a whole other world of 'gloop' - go faster stuff for dry slope races. Mr Sheen and conditioner also work according to DS. But his 'gloop' of choice is a wire pulling lubricant sold at the race meets.

Thanks. DH is excited at the prospect of needing another set of tools! I'm a bit daunted by it all.

We're hoping that the club will do a session for all of the new parents to help us out with the servicing of the kit!