Do they help? Do instructors see them and roll their eyes? My twin girls are 5 years old and will be skiing for the first time. They are going to take lessons, and I want them to have as much help as they need. Are tip connectors usually any benefit?
I've used Edgie Wedgie type ski connectors (the rubber ones with the clips) as well as solid metal clips designed more for use with handicapped skiers. I have a love-hate relationship with both devices. They are excellent means to keep the ski tips from going too wide, but if you are doing the whole Pizza-French Fries-Pizza thing, a skier can forget (or choose not to) go into a wedge and then zoom off down the slope anyway. When used with a child, or any skier with motor function issues, they can be an assest, however, they often need to be adjusted or they pop off all together, so you have to check them before every run. If you wear mittens when skiing, you'll have to take them off everytime to check the device. This can become a pain after a while, so buy gloves that allow for some dexterity before you start using the devices. Lastly, I suggest using any devices only after you have tried it without one. This applies to Edgie Wedgies, Racer Chaser type ski harnesses with leashes, etc. etc. Your instructor you've placed the kids with may not choose to use them. With proper instruction, the kids might not even need them. So don't bother buying them until they've actually had some lessons. Speak with their instructor after the lessons and see how the kids did. I've only had to use them with a few kids ever. I taught mostly handicapped kids too. I never really needed them with younger able-bodied kids. I'm sure the kids will do just fine. Have Fun!
They don't help at all. Kids need to make the wedge shape themselves or it's meaningless. Some kids do have trouble getting into the wedge, but there are ways to help them out before letting tip connectors do all the work for them. One of my favorites is to lie them on their backs without skis on and twist their boots into a wedge. You could also just do the same thing with skis on while standing up. The other thing is that they will first learn to just go down straight, in french fries, and that will obviously be difficult with the tips so close together. Even after they learn the wedge, the motion of french fries into a wedge is emphasized, so they will be going back and forth just to get the motion down. Do instructors see them and roll their eyes? Yes :-D
Most training aids like tip connectors are just a waste of money. A lot of overprotective parents make their kids use tip connectors and leashes and all of that other stuff, but it is all a waste of money and it causes the child to become pathetically dependent on it. Just have them take a lesson and let the instructor teach them to ski.
