Best Girl’s All Around Skis
Buying skis for (and with) your kids should be a fun experience; however, every one of the well-known ski companies has a high-quality junior line, which can sometimes make it hard to choose. In this review, I focus on all-around ski models, meaning that these skis work well for most conditions and can be used by advanced beginners and beginning advanced skiers alike. Unless your kid is a junior racer or wants to exclusively hit the terrain park, these skis will do just great from the slopes to easy powder.
When buying skis, first make sure you know your kid’s level of ability. There is really no gain in buying the most expensive race ski (the ones that usually cost the most) when for now your child only feels comfortable skiing at medium speeds down easy blue runs. Advanced skis are usually stiffer, much less forgiving, and even an intermediate skier can easily become frustrated on them. The rule of thumb is that beginner’s skis are soft and forgiving, while more advanced skis are stiffer and thus more responsive. Don’t try to be skimpy though by buying the lowest model you can find. When your girl tries to ski fast on a true beginner’s ski, she’ll soon notice that the edges aren’t gripping as firmly and will give out, especially in fast, tight turns. This is not a good thing, and can be dangerous. The skis reviewed here are all stiff enough to hold up safely at moderate speeds (nobody should go too fast on crowded slopes anyway), but are also forgiving enough to ensure a pleasurable day on the slopes.
These days, skiing the terrain park is the coolest thing to do, so when I recommend the best all-around ski for kids, I definitely have to take the terrain park into consideration. A number of the skis reviewed here feature “twin tips” (on both ends of the skis the tips curve upwards) and this feature is helpful, if not essential if your youngster wants to do tricks like skiing backwards or doing the rails. Snoqualmie Pass has a small terrain park (next to a major one) that has been designed mainly with kids in mind. I use it often with my students, as the terrain park has become a part of today’s skiing.
Since the introduction of shaped skis I have always been an advocate for shorter skis. Yes, longer skis will offer more stability at higher speeds, but I just don’t believe anyone should go too fast these days because the slopes are crowded and accidents can happen so easily. In my opinion, a good middle-of-the-road length is what you need to look for. Standing up on their ends, the skis tips should reach somewhere between nose and chin, give or take an inch or so.
Generally, most kids’ skis are built to support skiers with a weight of up to about 140 lbs. If your child weighs a little more than that, or is especially tall, I suggest trying a shorter adult ski. Generally, adult skis are made from stronger materials and will much better support the extra weight.
Rossignol Trixie - Girls Alpine Skis
The Rossignol Trixie is a true all-around ski. It really works for almost all beginner to advanced intermediate skiers, except for the very advanced shredder who probably will look for a stiffer and faster ski. However, the Trixie is highly versatile, forgiving, and easy to turn. It has a soft flex, but still puts a punch in the short turns, where it nicely holds up and allows for quick edge to edge action. One of my girls has this ski and we pretty much do everything on it (except the steep blacks). I always make sure that my students’ skis are well tuned, as dull edges will slip on ice, no matter if you have a racing or beginner’s ski. With nicely tuned edges (or straight from the store) this ski keeps a good grip on icy slopes. The ski is very light which makes it not only easy to carry, but also gives it better maneuverability in the terrain park where its twin tip design will come in very handy. Mostly white and pink, the ski looks cool and stylish.
Rossignol Trixie - Girls Alpine Skis
Roxy Abracadabra
Roxy is t-h-e “in” company among my young students these days. It is different; it is for girls only! Roxy was started by the surf company Quicksilver, specializing on women’s surf outfits. In 1997, a new line for the snow was created featuring clothing and other accessories. In 2003, Roxy produced their first women’s snowboards and in 2005 the first Roxy skis and ski boots were available in stores produced in partnership with Rossignol’s Dynastar brand. And their skis are not only of high quality, they just look unique and absolutely cool! The Roxy Abracadabra has been designed with the terrain park in mind but it will perform wonderfully on the slopes and in pretty much all conditions one can encounter on a day in the mountains. The Abracadabra looks good with its black starry design. And it definitely has pizzazz: It shines in the short turns, is snappy and reactive, lightweight and stable. With its twin tip design it will also be a great choice for aspiring park-skiers. The Abracadabra is definitely a hot item among my ski students. If I am counting right, at least four of my girls have this ski and love it. The cool thing is that the Abracadabra line also offers ski boots and ski poles, all of them very similar in design. If she wants, she can actually go all Roxy as the company also makes ski jacket, pants, cloves, you name it!
Roxy Abracadabra skis
Völkl Chica Package
This beginner to intermediate all-around ski comes with an integrated binding system, and, in my opinion, the combination of ski and bindings looks really awesome. The bindings match the reddish pink design of the Chica ski and give it an exclusive, even chic, appearance. The ski performs well on all groomed slopes and is the perfect choice for the beginning skier who wants to advance to the blues in a season or two. I have a student who started on the Chica with me last season. She progressed really well and we have taken the ski to intermediate blue runs in all weather and snow conditions. The ski turns easily, is very forgiving and even feels stable when pushed to a moderate speed. We haven’t had a chance to experience the Chica in icy conditions but I am told that it’ll hold up nicely even in the crud.
Volkl Chica Package
Roxy Shazam Ski
I assume the name is based on the wizard Shazam in the Captain Marvel comic books. In the books, his name is made up from letters found in these powerful expressions: Wisdom of Solomon, Strength of Hercules, Stamina of Atlas, Power of Zeus, Courage of Achilles, Speed of Mercury. Ok, let’s skip wisdom and courage and look at strength, stamina, power, and speed. Strength and stamina, the Roxy Shazam has it! The ski is very well built and sturdy and is likely to last quite some time. It is a powerful ski geared toward the intermediate to advanced skier. Its wider cut will be beneficial in powder conditions. While I would not choose it as a pure beginners ski, advanced beginners should feel comfortable as the ski is forgiving yet snappy with a powerful edge grip. I am told that speed performance is very good and that the ski is stable even at higher speeds. It is also a looker and comes in two different designs; both are very colorful displaying the brand name Roxy in huge letters.
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Roxy Shazam Ski
Atomic Girly Punx
This ski is designed for the terrain park, but that does not mean that it’s not first class on the slopes as well. The terrain park look is in and most kids eventually want to explore the park at some point. The twin tip design is one of its most prominent park ski features. Its lightweight construction is another. Kids like to jump and a lighter ski makes it easier to do tricks in mid air. Park aside, the Girly Punx ski is fantastic on the slopes as well. One of my students owns it and we have taken it into the half-pipe, we skied it in powder, on ice, on the blues, and the blacks and the greens and anything in between. The ski, in Atomic tradition, has very good edge grip as well as superb on-ice performance. And it looks fantastic!
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Atomic Girly Punx skis
Rossignol Fun Girl
Here is another awesome beginner to intermediate girls’ ski! Fantastic for a beginner, the ski is easy to turn and forgiving but it’s also reactive and stable enough to please even advanced intermediate skiers. It is not the ski you’ll want for high speeds, but the Rossignol Fun really shines as an all around learning ski that gives her lots of room to advance on. The top finish is sturdy and durable and will protect the ski from looking scratched up too quickly. The Rossignol Fun Girl comes in two colors, white with a pinkish purple design and chocolate colored with blue designs. You’ll see this one a lot on the slopes of Snoqualmie Pass, mostly the white/pink colored version, and it seems to be a hit among the young ladies.
Rossignol Fun Girl ski
Atomic Little B
The Atomic Little B is a very nice ski for intermediate beginners to advanced intermediate skiers. With a pink floral graphic, the skis look very nice. I am a big Atomic fan and I know that the company makes high quality products. The Little B is well made, featuring fiberglass construction and a durable top finish. Atomic skis are famous for their edge grip and their above average performance on ice. The Little B is one of the skis I have readily recommended to a number of parents who were looking for the right skis for their daughters. One parent was looking for THE “ski school ski” and the Little B ended up being their first choice as it is easy to learn on, offering lots of room to grow. The ski is reactive yet forgiving, a great combination!
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Atomic Little B ski
Line Celebrity Mini
Ok, you get the picture, park skis are in. Here’s another one that I also rate as a top of the line all-around ski. Geared toward the advanced beginner to advanced intermediate, the Line Celebrity Mini is very well built and features a wider base for more versatile performance. A wider cut will make things easier in the crud. Having a wider ski is especially helpful here in Washington State where the so-called “Washington concrete,” a heavily compacted and wet snow variety, is the norm. The Mini is also very lightweight and has the park-oriented twin tips. Edge grip is top of the line for this kind of ski and it features a wood core that makes it nice and responsive. The ski also has a durable top layer with a very cool design! Highly recommended!
Line Celebrity Mini
K2 Luv Bug
A sweet name for one sweet ski. The Luv Bug is a very nice all-around ski for beginners to intermediate young skiers. I find its blue design with its artistic K2 swirls very appealing and to me the ski just looks cool. It’s another favorite among my students, not surprising with the K2 headquarters located just a few miles from Seattle. K2s are the Northwest’s own skis! The Luv Bug is a forgiving ski, but it’s responsive enough so my students can manage all the drills I put them through. It has very good torsional stiffness for its class, which makes for a good edge grip and a snappy response. The ski is a little wider underfoot which gives it more float and makes it a good choice for the powder and the crud. It has a foam core construction that adds stability and absorbs impacts. Quick short turns are easy with the Luv Bug. Relaxed long turns, carved, or skidded turns and even small bumps are all part of its repertoire as well. Once we go into the steeper blacks or ski at higher speeds, I usually recommend upgrading to a more advanced ski. However, for all the beginning to intermediate stuff the Olympia J will work beautifully.
K2 Luv Bug ski
Dynastar Starlett
The Dynastar Starlett is an outstanding ski for girls. It is one of those skis that work equally well in the park as they do on the slopes. For the park, it helps that the ski has twin tips and is lightweight. On the slopes it delivers very good edge grip, and its slightly wider shape adds versatility. The Starlett is forgiving yet nicely responsive. I have one student who bought it at the end of this last ski season, upgrading from a true beginner’s ski. It did not take her long to adjust to her new ski. We did the half pipe together and went on some smaller jumps and she immediately felt home on the Starlett. Short turns came easy and the ski was stable even at little higher speeds. I can highly recommend this one; it is a great ski with a nice pink swirly design that girls will love.
Dynastar Starlett ski
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Don't by Roxy, unless you are buying a surfboard
