Ski Schooling [Using an Edgie Wedgie]

What is an Edgie Wedgie and what does it do?

edgie The Edgie WedgieĀ (or ski tip connector), is simply a rubber tube with clips on each end that keep your childā€™s ski tips together. The reason? Keeping the ski tips together aids in teaching a wedge, essential in stopping.

A secondary use is for those young ones who’s legs struggle to keep their skis together or under them. Just like the child ski harnesses, the Edgies [ as I shall call them for short] are just as controversial amongst parents. Ā Iā€™ve been on the slope before and had a mom say, ā€œOh well, Iā€™d certainly NEVER put one on my kids skisā€¦ā€ as she cast a critical glance down at my son. She then added that a friend of a friend’s son broke his leg using one. Well, I don’t want to second guess this story, but I do wonder if perhaps the child’s leg would have broken without the Edgie too?

Kids skiing with Edgie Wedgie

Many parents swear by the Edgie. And at this point, I might be one of theĀ themĀ because they have been nothing but wonderful for our boy, especially when he was three-years-old. Now our boy isnā€™t lacking in the strength department [ in fact he broke his first Edgie accidentally tripping over his edges, so maybe the quality of product could be better] but his attention to detail and overall ability to stay focused? Minimal. He used to get so distracted watching the tram dock one run over that heā€™d forget about his skis altogether. Tips would cross (or separate) and he’d face plant without realizing what went wrong.

Edgies can also be used my the parent/instructor to control the kid’s speed on easy terrain. With the parent skiing backwards in front of the child, the parent can “hook” or “push” a ski pole on the Edgie, controlling their speed and aiding in directional change on gentle terrain.

When should I NOT use one?

Well, as soon as your child is mastering their wedge, and is stopping on their own, I would try removing it. Give them a few tries at doing it on their own. My daughter dropped the Edgie shortly after getting the feel for the wedge. My son, who was younger, struggled to hold his wedge and used it longer.

Edgie negatives?

Other than our son easily breaking his first oneā€¦they make transitions difficult. Ā By that I mean walking up to the lift, shuffling the skis, getting up off the ground, side stepping, herringbone uphill ā€“ all pretty much impossible for the little guy or gal. Meaning more work for mom and dad. But that is all the more reason to take it off as soon as they are able.

skiing with kids

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7 comments on “Ski Schooling [Using an Edgie Wedgie]
  1. You’re reading my mind girl. I’m addressing this this week too! Honestly, I keep seeing parents struggling with their tiny ones on the slopes without an edgie wedgie who are at their wits end and I just want to scream at them to fork over the $10 and save their sanity! They are the BEST!

  2. We had to pay $20 to get one on the ski hill this week but I know you all swear by them so we bought one right there and then for our son’s first time on skis. It was brilliant! My husband said, “our son will never learn the wedge this year. I’ll just be happy if he can learn to glide and balance. He’s too young to do a snow plow.” He’s 4.5. I know he’s not too young!! Thanks to the little rubber strap, he was learning to stop by the end of the evening and could transition between the “pizza” and “French fry” with ease. No problems. So happy with it!

  3. We love the edgie wedgie! However now my son is treating it like a pacifier. He wonā€™t ski without it… is this really going to hold him back from progressing? Should we push him (in a fun way) to take it off? He can stop fine without it and will be 4 in a few months.

    • Sorry it took me so long to reply! Yes, make it fun and try to get that edgie off! Tools should aways be tools, not crutches. If he can stop on his own he is ready to move on! Good work.

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