How to choose a Back Protector for ski racing

A back protector is an important piece of protection for a ski racer.

POC Spine VPD 2.0 Vest back protector for ski racing
POC Spine VPD 2.0 Back Protector Vest

Everyday we get asked about back protectors…”do I need to wear a back protector?” or “who needs to wear a back protector?” or “do they really work?”  We cannot answer these questions for you, but what we can do is educate you to help you make a more informed decision for yourself.  Back protectors are designed to distribute impact pressure across your entire back in the event of a crash or fall.  Instead of taking a sharp hit to one specific spot when you fall, a back protector will absorb the force and distribute it more evenly.  This helps you to avoid broken vertebrae.

POC Spine VPD back protector for ski racing
Vest-style back protector from POC
Slytech 2nd Skin Back Pro XT - YXTBPLC back protector for ski racing
“Back pack-style” back protector from Slytech

In Europe, wearing a back protector is the norm for all skiers.  Here in the United States back protectors are primarily worn by competitive skiers – whether they be alpine racers, freestyle competitors or big mountain skiers.  There are several different back protectors on the market. The two brands we like the best and sell in our store are POC and Slytech.  Both brands have done extensive R & D and offer products that meet the highest US and International safety standards.

POC coccyx protector that can be added to a POC back protector
POC coccyx protector that can be added to a POC back protector

There are several different types of back protectors, but all perform essentially the same function – protecting your back!  One style is somewhat of a “backpack” style – where the back protector sits against your spine and is held in place by a waist belt and suspenders.  On this style of back protector racers can remove the waist belt and suspenders and just stuff the actual back protector into their race suit while racing.  Another style of back protector is an actual mesh vest with a pocket in the back that the back protector goes in that holds the protector at exactly the right spot for proper protection.  For racing, the back protector in this vest could be removed and stuffed in a race suit as well.  There are also additional coccyx protectors available that velcro onto both of these styles of back protector for additional protection.  Choosing the style that is right for you is really a function of comfort, and if you are a racer – comfort and whatever fits within the guidelines of your sport.

Once you have chosen the style of back protector that is right for you  it is essential to get the proper fit.  Mike Martini of POC Sports USA explains proper fit in this video:

Spine detail for ski back protector sizingFor proper fit of a back protector you should make sure that the protector covers from C4 on your spine (the knob you feel just below the base of your neck if you tilt your head forward) to the top of your tailbone (L5), which is just above the top of your butt crack.  It is important to make sure placement of the back protector is correct so that it does not interfere with your helmet when you are squatting down (or when a racer is in a tuck position).  Since the back protector will be partially in your pants, you might also want to make sure that your pants still fit comfortably when you have your back protector on.

Back protectors are increasingly the norm among skiers and  ski racers all over the world, but they don’t help you if you don’t wear them or they don’t fit right.  There is no one single style of back protector that is better than any other.  The most important considerations when choosing a back protector is that it is properly sized and the most comfortable to you.

Advantages of Junior ski racing

There are many advantages of junior ski racing.

Some might say the ultimate of the advantages of junior ski racing is the freedom it affords the parent!  You’ve “done your time” – teaching your kids to ski, slogging down the bunny slopes, riding the poma all day and dealing with their temper tantrums. You’re thrilled that you child finally loves skiing as much as you do, and now wants to race – but what specifically are the advantages of junior ski racing for the child/athlete?

  • Good physical activity.
  • Instills good organizational skills – requires the athlete to organize their time appropriately to get schoolwork, training and racing in regularly.
  • Teaches discipline and how to deal with authority and constructive criticism.
  • Encourages social interaction and levels the playing field between males and females thereby fostering peer groups of equals instead of cliques and dating scenes (in the older groups).
  • Promotes teamwork through sharing tasks related to racecourse set up in training and on race day.
  • Builds confidence through good work ethic, persistence and follow through – they get to see their hard work produce results.  They learn that their result is THEIR result and that they can’t always win, but they should not give up, after much failure there will be success.
  • Helps them learn self-assessment skills and enables them to visualize success.
  • Increases awareness of their environment and surroundings and its effect on their performance, as well as how to assess a situation and plan accordingly.
  • Encourages independence and responsibility – In their younger years the parent takes care of equipment and race entries, but the older the athlete gets the more this evolves.  By about J3/J4 (15-16-17 years old) – the athlete is capable and self-sufficient.  At this point the burden of the work transfers from the parent to the athlete.

Clearly there are no disadvantages to sports participation for youth.  The social benefits alone are almost too numerous to count. How can you possibly measure the value and satisfaction derived from working hard and mastering a skill? We’ve all done it, and the feeling is exhilarating, regardless of age. With sports and exercise, a child has the opportunity to experience this on almost a daily basis. Proficient skill acquisition allows children to value the accomplishments of their body and mind, making further challenges less daunting. These are attributes that simply can’t be measured.  Nor can the sense of community created through sports, bonding with new friends and teammates, building healthy relationships between males and females and improving relationships with adults. Ski racing also allows children to take on leadership roles, handle adversity, and improve their time management.  Let us not forget the potential for athletic scholarships too!

According to researchers at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, kids that play sports actually do better in school and have enhanced social skills. Sports also help prevent drug and alcohol abuse and children that participate in sports are less likely to start smoking and, if they do smoke, are more likely to quit.  Research on the benefits of sports and exercise for girls in particular has been especially promising. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has reported that athletically active girls develop increased self-esteem and confidence, are more likely to finish high school and college, and have a healthier body image. The Women’s Sports Foundation has also found that females participating in sports are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers and they suffer less depression. Furthermore, there is evidence that athletic activity can decrease the likelihood of developing breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Regardless of any future goals or prospects, ski racing should be an enjoyable experience for both the athlete and parents. Too often, the pressures of advancement take precedence over the many dynamic aspects of the sport. Fortunately for parents, ski racing offers so much more than competition, and you can be assured your time and investments will most certainly foster lifelong rewards.

So your kid wants to be a ski racer?

You’ve done your job right as a parent.  Through much perseverance you have managed to instill your love of skiing in your kids.  They are not only competent, but confident skiers and now they think they want to be a ski racer!

Ski racing is both a mentally and physically demanding sport.  It requires countless hours spent in less-than-optimal conditions.  It not only requires a strong commitment from the child/athlete – it also requires a commitment from the parent/family of time, energy and money!

Junior ski racer and Peak Ski Shop customer  Tasha Balinsky ski racing.

Before you leap blindly into the exciting world of ski racing, do your research to determine if it will work for you.  Here are a few things you should consider:

  1. Is your child physically able to compete?
  2. How far away from your home is the closest ski mountain?
  3. Does that mountain have a ski racing program?
  4. Is the ski program large enough to provide enough competition for your athlete to foster continued improvement?
  5. Is good coaching readily available? At a price you can afford?
  6. How much travel is involved?  How far away do they go to race?  Does a parent have to go with to every race?
  7. What kind of time commitment will be required for the athlete?  Do you have the time to get them where they need to be when they need to be there?
  8. Do you have the money?  It’s not just clothing and equipment, there are race entry fees, lift tickets, and the costs associated with getting to and spending the day at a ski resort that might be far from home.
  9. What if they are actually really good?  How long will you be able to support them in the sport?

Competitive sports participation can teach a child many valuable lessons. Our “Junior Ski Racing” blog category is geared toward the ski parent – to help take some of the guess work out of the sport.  We’ll explore all aspects related to junior ski racing.  We encourage you to follow and comment!

Welcome to RaceSkiShop.com!

This is Peak Ski Shop’s new blog – raceskishop.com.

We are excited to announce our new online presence – RaceSkiShop.com to keep you on top of the latest developments and trends in ski racing, race skis and race ski equipment, as well as allow you to interact with us in a brand new way.

The staff from Peak Performance Ski Shop, peakskishop.com and raceskishop.com skiing together at Killington Resort

Through our new blog we plan to identify trends, share our philosophy and passion for ski racing and skiing and what inspires us. We not only plan to talk about our own work, but the work of other performance driven people who are doing interesting and relevant things. We aspire to provide an interesting, easy and convenient way to stay informed, learn, network – and get educated and inspired!

We’d love for you to join the conversation. If you’ve got an opinion on something you read here or a related topic – feel free to click on “Leave a Comment” and share your thoughts.

Thanks,

Enjoy!

Peak Performance Ski Shop - When Performance Matters