Should Kids Learn To Ski Using An Edgie Wedgie? (Thoughts From a Ski Instructor)
You may have heard parents raving about using an Edgie Wedgie to help teach their kids to ski and are wondering if you should use one.
An Edgie Wedgi® is a small flexible tether device that connects your child’s ski tips to help them easily create the desired snow plow position. It’s a tool for learning and not to be relied on or used off of the bunny slopes.
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Many parents swear by using an Edgie Wedgie and they can be a great tool for helping create muscle memory for kids who are struggling to independently find the pizza positions with their skis. Read on to find out everything you need to know about using the Edgie Wedgie.
What Is An Edgie Wedgie?
You may have noticed lots of little skiers with a small leashes connected to the tips of their skis. This device is called an Edgie Wedgie, created and handmade in Utah, it’s spent the last 20+ years helping kids to ski.
Key Takeaway: Likened to training wheels on a bike, they are a device used to assist with learning which is then to be removed once the child displays signs of strength and control.
They are attached to the tips of a child’s skis with a thumbscrew and the leash itself is flexible, much like a bungee.
The Edgie Wedgie is easily portable. It’s less than 10 inches long, and with a flexible design, making it easy to fit in the pocket of your ski jacket. It’s also not going to break the bank, at no more than $15, they’re affordable and will last for years and multiple kids!
What Does An Edgie Wedgie Do?
An Edgie Wedgie gently rests the child’s tips together which produces the snowplow, or ‘pizza’, shape that is required to stop and initiate turns in the learning process. All your little one has to do is separate their legs slightly and the Edgie Wedgie will create this position.
With repeated use, your child will start to gain the muscles required to assume this position independently and it will become part of their muscle memory.
Should My Child Use An Edgie Wedgie?
If your child isn’t managing to find or feel comfortable in the snowplow position, then using an Edgie Wedgie could be just what they need. It may be that they don’t have the muscles yet, struggle with balance, or lose control easily. If this sounds like your kid, then an Edgie Wedgie may be of benefit.
Crossing ski tips can be a problem for beginner skiers of all ages and can be dangerous. Crossing skis can end in some pretty horrible crashes and twisted legs, and using an Edgie Wedgie eliminates this problem. If your child is crossing their skis frequently or finding it difficult to uncross their skis, then it’ll be a great tool for them.
How To Attach An Edgie Wedgie
The Edgie Wedgie uses a super simple thumbscrew attachment which is easily screwed on and off the tips of the skis. There are alternative models on the market that use a clamp attachment, however, many find they grind away at the ski bases.
Who Should Use An Edgie Wedgie?
Advice: An Edgie Wedgie is a tool to be used exclusively for kids, they are not designed to be used for older children or adults. I wouldn’t recommend use beyond the age of around 7 years old.
How Long Should A Child Use An Edgie Wedgie and How To Stop Them?
An Edgie Wedgie should be used for as little time as possible. It becomes redundant once your child has gained the muscle memory required to independently make a pizza position that is strong enough for them to stop themselves.
For littler children, this muscle memory may take longer to develop, as well as the development of the muscles required to stop. Older children may only require the training tool for a few hours. Once you notice a slack in the tether, they are most likely ready to lose the Edgie Wedgie.
Advice: I’d recommend not exclusively using the Edgie Wedgie on your child. You don’t want it to become a safety blanket for your child (or you!).
Spend some time using the tool and then take it off to help lead your child into a more independent movement.
To help take the connector away, make sure you’re using keywords when using it. Visual phrases like ‘pizza’ and ‘tips touching’, that you can then use when the Edgie Wedgie® isn’t connected. This links the feeling to the words.
Comments from a Ski Instructor
I asked for comments or advice from ski instructor Oli Chalkley on the use of an Edgie Wedgie.
First up, do ski instructors use an Edgie Wedgie? The answer is yes! They are not to be used all the time and not to be relied on, but it’s always a good idea to keep one handy when teaching little ones. They can be a great tool for creating muscle memory, specifically the rotating of the hip joint which is necessary for good skiing technique.
Many ski instructors also opt to use their hands instead of a connector to hold kids' skis together whilst they ski switch (backward). This is more dangerous and not suggested for non-professionals, but it can act as a less permanent reminder of the pizza position so that children don’t rely on it.
Ski instructor Oli says that an Edgie Wedgie is to be used on almost flat bunny slopes and is not to be taken higher up onto the ski hill. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t ski without one, then don’t take your little one out ‘properly’ skiing with it.
Oli, along with many other ski instructors, believes it is best for Edgie Wedgie’s to only be used by a ski instructor. The potential for knee injury increases once skis are attached into place. An Edgie Wedgie is a teaching tool and teaching will always be safer and more effective when done by a professional. This is not to say that parents shouldn’t use a connector when taking their kids out to ski, but it’s important to be aware that risk is involved.
Con's
The Edgie Wedgie is a great tool, used to help countless kids around the world learn how to ski, but there are a few downsides. If not used correctly, for example, used on a non-bunny slope, they may cause injury.
Kids can also become reliant on the tool or even form an attachment to having it there. They may view the Edgie Wedgie as a safety blanket of sorts, making it hard to transition away from it.
Lastly, the connector can make it difficult for little ones to shuffle on flats. This may be it's own secret positive as they can’t shuffle away from you in a crowd so easily!
Our Review
When used correctly the Edgie Wedgie can be a brilliant help in teaching kids to ski. It’s an affordable way to get your kids comfortable skiing and creating that essential muscle memory for them to use for the rest of their lives.
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Hello, I'm Simon & I love skiing. I started skiing in 2007 and I founded this website to help new skiers learn everything there is to know about skiing. NewToSki.com has grown to be a trusted resource for over a million skiers to plan their ski trips each year and learn more about every aspect of skiing. Be sure to join my email list for the best tips and handpicked deals each week.
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