Adult vs Junior race skis

Question
My son is an intermediate 13 year old J3 racer with a local ski team.  He is 5'9" and 160 pounds.  He is not a super aggressive or technical skier yet loves to go fast, which his weight supports.  His coaches recommend both SL & GS skis this year and am getting conflicting info on whether he should be in junior or adult race or something else.  Given his growth rate, I am trying to find leftovers or slightly used equipment.

Answer
Dear Scott --

If your son is not yet technically skilled, having two different pairs of skis, one for each discipline, should help him develop the correct techniques for each race.  Stay with the top tier junior race ski brands Dynastar, Volkl, Atomic, and Fischer, if you can.

For the slalom, your son can probably race the junior racetiger SL Volkls or the Dynastar Omeglass Team.  I would expect him to use around a 150 in length.  That means he is nearing the top end of the junior race skis.  Keep him on a bit shorter ski than might be recommended because a longer slalom ski will demand more technical skills than it sounds like he has right now.

For the GS, he could use the Dynastar Team Course junior ski in the 162 length, or the Volkl racetiger GS in the 163 length.  

For both disciplines I recommend he use the junior skis until he develops sufficient technique or aggressiveness to require a stiffer ski, or his weight dictates an adult ski.  To help him develop carving skills for GS races, you may want to rent a super sidecut demo ski to allow him to "feel" the skis carving for some free skiing and practice days.  He may then be able to recreate that feeling (that is -- carving) on his race skis.

Please feel free to write back, if you have particular skis you wish to discuss or you have additional questions.