Race ski for 14 year old girl

Question
Hi, We are just starting to gear up for the ski seaon down under.
My daughter who is quite fast and good skier (Don't all parents say that!)is wanting to get some race skis, i.e. slalom. She has been doing free style in a ski development programme and is currently skiing on Rossignol pro scratch I'm looking at good second hand ones as the racing for her is just for fun, She is quite light is about 45kg and is about 5ft 1". So what length would be suitable?  And what model there are quite a lot of Rossignol 9s around.
we ski on a mountain that can get a lot of ice, and not Powder as you know it in North America.

thank you

Answer
Hi Sarah,

Since you say these are going to be fun race skis, I am guessing that they are going to be two-event skis- both Slalom and GS on the same pair. In this case, you are going to want to go a bit longer than you would for just slalom. She would be skiing about a 150 slalom, but as a two event ski she might go as high as 165, while a GS only ski for her would be about 175.

The Rossignol 9s is a fine ski, although the best junior race gear right now (I'm suggesting Junior because of her weight) is coming from Nordica, Fischer, and Elan. Wood cores, vertical sidewalls, that sort of stuff. Dynastar is also making some super race gear for women.

You are in a great position for used gear- you might want to contact some of the regional programs. For instance, Mike Sussman is a coach for the Park City ski team. I can get his email address if you'd like. The kids here are pretty serious, and get new gear each season. This means that there is a flood of used gear on the market as well.

Another consideration though is to go to the "team night" for either the race team or the Devo program your daughter is in. The manufacturers often highlight certain gear, and make it very affordable for these programs- usually about 1/2 of wholesale.

Let me know if you want to contact the Park City program, but first I'd check with the coaches about team night.