March 11, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Is your kid a Rippin' Rider?

by Heather Burke/

Your kids might jump for joy as they receive cool ski product to test on the Rippin’ Riders Kidz Testing Team. (photo: Greg Burke)

Your kids might jump for joy as they receive cool ski product to test on the Rippin’ Riders Kidz Testing Team. (photo: Greg Burke)

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When my kids were younger, they were Rippin’ Riders. Yes, they were great little skiers, but they also participated in the Rippin’ Riders program and got brand new, free ski stuff. Really! Your kids can, too. You just need to sign up for the Rippin’ Riders Kidz Testing Team. It’s free, and the kids are testing next year’s gear. Cool stuff.

My son got skis, snowshoes and snow sneakers to sample, which was great fun for him. Our daughter got ski gloves and an adorable jacket to wear. She loved modeling next year’s apparel and having a photo shoot in her wannabe wardrobe. It became a family affair, as my husband took action photos of the kids testing their gear. The kids felt like they had an important task to complete and they took it pretty seriously. As mom, I had to remind them of the written review requirement, but once they realized that their opinion mattered, they got excited about describing how they liked the products they tested (in a sentence or two).

My daughter was thrilled when the following year the ski clothing manufacturer made the jacket in the color she suggested. Coincidence or little customer input? Who knows, but it made our little ski fashionista feel valued and validated.

Kids must be 17 or younger, and be willing to try new equipment and clothing, agree to have their photos taken in the gear, and provide feedback — a sentence or two on what they think about the skis, jacket or sled they get to demo. Your child’s photos and their feedback will be posted on KidznSnow.com for all to see.

It’s a win-win situation, since manufacturers such as Rossignol, Fera and Obermeyer get their products tested in a real application without having to create some expensive demo situation. Kids get to sample ski gear and feel like their opinions matter in the world of manufacturing and product design.

Now, this will not replace your need for ski equipment. And you can’t be certain what you will get and when, or whether you get to keep the gear (each manufacturer has a different policy). But it’s like Christmas when a package arrives in the mail for the little person in your house.

To get in on this gig, you need to sign up for the KidznSnow.com newsletter, then you can review the available products and respond with why your ripper would make a good tester for a certain product to be selected. It’s free and it’s fun and it's a great way to show the kids a little responsibility without them realizing it.

My kids are big now, but they still remember fondly their Rippin' Rider days. They felt like VIPs — very important product-testers.

To sign up, go to www.rippinriders.com, where you will find more details. One more thing: Enjoy your rippers while they are still little.

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