ski-maintenance
No matter whether you’re an experienced skier or just starting out in your skiing love story, ski maintenance is an important part of owning your own skis. It may not be your favourite chore, and it’s rarely the first thing anyone wants to do after returning from a skiing holiday in Andorra, but properly looking after your skis is important for keeping them in the best shape, for both performance and safety.
There is a ski maintenance cost, in times of effort, time and money, but in the long run this absolutely pays off, as your skis will last for so much longer. It’s absolutely worth it and, with this ski maintenance guide, we’ll outline a few essential tips for ski maintenance, to make it as easy as possible for you to keep your winter gear in tip top shape.
Why ski maintenance is essential for performance and safety
First things first, it’s important to point out that ski maintenance is about much more than aesthetics, as it can directly impacts your performance and safety on the slopes. Properly waxed skis can glide more smoothly, making your ride faster and more enjoyable, while sharp edges can provide better grip on icy surfaces, reducing the risk of slips and falls. Moreover, regular checks help identify potential issues, such as base damage or binding problems, before they become serious hazards.
How to wax your skis: Step-by-step guide
One important part of ski maintenance is waxing your skis. What does it mean to wax your skis? Well, waxing skis involves applying a layer of specialised ski wax to the base of your skis to improve their glide and to protect them from wear.
Here, we’ll outline a five-step ski maintenance guide on how to wax your skis:
- Clean the base of your skis: Firstly, clean the base of your skis with a cloth to remove dirt and any old wax.
- Heat up the wax: Secondly, turn on your ski wax iron. Once it gets to the ski wax’s recommended temperature, hold the wax against the iron, letting it drip onto the ski base.
- Spread the wax: Next, use the iron to spread the melted wax evenly over the base, moving the iron steadily to avoid overheating.
- Let the wax cool: Now, you should let the wax cool and harden, a process which usually takes around half an hour.
- Scrape and brush: Finally, you’ll want to scrape off any excess wax, working from tip to tail, before brushing the base.
Edge sharpening: Keeping your skis sharp and smooth
Alpine ski maintenance often requires some edge sharpening. What is edge sharpening? This is about maintaining the metal edges of your skis to ensure they provide optimal grip and control on the snow. Here, we’ll outline three steps in the edge sharpening process:
- Inspect the ski edges: Firstly, check for any nicks or minor imperfections, as these can be smoothed out by you. Keep in mind that any deeper looking imperfections may require the support of a professional.
- Secure the ski and sharpen: Next, secure your ski in a vise and use a file or edge sharpening tool to sharpen the correct edge angle, which tends to be around 88 or 90 degrees. You’ll want to lightly glide it along the edge in consistent strokes.
- Deburr and polish: After filing, use a diamond stone to smooth out any burrs and polish the edges for a clean finish.
When and how to repair ski base damage
Ski base damage, such as scratches or gouges, can be common, so you might think to leave it. However, it’s best to address these imperfections promptly, to tackle the issue before it gets any worse. In many cases this will be something you can address yourself, but in some cases it’s best to seek the support of a professional. That might sound expensive, but promptly repairing base damage is an essential part of snow ski maintenance and helps reduce overall ski maintenance cost over time.
How often should you maintain your skis? Key recommendations
The frequency of ski maintenance depends on how often you ski and the conditions you encounter, but the general ski maintenance guide would recommend giving your skis a full servicing at the beginning of each new ski season.
Then, if you’re using your skis a lot, waxing every four to six skiing days, or whenever the base looks dry, is a solid approach. Edge sharpening will depend a lot more on the terrain you’re skiing on, but it should be done regularly too throughout ski season.
Of course, if you don’t have your own skis, or if regular ski tune-ups sound like too much work, you can always hire ski equipment in Andorra from Ordino Arcalís.