Skiing is skyrocketing. 470 ski areas were in operation during the 2019/2020 ski season.
Each venue offers its own conditions, but they all share one quality in common. They cause skis to wear down. You need to have ski tuning tools in order to keep skiing.
What exactly is ski tuning? What sorts of ski tuning equipment should you get? When is a good time to take your ski equipment to the professionals?
Answer these questions and you can hit the slopes after making your own repairs. Here is your quick guide.
The Basics of Ski Tuning
Ski tuning involves maintaining your ski equipment so it lasts for months. Skis are designed to withstand the elements, including abrasive surfaces and cold temperatures.
But your skis will break down, and they can break in several ways. There are three steps you must follow for ski tuning.
The first is base repair. As the name suggests, this is repairing the bottom of your skis. If there are holes or gashes, you must fill them immediately.
The second is edge work. This involves fixing the edges of your skis so you can glide and execute turns more easily.
The third is waxing. This involves putting wax on your equipment so you are more aerodynamic as you move.
Ski Tuning Tools
You will need a few tools for all three steps of ski tuning. You must have clean towels, rubbing alcohol, and brushes. Keep a bunch of soft rags on hand, then find a soft-bristled and a hard-bristled brush.
For base repair, you should get a metal scraper and a wire brush. You should use the scraper to make the edges of the gash smoother. You can then use a wire brush and a repair candle to seal the gash closed.
For edge work, you will need a ski tuning kit full of files. Bastard files have a few teeth per centimeter, making them good for changing the angles on your boards. If you want to remove imperfections on your boards, you can get fine cut files.
As you might imagine, you will need wax for waxing. Pour the wax over your boards and use your brush to spread out an even coating of it.
Even the best ski tuning tools may not help you with your equipment. When you have holes in your skis or another major problem, turn to a repair service. They are a great resource to resolve the problem and educate yourself on repair steps.
Tune Into Ski Tuning
Ski tuning tools keep your skis spick-and-span. You must ensure that the base of your skis is smooth and free of abrasions. The edges should also be smooth with a good amount of wax on them.
Get tools for all three steps. You need clean towels and brushes for all three, and then you need specialized tools for each one.
You may have a gash in your skis that you cannot fix yourself. Do not ski until you get it fixed with professional help.
Skiing is just one exciting winter activity. Find out more by following our coverage.
