When the season’s coming to a close, here's what you can do to be sure your skis are happy and fast come next season.
Inspect your bases - is it time for a stonegrind? Spring and summer are the perfect time to have your skis stone ground. Take a look at your skis; are they scratched up? Is the structure starting to look uneven and washed out? Are there slight discolorations in the base? Stone grinding not only provides a precise and effective structure, but it also exposes fresh base material which improves wax absorption, especially if your bases are burned or sealed. You're always welcome to bring your skis by one of our shops for an evaluation.
Clean your skis: When cleaning classic skis, use a wax remover to clean your kick zone. Also, be sure to clean any kick wax that may be on your sidewalls and topsheet of the ski. Use a glide zone cleaner to remove dirt and fluoros from your glide zones. When cleaning skate skis, use a glide zone cleaner from tip to tail. The difference between a wax remover and glide zone cleaner is that removers are designed to dissolve all wax (including glide wax) whereas glide zone cleaners remove dirt and fluoros without removing the accumulated (and benificial) paraffin wax in your glide zones. Use a fine steel brush after cleaning.
Apply storage wax: The best waxes for storage are on the softer end of the spectrum; think Holmenkol Beta Mix, Alpha Mix or Swix CH8X or CH10X. Apply a generous amount of wax to your glide zones, this will ensure protection from exposure and scratches.
Store in a cool place: Skis prefer to be stored in a cool place. Hot garages and attics might seem like a good place to have a summer-long hot box, but in reality, the prolonged exposure to heat could have negative long-term effects on your skis.
Release any tension on your skis: If you use straps or other devices that hold your skis tightly together, be sure to loosen them before storage as to insure that the camber of your skis will not be under any pressure or tension. As with storing in a hot place, this can cause issues with your skis down the road.