Ski maintenance is an essential task that every serious skier needs to know about. If you want to get the best performance out of your equipment and take advantage of every inch of fresh snow, you need to keep your skis properly maintained.
My name is Christine, and I’ve been an avid skier since I was a small child. I’ve learned nearly every aspect of ski maintenance over the years, and I know how important this is to skiing to the best of your abilities.
This post will provide you with a list of ski maintenance tips. These tips will help you keep your skis in great shape, so they will perform at a high level and last a long time.
Keep reading to learn more.
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The Importance of Ski Maintenance
You can think of ski maintenance in a similar way to taking care of your body. While you can certainly treat your body poorly and it will keep functioning, it won’t perform at its highest level. The same is true with skis.
While skis probably don’t need as much care and attention as the human body, they still need some TLC to function at their best at all times. If you neglect to maintain your skis, you will never really see them at their highest capacity.
On top of performance concerns, well-maintained skis will last a lot longer than skis that are not taken care of. This is a good way to protect your investment for the long run to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck out of an expensive purchase.
Top Ski Maintenance Tips
Here are all of my top ski maintenance tips you should keep in mind. Some of these should be done during the season, and the rest are good to do before you place them in storage for the warmer months.
1. Inspect Your Skis After Each Ski Day
A great habit to get into is to inspect your skis after each ski day. This will allow you to notice any damage quickly and deal with it before it becomes a more severe problem. It will also help you stay tuned into your skiing and skis.
After you get home, or even before you put your skis back in the car, hold each one up individually and give it a good look. You want to look for any signs of significant damage, such as a blown edge, core shots, or damage to your bindings.
If you notice anything serious, you can deal with it quickly before it compromises the integrity of the rest of your skis. Even if you just see minor issues like a dry spot on the base, you’ll know it’s time for fresh wax soon.
2. Dry Skis Off
Another tip to do after every ski session is to dry your skis off. This might seem odd because they are designed to withstand severe weather, but it’s an easy and important task to prevent rusted edges that can be difficult to resharpen.
I like to dry my skis off right after I give them the daily inspection. Simply use an old towel or piece of clothing and give them a quick wipe down. You don’t need to go crazy, just make sure to remove any excess moisture.
3. Wax Your Skis
Waxing your skis is critical in allowing them to slide effectively down the snow. If you are a serious skier, you should learn how to wax your skis on your own. But you can always take them to the shop to get it done as well.
Old or worn-out wax will seriously affect how your skis perform in the snow. You won’t go as fast, and you can wear the skis down to the base if you go long enough. You also might want to change wax for different snow temperatures for optimal performance.
If you ski a moderate amount, you should wax your skis at least a few times throughout the season. You might want to wax them about once a week if you ski often. This is where learning how to do it yourself will pay off.
4. Keep Edges Sharp
Another crucial aspect of keeping your skis in prime condition is making sure that you always have sharp edges. Ski edges are critical in helping you stay in control, and they play a significant part in turning, slowing down, and many other on-snow situations.
I like to use a handheld sharpener to keep my edges at their sharpest. There are many of these handy devices available as you can read from our best ski edge sharpener review, and they let you set the proper angle and keep the skis to their factory settings.
All you need to do is run the sharpener along the edge of both your skis several times until they are sharp. This will grind off any knicks or rough spots.
You can also use a pocket stone to help maintain your edges. This is more of a buffer than a sharpener, but it’s another small tool that you can keep in your car or jacket and use quickly before getting on the slopes.
Also Read: How to Sharpen Ski Edges
5. Full Tune-Up After the Season
Once the season is over, I always like to take my skis to the shop and get them a complete tune-up. This will include a fresh wax job, sharpened edges, base repair, and any other maintenance that the shop deems necessary.
While this is optional (just like every other maintenance item), it will make sure that your skis are ready to rock when the snow starts falling the following season. Plus, ski shops can get busy right before the season begins, so you’ll be ahead of the crowd.
6. Proper Storage
Properly storing your skis is another aspect of keeping them in good condition. While this isn’t an active maintenance task, it is still imperative to keep your skis in excellent condition and avoid any potential damage during the offseason.
It’s best to keep your skis in a cool, dry place. You don’t want to keep your skis in a potentially humid environment like a shop or garage because the excess moisture can lead to rust, which can be a big problem in the long run.
Also, try to keep your skis away from other large items that might cause damage. Don’t throw them on the floor and then pile a bunch of random stuff on top. I like to stand my skis upright and keep them in a closet in the basement.
Final Thoughts
This is a pretty comprehensive list of ski maintenance tips. If you follow all of the advice in this post, your skis will say in great shape all year long, and you can make the most of your time in the snow.
While maintenance might not always seem necessary, I promise you that it is. A little effort will go a long way towards helping you have an enjoyable season.
