Ski tuning is the best way to get the most out of your equipment. Keeping your skis professionally tuned will protect your skis and enhance your performance. According to the Tognar Toolworks website, you should wax and tune your skis after every five days on the snow. However, it's often hard to get to the shop before you want to hit the slopes. Luckily, there are a few tricks of the trade that will keep your skis fast, your edges sharp and your fun constant.
All Temperature Wax
The kind of wax you use on your skis will determine if you blaze off the chair like lightening or stick to the snow like flypaper. For casual, recreational skiing, pick a name-brand, all-temperature wax that is versatile for all conditions and you'll be in good shape.
Keep That Old Iron
While there is some skill to be attained, waxing skis is basically melting wax onto your ski base, smoothing and evening it out and scraping it off—period. An old iron is what many pros use in tech shops from the Rockies to the Alps. Make sure there is no water in the iron, as water will disrupt the wax absorbing into the base, and remember to wax in a highly ventilated area, avoiding harmful gases that can emit from hot wax, suggests Racewax.com.
Use a Plastic Scraper
When scraping the wax off your skis after it cools, try to use only plastic scrapers. Metal scrapers may keep an edge longer, but they can damage the base of the ski, causing need for repair. Plastic scrapers can be sharpened and are usually too soft to dig into the ski base. Make sure to scrape all of the visible wax, leaving only a slight film on the base of your ski.
The Magical Green Scrubby
After waxing and scraping the skis, use a kitchen-grade green scrubby to buff the skis. Buffing provides a texture to the waxed ski by driving the wax further into the base after it cools from the hot iron. It also deburrs, or cleans metal edges. Running late? Keep one scrubby full of wax handy for last minute rub-on wax jobs on the way to the slopes.
Life on the Edge
Your skis' edges help you turn and stop, so its important to keep them sharp. Avoid over-sharpening, as this can wear the edge off, making it difficult to re-tune. Edge tuners, available at ski shops, are effective devices, but when used improperly they too can cause damage. Sharpen delicately and often, and you'll prolong the life of your edges.
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