When the snow has melted and the lifts have stopped, it's time to put away your ski equipment until next season. Simply stashing your skis, boots and other equipment in the closet until next year could result in damage to your gear over the summer. Improperly stored equipment can rust, warp or gather dirt. Take the time to store your equipment properly, and you'll be ready to go when the first snows fall in late autumn.
Step 1
Wax your skis. Before putting your skis away for the summer, clean the bases and give them a good coat of wax. Don't scrape off the wax. Leave on a thick coat because it will protect your metal edges from rust and the rest of the ski from dirt. Before you hit the slopes next season, you can scrape off this protective wax and add a new coat.
Step 2
Store your skis upright, on their tails. Ideally, store your skis in a rack that holds them upright, away from walls. You can store each ski separately or store them together, bottoms facing. Slip a sheet of newspaper or a thin towel between the skis. Don't suspend them by their tips because over time this can distort the shape of the skis. Leaning them against a wall can dull edges, and they're more likely to fall over. Keep the skis inside in a dry location, away from extreme heat. Cover them with an old sheet to keep out dust.
Step 3
Open all the buckles on your boots. Remove the boot liner, if possible. This insures that the boot liner dries completely and prevents mold and mildew from growing. Once you're certain the liner is completely dry, replace the liner in the boots and loosely rebuckle the boots. Store the boots in a dry location where they plastic won't get too hot. If you live in an area where humidity is a problem, stuff the boots full of loosely crumpled newspaper. This will help absorb moisture and odor.
Step 4
Wash all gloves, pants, jackets and other ski clothing before you put everything away in a closet or trunk for the season. Any dirt or salt left on clothing over the summer can stain or even eat through the material. Moths aren't a problem for synthetic materials, but if you have wool ski sweaters of socks, pack them away with some mothballs.
Tips and Warnings
- Use a detergent made for outdoor gear when washing your ski clothes, to avoid removing the waterproofing.
Things You'll Need
- Ski wax
- Newspaper or thin towel
- Old sheet
- Moth balls
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