No matter the style of skiing you prefer, properly tuned skis will enhance your performance. A ski tune includes base repair, sharpening of the ski edges and hot waxing. With a few techniques, supplies and a work bench, you can tune your skis at home.
Ski Tuning 101
Step 1
Bring your skis inside and allow them to warm to room temperature. Use a thick rubber band to secure the ski brake in the up position. Place your skis on riser blocks with the base facing up.
Step 2
Scrape any debris from the base of each ski with a ski scraper. Wipe the base of your skis using a liquid base cleaner and a rag. Allow the skis to dry.
Step 3
Ignite a length of P-tex for base repair. Drip the P-tex into any dings or deep gouges in the ski base. After it hardens, use a ski base planer to remove any excess P-tex.
Step 4
Attach a metal file to an edge bevel guide with the appropriate angle for your ski. Check with the manufacturer of your skis for the correct angles of the base edge and side edge. File the base edges and side edges of each ski. Begin at the tip of the ski and file toward the tail.
Step 5
Run a diamond stone along the base edges and side edges of each ski to remove burrs. Always work in the tip to tail direction.
Step 6
Hold a hot iron above the ski bases and touch ski wax to the iron. Drip wax along the base. Run the iron along the base to spread the wax over the entire base. Scrape off the excess wax using a base scraper.
Step 7
Brush the base of each ski using a brush with stiff, nylon bristles. Polish the ski bases with a scour pad to complete the smooth finish. Use continuous, tip to tail movements.
Tips and Warnings
- Before using an edge bevel guide be sure that the part of the tool that sits against the ski base is clean, says Pam Warman, U.S. Ski Team technician.
- Do not overheat the tips and tails of your skis when ironing wax; Mike deSantis, Volkl USA product development manager, and Thomas Parks, world cup technician, warn that a wax iron will heat the tips and tails of skis more than the center section due to thinner construction.
Things You'll Need
- thick rubber band
- base cleaner
- rag
- ski base planer
- P-tex
- iron
- ski wax
- ski base scraper
- metal file
- edge bevel guide
- diamond stone
- ski brush
- scour pad
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