Ski Tuning

Overview

  • The ski tuning process involves three primary steps: Base Repair, Edge Work, and Waxing.

  • Base repair involves fixing grooves in the ski bases, while edge work focuses on sharpening and maintaining the edges. Waxing is essential for protecting the bases and enhancing performance

Base Repair

  • Groves in your bases will affect the skis performance and need to be fixed. You can fix minor groves at home. If the groove is deep its best to have your ski shop do the repair.

Tools for Base Repair

Clean Towels Bases Cleaner Rubbing Alcohol

Metal Scraper P-Tex Candle Lighter

Wire Brush Razor Blade

This video shows how to prep your bases, fill scrapes with P-Tex and smooth the bases.

Video by REI Co-Op

Prepare your Edges

Your edges need to be sharp especially when skiing through an icy race course. How to prepare your edges is reviewed below.

Tools for Sharpening Edges

Clean Towels Diamond Stone Gummy Stone

File Rubbing Alcohol

How to inspect the edges, remove burrs, sharpen the edges and wipe the bases clean.

Video Alberta Alpine

Waxing

Waxing your skis will protect the bases and improve performance. It’s important to wax your skis after completing base repair and edge work, before a race and throughout the ski season.

Tools for Waxing Ski Bases

Clean Towels Rubbing Alcohol Wax

Plastic Scraper Set of Brushes Waxing Iron

First, lets look at how to prep your skis before waxing.

Video Alberta Alpine

How to wax your skis including heating and spreading the wax, scraping off the excess and finishing with brushes.

Learn from Someone with Experience

  • If you have not tuned skis before and would like to start, its best to take a course.

  • The wrong tools can negatively impact the performance and shorten the life of your skis. For example, a course file can remove too much edge and an iron at the wrong temperature can damage the bases.

  • Your local ski shop may offer courses or you can learn from a friend with tuning experience.

Key Takeaways

  1. Three Essential Steps in Ski Tuning: Ski tuning consists of three main steps: Base Repair, Edge Work, and Waxing. Base repair addresses the repair of grooves and damage on the ski bases. Edge work involves the sharpening and maintenance of the ski edges to ensure optimal performance. Waxing is crucial as it protects the ski bases and improves glide.

  2. The Value of Learning from Experts: For beginners in ski tuning, it's recommended to learn from a knowledgeable source. Many ski shops offer tuning courses, and learning from an experienced friend can also be beneficial.

Suggested Learning Modules

Return to Equipment

Important Message: Skiing and ski racing involve inherent risks. It’s essential to ski responsibly and stay within your skill level and personal comfort limits.