The concepts behind tuning and waxing have been around for as long as we've strapped skis and boards to our feet. Whether you're doing it for fun, exercise, love of the outdoors or all of the above, a well tuned and waxed ski* can make you're time on the snow more enjoyable.
Everyone can benefit from skis kept in good running condition. Let's start with the edges: an edge provides the skier with grip on the various forms of snow and steepness of slopes that we encounter everyday. We rely on our edges to hold us through a turn from start to finish so we need that edge to be smooth and sharp in order to be effective. I believe smooth is more important than sharp. Run your fingers lightly down the edge of your skis. Do you feel burrs and a lot of inconsistency to the edge? They may still feel sharp, but an edge that is consistent from tip to tail is much more effective at holding than one that is not. For beginners, this can translate to learning at faster rate because it's easier to understand how to carve today's skis with a well tuned edge. For the more advanced skiers that are turning at higher rates of speed, this means better edge grip on steeper slopes.
The base of the ski is important for control of speed. If a base isn't in the proper condition, the skis can be harder to maneuver through various situations. When a ski comes into contact with snow, a very thin layer of water forms between the ski and the snow. This layer creates suction between the two, potentially slowing you down. Take a look at the base of your skis. Proper bases are flat, scratch free and waxed for the current conditions. If you've had your skis stone ground recently, you may see tiny grooves similar to those seen on a record. Those little grooves help break the suction. Those grooves aren't very useful, however, if the ski is not properly waxed for the conditions.
One of the more common things we hear in the shop is “don't wax my skis, I don't want to go too fast.” A properly waxed ski gives the skier better control and protects the base of the ski from dirt and contaminates. Keep in mind when we wax skis, we are conditioning the base with the wax and then scraping off any wax that did not get absorbed into the base. Leaving too much wax on your base can lead to inconsistent glide.
There are many types of wax out there for the many different types of snow, temperature and humidity. 99% of the population shouldn't worry too much about this. A “universal” wax will work for most of the season at Bogus. There are days that get very cold up there and a harder wax will work better. During the spring when the snow is melting off a softer wax is more appropriate. Any way you look at it, if you're waxing every 2-3 days, you and your skis are going to benefit from the results.
Stop by McU Sports and have one of our technicians take a look at your skis and give you an analysis of what would best suit you. Our state-of-the-art tuning shop can get your skis in ready condition for when the snow piles up.
*For brevity purposes: ski tuning=ski and board tuning.
No comments:
Post a Comment