Wax on, not off

True, there’s one weekend left at Purg and plenty of corn in the high country if you know where to look. But chances are, you’re ready to put the skis on ice for a while. And as much as we joke about not waxing our skis, it’s actually kind of a big deal for summer storage.

The big issue is oxidation – the chemical reaction that happens when an object comes into contact with oxygen. Think brown on a cut apple or worse, rust on your ski edges. And while brown apples are fairly harmless and rust can be filed off, oxidation can also result in “dry rot” (the powdery white stuff on your bases. No, not snow.)
While we’ll skip the in-depth chemistry lesson, if left to dry out, the long molecules that make your bases so tough can break down, reducing strength and glide speed. Now we’ve probably got your attention.

So before you stick your boards in the hot garage for the summer, here are a few easy steps to give them some TLC:
• Wipe down skis with a wet rag. Old ski socks work great.
• Polish away edge burrs with a diamond stone and fill in any “owies” with P-tex.
• Wax your skis, but don’t scrape (yay!) It will protect your bases over the summer.

 

Or better yet, if you have bike riding or river trips to worry about, take your sticks to a local shop and let the pros handle it. Think how happy you’ll be next winter when you’re ready to go (minus a little scraping – but who doesn’t love that?)