Tuning Skis for a Powder Day

A storm is in the forecast…how should you get your skis ready?

The best type of a day is in the forecast, a POWDER DAY!

We’re all powder hounds around here and know there’s nothing like the feeling of floating through fresh powder, dipping into the white room, or carving through buttery soft snow. But how do you get your gear ready, so that you don’t end up like one of those poor suckers, stuck in the middle of a tree run with snow clumping to your bases? (Trust me, I know from experience, it sucks).

Just like my doctor tells me, the best cure is early prevention, and the simplest prevention for snow sticking to your bases is a Hot Wax! But let’s get more in depth with how to prepare.

Check your bases. If you have:

• Silky smooth bases, sharp edges and no damage to your bases → you’re ready to ski!

• Grey, dry feeling bases or scratches, but no large gouges or damage to your edges → time to wax your skis or board

• Dents, burrs, damage to your edges → time to tune your edges!

• Big gouges, scratches, exposed base material, burrs on your edges → we recommend a more in depth ski tune up, like a Full Tune.

Check the forecast.

• If the powder in the forecast is also bringing big temperature swings (ex: 30’s to 10’s), we would recommend getting a wax for the new snow. One of the most frustrating occurrences with new snow and a change in temperature is snow skis, or snow sticking to your bases.

Check your calendar.

• When was the last time you tuned your snowboard? If it’s been more than days on skis, or 3 months, we recommend a tune up.

The most important things to remember on a powder day?

HAVE FUN.
BE SAFE.
SKI WITH A BUDDY.
AVOID TREE WELLS.