Winter Season Finale
So, by now, you’ve likely enjoyed the Closing Day celebrations at your local mountain, and it’s time to pack your winter gear away and get on with mountain biking!
First, a pro tip: for the post-winter season, storing your backcountry gear with care will extend the life of each piece. Remove all batteries, including your avalanche airbag and transceiver, to avoid corrosion.
Here are some tips to make sure your skis and snowboard are stored properly and all ready for the first big snow later this year:
Clean Them: use a hose and towel to wash away dirt, salt, and grime. Rinse thoroughly, but don’t force water into bindings. Stay away from degreasers or detergents as they’ll affect binding lubricant. A citrus solvent can remove grease or pollen buildup on the base.
Check the Edges: sharpen edges and remove any obvious burrs to minimize rust and reduce maintenance for next season. Summer is the ideal time to have your shop do a base grind and fix any damage. Don’t wait until they’re busy in the fall.
Wax the Base: generously apply a hot all-temp or warm-weather wax to protect the base from oxidation. Don't scrape off the wax, and make sure you cover the edges to prevent rust.
Store Them: choose a suitable storage location, preferably indoors in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight (avoid storing them in your garage). Store them in a neutral position without pressure on the camber or rocker.
Be meticulous:
Ski Bindings: loosen the tension on your ski binding springs to the lower end of the available DIN scale. Move alpine binding heel pieces to the "ski" position and tech toe pieces to the "closed" position to reduce spring load. Make note of your preferred DIN settings & tape this info onto your skis so resetting is easy.
Snowboard Bindings: remove or loosen the screws for the off-season to reduce stress on inserts and prevent base dimpling.
When the ski season starts, scrape off the wax and brush your skis or snowboard if you used an all-temperature wax. If you used warm-weather wax, scrape it off and apply wax that’s suitable for the current temperature.
Take the time to maintain your skis and snowboards off-season, so you’re all set to hit the slopes when the snow falls!
