Although there are still a few places where folks are able to get out and ski some of the stress away while safely social distancing, we will all soon be putting away our skis for summer. I spoke with several techs here at the shop, all with years if not decades of experience, about the best way to keep your skis protected and ready for next fall. Needless to say, I didn’t exactly get all of the same answers. A few, I won’t name names, just put their own skis in the garage…that’s it. But, in order to cover all “bases” (see what I did there?) and keep your own skis safe, here is a quick primer on the best way to store your skis for the summer. Look below for photos of the process.
It is, of course, best practice to protect your skis while they are being stored. Basically, you will just be putting on a layer of cover wax. At a minimum, the wax will protect your bases from dust and grit, but you may also be able to save them from oxidation and damage from drying out.
Just a note, this should be a quick process. Don’t spend more than 4-5 minutes max per ski!
For your Skate Skis, start off by cleaning your bases. The wax you will be putting on now will remove dirt when it is scraped in the spring, but if your skis are exceptionally dirty, use a wax remover and Fiberlene or a rag. Don’t be afraid to use a wax remover to clean your bases if you have to; it shouldn’t dry them out if you are using the product sparingly, and if you hot wax immediately after cleaning.
In the past, bases used to be hot scraped, which would entail scraping the bases while the wax is still liquid and also hot. This was a very somewhat effective cleaning method, but grind structure can be flattened by this process so it is no longer recommended.
There are plenty of waxes you can use for summer storage-you probably have a few already in your wax box.
After your bases are clean, choose a wax to drip onto the bases with an iron and go over once again to melt and flatten out the wax. Any of the soft, hot (red, yellow, purple) waxes from Rex, Swix, or Toko are good choices. For budget reasons, most people choose to use a non-fluorinated wax.
For your Classic Skis, you need to add a couple more steps. Of course, remove your kick wax, then lightly press painter’s tape onto the kick zone. Then you can cover wax the tips and tails. Use tape for Skin Skis as well, making sure to be gentle adhering the tape – you don’t want to pluck hairs out of the skins. It is true that most waxless skis don’t get any love over summer break, but their kick zone can also be covered with tape for protection and the tips and tails cover waxed like the waxable classics.
What about liquid waxes? Chris Hecker, head wax technician from Rex Wax, notes that liquid is fine for summer storage, but does not offer as much protection from bumps and bruises. His recommendation is to stick with hot waxes for the best base preservation.
When everything is dry, loosely bind skis together. Do not squeeze the camber together. And store the skis near room temperature. The hottest part of your attic probably isn’t the best choice.
In the fall, you’ll only need to scrape, brush, and you’ll be ready to add the wax of the day. As always, New Moon techs are here to walk you through the process if you have any questions. Please call or email if you have any questions. Good luck!
