I know that when the snow stops flying and the season winds down in my neck of the woods that I always get a little bummed. While I know the season will come back around months later, I wanted to share with you some tips for storing your skis for the warm season, so they will be in good shape for you next ski season.

The first step is to make sure that your skis are thoroughly dry. This is vitally important because putting them away wet will cause them to rust. Take a look at the edges of your skis and search for any rust or burs that may exist; use a Scotch Bright pad to remove any areas you find.

Step two is to evaluate each ski base. Using a bright light, you will want to look for any streaks or shiny patches that exist. You can also try running the back of your fingernail down the base, this is effective for finding the wax. This will help you find the areas of each base that have the most dirt and wax left after you’ve cleaned and dried your skis.

Next, remove the bulk of the old, hard wax with a paint scraper or putty knife. Follow that by scrubbing the remaining wax residue off with a wax remover or citrus solvent. I suggest that you apply a heavy coat of ski wax right after cleaning your ski bases, making sure to cover them completely; do not scrape them.

Remove any wax that may have gotten on the edges of your skis as the moisture trapped on the wax will cause the edges to rust. The wax you apply will stop your skis from drying out due to prolonged exposure to the air. For ultimate penetration and protection, apply hot ski wax to your skis. If you’re not comfortable doing this, find a local ski shop that can perform this service for you. You’ll have to pay for the waxing, but it will be much cheaper than replacing your skis if they rust.

Finally, do not store your skis in any place that experiences temperature extremes and moisture such as an attic, basement, outdoor shed, or garage. An ideal place would be in a closet in a living area of your home. Also, separate the skis, but do not lay them flat. Keep them on a wood or tiled floor, not a concrete floor. Follow these guidelines and you should have a set of skis that will be ready to rock when the snow falls next season.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 2:28 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.