Wintersports
Skiing
Ski maintenance guide
Read ahead for a complete ski maintenance guide so you can enjoy the best ride possible all season long.
Professional skier Michelle Parker wants to perform at 110 percent on any landscape.
Michelle Parker airs into the side-country at Jackson Hole, Wyoming
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool
“It’s a goal of mine to feel confident and comfortable in big mountain terrain,” Parker tells Red Bull.
Whether you're a casual skier or participating in competitions like Red Bull Cascade, full confidence on any terrain starts with making sure your skis are in top shape. In fact, regular maintenance is essential for increasing your skis’ lifespan and performance.
01
Understanding ski maintenance basics
All skis experience normal wear and tear. No matter how finely groomed the powder is on your favorite slope, there can still be rocks underneath waiting to scrape up your skis. If you love to grind on terrain park rails, your skis will feel the impact over time. Taking proper care of your skis improves your performance, and it’s also an important safety precaution. Skis with cracked or separated edges can’t handle the pressure of a long day on the mountain.
Learning how to maintain your skis at home prevents lots of issues, but your ski maintenance plan shouldn’t be DIY-only. Prepare for every ski season with an annual trip to your local ski shop so an expert can check your equipment from nose to tail. Between your yearly check-ups, there’s a lot you can do to keep everything in good condition so the shop only has to make minor repairs.
02
Ski inspection and cleaning
Participant waxes the skis and prepares for Red Bull Nordenskiöldsloppet
© Adam Klingeteg / Red Bull Content Pool
Cleaning and storing your skis
Your skis should be bone-dry when you put them away, whether for the day or the whole season, to prevent rust. Wipe them down with a dry cloth at the end of each run. Some skiers like to wipe their skis down on the mountain before driving home, and then again before storing, in case they missed a spot. This can make a big difference in keeping the nooks and crannies of your bindings free of powder and debris. You can also use a base cleaner made for skis, especially if it’s time for a deep cleaning and wax.
Store your skis somewhere dry and not too hot, with good ventilation and no exposure to sunlight. Make sure to put them upright and not up against each other. When it’s time to store your skis for the season, meticulously inspect them for damage and give them a proper wax. This is essential for keeping the base from drying out and oxidizing. You can also coat your skis in a base conditioner wax, giving your skis a kind of hibernation conditioning mask.
Checking your skis for damage
Skis for the Rally to the Valley in Hemsedal, Norway
© Daniel Tengs / Red Bull Content Pool
Get in the habit of examining your skis for dulling and dents every few rides. After you’ve dried your skis, the first thing to look for is any spots on the base that have lost their shine. That’s an immediate sign it’s time to wax your skis.
The other important thing to check for is the state of your edges. Are they sharp enough, or is it time for a ski tuning? Your edges should be nice and smooth, sharp enough to file down your nail. You can check this by running an old (but clean) towel from nose to tail. The fabric will snag if there are any nicks too small for your eye to see.
Keep an eye out for burrs, or spots where the metal is coarse instead of slick. Lastly, double-check that the seam between your edges and sidewalls is secure. The glue holding them together can wear out over time, but it’s a quick fix if you catch it early.
03
Ski tuning and edge maintenance
Participants prepare their equipment prior to Red Bull Out of Hell
© Xabier Azcarate / Red Bull Content Pool
Equipment you’ll need for ski tuning and maintenance
Like any instrument, your skis need a tune-up from time to time if you want the best, safest performance. For at-home tuning and general ski maintenance, you should have the following items in your toolbox.
- Safety goggles and gloves. Taking proper safety precautions is the first rule of ski maintenance.
- File and file guide. If you need extra sharp edges, use a file to remove edge material. Keep in mind that you can’t put edge material back afterward, so use this tool with caution.
- Workbench and ski vise. You’ll want a clear space and clamp to securely hold your skis in place while you work.
- P-Tex and a lighter. Your ski base is made of P-Tex, so you’ll need these materials for any small DIY base repairs.
- Diamond stone. This tool helps you smooth out burrs in your ski edges.
- Gummy stone. If all that gorgeous powder has caused any minor rust, you can remove it with this tool, which is less abrasive than a diamond stone.
- Ski wax and wax iron. Regular waxing is a must to prevent base damage.
- Plastic scraper. This tool is used to remove excess material from newly hot-waxed skis.
- Ski brush. A steel brush is essential for clearing old wax.
- Fiber pad. You’ll use this to give your skis one final polish at the end of the waxing process.
- A well-ventilated workspace. Make sure you have plenty of airflow when applying hot wax or P-Tex.
Basic edge tuning
Sharp edges are essential for smooth carving. Most experts recommend tuning or sharpening your edges after every 10 days of riding.
Start your edge work by placing your skis in the vise and inspecting for burrs or other damage. Smooth over any burrs with your diamond stone, moving as slowly as you can from nose to tail along the entire edge. Avoid grinding on the base material, and focus all your pressure only on the metal ski edges.
You’ll first go through this process along the edge touching your base, and then again along the outside edge. If there’s any rust on the metal, grab your gummy stone and run it slowly along the edges, just like with your diamond stone.
Waxing your skis
Waxing isn’t technically a ski tuning method, but it’s essential for increasing the lifespan of your equipment. The wax on the base of your skis helps you glide smoothly down the snow, but it wears off after every few days of skiing. Regular waxing is essential to keeping your skis performing at top speed.
Before applying new wax, make sure you’ve cleaned your skis thoroughly with base cleaner. You should also go through all edge repair processes first. If you spot burrs after waxing, you’ll have to scrape the wax off and start over.
You’ll start off by brushing off any remaining dirt and debris with your ski brush. Then, pour a small amount of hot wax on your ski base and distribute it evenly with your wax iron. Keep the iron constantly moving so you don’t scorch any spots. Once the wax is evenly coating the ski base, let everything cool to room temperature. Then, use your plastic scraper to get rid of any excess wax and brush once more until the base has a nice sheen.
04
Bindings and boot maintenance
Bernhard Hug fixing his binding at Red Bull Der Lange Weg
© Philipp Reiter / Red Bull Content Pool
Binding inspection and adjustment
It’s not only about your ski edges or base. Your bindings, which keep your boots in place as you fly down the mountain, need to be properly attached for optimal performance. It’s a good idea to have your bindings installed by a professional and adjusted to exactly fit your skis and boots.
As you hit the slopes time and again, keep your boots bindings free from snow buildup. To help with this, you can apply special lubricant to your bindings and boots every three to five rides. Just make sure to keep it off the base material.
When you inspect your skis for damage, it’s also important to look at your bindings’ mounting screws. If any of them seem loose, consider whether the binding brand can accommodate a DIY fix. Some brands will need to be adjusted by a professional no matter how handy you are with repairs. Others can be adjusted with just a screwdriver, with no special tools needed.
Ski boot storage
At the end of the season when it’s time to put everything away, properly store your boots alongside your skis. Disassemble your boots first so that the liner and shell dry completely. You don’t want to lose your boots’ unique contour and shape, though, so put the liner back in when your boots are ready for storage.
05
Advanced repair tips
If you feel confident performing ski maintenance tasks yourself, the next step is learning how to make minor base repairs. Major tears will still need to go to a shop so the damaged ski base material can be cut out and replaced. But if it’s just some superficial tears, you can patch them up with P-Tex.
The process is essentially the same as that for regular snowboard maintenance. You’ll light a P-Tex stick, use a metal scraper to prevent the P-Tex from shedding too much soot, and drip it over the scratched-up base area.
Keep up with ski maintenance for a great season
While some repairs should be left for the professionals, some basic ski maintenance needs to happen every few rides. From good storage practices to regular waxing, caring for your skis is just as important as practicing your turns. With proper upkeep and TLC, your skis will reward you with thrill after thrill on the slopes.
