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The Best Tips For Hot Tuning And Waxing Your Skis And Snowboards For Your Favorite Sport.
If you enjoy the slopes on skis or snowboards you hopefully realize the importance of caring for your gear properly. Proper care includes more than just wiping them down it means keeping them in tip top shape for a safe experience. The more you read and talk to people who know, you'll discover there are many things you can learn to do yourself. As you begin to learn you may want a professional to train you in proper technique. This article discusses the top three tuning and waxing tips for any skier or snowboarder.
Even people too anxious to be in motion to take the time for a long tuning and waxing process should at least do something. By applying even a little wax to your snowboard or skis, you'll find that they serve you much better. Work in some cold wax as much as possible into the bases, if you don't want to take the trouble to use hot wax. If you want better results, you have to apply hot wax to your skis or board, but cold wax is the next best thing.
The company that made your skis will tell you the best edge angle to use, so you should check this when you want to edge your skis. Depending on how much experience you have, you may have your own ideas about how to do this. Following the company's recommended angle is best, however, unless you are very confident in your abilities. You'll find variations in edge angle of about 1-3 degrees. You will need the proper file, and you may also want to have a file guide. A file guide can make your job easier, though experts can do without it. After you've used a file on every edge, then you'll want to go over them again with a diamond stone. Also, be sure to slightly wet the diamond stone before using it for best results.
Before you begin working on your skis or snowboard, you must get as much of the old wax and residues off the very best you can. The best way to do this is with a good scraper. If you ski or ride on a lot of man-made snow, then be aware that the petroleum products in the man-made snow will leave a residue on your skis. You'd think a petroleum product would make you go faster down the slopes when in fact it does the opposite. Sometimes these man made substances can make you feel like you are skiing on dirt. Remove as much as you can with the scraper and then use a good solvent to remove the rest with a cloth.
It does take a certain amount of time and effort to do a good job waxing and tuning your gear, and not everyone wants to go through the trouble. Your equipment has a lot to do with how well you perform in these activities. No one can force you to take good care of your equipment, of course. Even if you only apply some wax to your bases you'll be in better shape than if you did nothing. One way or another, everyone learns that going out there without wax is not a good idea!
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