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All skiers and snowboarders want the best ride possible. The difference waxing and tuning your skis can make to your day can be surprising. You'll notice it even more when the conditions are far less than ideal such as icy conditions. A lot depends on where you live and tend to spend your time skiing or board riding. It's super easy to get complacent and comfortable when we frequent the same places all the time. The following are some tuning and waxing tips to use on your skis.
Don't start waxing your snowboards or skis when they are still cold, so let them warm up indoors for a couple of hours. You'll get the best results no matter what you do when your gear is at normal room temperature. Unless you want bubbles to form at the base, for example, you shouldn't wax your skis when they're cold. It's better to avoid this kind of problem and let your equipment warm up for a while. The wax iron you are using must be set to the proper temperature before you begin applying wax. The iron can't be either too cold or too hot, as you can end up either with wax that hasn't melted properly or wax that's smoking.
Follow the advice of the manufacturer regarding the edge angle when edging your skis. If you've been doing this for a while, you can set this according to your own preferences. Yet if you aren't sure about it, it's a good idea to follow the manufacturer's recommendation. The edge angle will usually vary from between one and three degrees. Aside from a file, many people like to use a file guide as well. A file guide can make your job easier, though experts can do without it. When you're finished filing all edges, then you will simply do the same process but using a diamond stone. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the diamond stone, first wet it slightly.
It's very important for your presentation, in addition to safety, to have your snowboard waxed and tuned prior to the commencement of the season. We propose that you continue waxing your board roughly on every third outing. Also, you'll notice riders taking a moment to throw a quick cold wax rub on their boards while up on the slopes. There's nothing improper about doing this, either. Furthermore, you should also maintain a decent edge on your boards. A fine edge works uniformly for boards as it does for skis. You'll be able to exercise more manipulation, especially when making turns and when the surface has more ice on top of it. What most people may not realize is that you should also keep a protective layer of wax on your board during the off- season. Your board surface will oxidize just like any other surface, and the wax will help prevent that from happening.
Not everybody is going to take the trouble to wax and tune their equipment, of course. Although it is highly recommended as we keep saying over and over. No one can force you to take good care of your equipment, of course. So at the rock-bottom very least, put some wax on your bases. Or, you can make a habit out of skiing or boarding without wax, and learn the hard way!
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