From the beginning to the end of the season, cross-country and alpine ski equipment needs to be maintained to not only ensure an unforgettable ski season, but also to extend the life of your skis.
Whether you are a cross-country skier or an alpine skier, the maintenance required is specific to each sport except for the first two steps, visually inspecting all equipment and removing the protective wax layer applied to it at the end of the last season. The next steps vary depending on the discipline you practice, so let's start with the cross-country skis.
Maintenance of cross-country skis
The application of hot mast wax, very important every season for new and renewable soles, “prevents the sole from drying out and allows the gliding wax to adhere well,” emphasizes Carl Dionne, employee of the JH Lamontagne and Mathieu Performance stores.
Then, by applying a grip wax stick in the grip area (on waxed skis) and a glide wax on the ends of the sole, which must be repeated on each outing, the skier will be ready to slide down the slopes. Slopes.
Between hot wax, which is applied with an iron, and liquid cold wax, which is applied as an aerosol or with a cotton pad before smoothing, Mr. Dionne notes: “People don't want to worry anymore and are choosing skis that go with be waxed with a universal liquid.” Wax or skis with skins, without waxing.
Photo provided by Mathieu Performance
Speaking of skin skis, a thorough cleaning of the skin is required to remove the stickiness caused by the grip wax deposits left on the slopes, explains Mr. Dionne. This skin needs to be replaced after an average of 1000 kilometers driven. The discoloration and hair loss herald an impending change.
In addition, regardless of the type of cross-country skis, Mr. Dionne advises, after a few years, “to re-examine the strength of your camber in order to benefit from a more adequate glide and “grip” ratio”.
Maintenance of alpine skis
Alpine skis have metal edges (the beveled sides of the ski base) that need to be sharpened in the fall and replaced depending on use.
“A poorly sharpened ski can cause us to stall instead of biting into the ice or a harder surface,” explains Jean-Frédéric Vermette, deputy director at Sports Experts de Rimouski.
Sharpening the edges of alpine skis allows for better control on the slopes. Photo provided by Génétik
A restructuring of the sole may also be necessary “to promote water flow and gain speed,” points out Philippe Bélanger, co-owner of D-Structure and Génétik.
Alpine skiing requires the application of a hot glide wax with an iron or infrared, which must be renewed depending on use and temperature, but at least three times per winter.
As far as the bindings are concerned, an adjustment by a professional is essential before the first departure of the season.
The binding and the shoe must fit perfectly. Photo provided by Génétik
For this purpose, it uses the DIN dimension, which determines the release force of the binding and is calculated based on the weight, height, age and experience of the skier as well as the shoe size.
“You definitely have to adjust the binding correctly, because if the shoe doesn't release in time, it can be dangerous to break a leg or injure your knees,” says Mr. Bélanger.
At the end of winter, simply wax the soles to protect them in summer, release the tension in the bindings and tie your boots tightly so that they retain their shape.