Tuning Tip #2: Get your skis tuned often

Before I get into the technical side of tuning your own skis, I thought I would talk about how frequently you should tune your skis. 

Not only does tuning your skis frequently increase the life of yours skis, but it will also make you a better skier.

But what do I mean by frequently? 

Some of my ski friends tune their skis everyday and others once a year, but personally, and this is my general practice; I think you should tune your skis every three full ski days.  For example, if you ski about two hours every time you ski you can get away with tuning them every six days.

Why does it make you a better skier? 

Tuning your ski fixes two things, the bases and the edges.  Each time you get your skis tuned they wax the bases, which improves your ability to glide on the snow.  An untuned ski will have a dry, fuzzy base that will feel like it is sticking to the snow.  (For those science-type people out there like me, a tuned & moist base has a much lower coefficient of friction compared to a dry, fuzzy base). 

The second thing that is tuned are the edges. 

When we ski we create little burs, or imperfections, in the edges, which cause us to lose our grip on the snow.  Each time you get your skis tuned, either with a machine or by hand, the mechanic will use a file to remove the burs from your ski and make the edge sharp again. 

Think of your ski like a knife, with every use of a knife you dull the blade and if you hit something, like a bone, you slightly damage the knife.  Your skis are much the same, after a day of skiing you will have dulled the edges and if you run your hands down your edge you will feel little bumps.  But after having your skis tuned these bumps are removed and the edges feel smooth and sharp again. 

A tuned edge not only glides better, but will allow you to have a better grip on the snow, since those imperfections have no ability to grip the snow.

If you take care of your skis and they will take care of you on the snow.