T11 Tuning the side edges ************

Did you notice all the stars!!!

There is a reason for them. This is the class that will make you go to ski in heaven! This is the class that will really make you skis sing on ice.

Skiers will wonder how come you are "cutting" the hill while they are struggling going sideways.

First I want to thank all of you for the PMs and comments to make this class more effective for others. I am setting up a interactive medium so that we can talk and see the work you have done. All free! I now have SKYPE which allows me to speak to you for free and to view all work. Just get this software and contact me via pavliam ( my identity on this site).

It is clear that I must see some of your results to comment on the work.


I will also provide my phone number for free calls via PM.


Let us just review what we have done in the past classes.

1. We checked all skis for damage
2. We repaired all dings and scratches on base
3. We structured base (Ptex) with sandpaper, brush or rotobrush
4 We beveled base edges 1 degree

Great 90% of tuning is done!

One small comment about that last step,,,ie base bevel. Remember that you do this just once or twice at the most in a season!

This next step you should do every time you ski!
I repeat every time you ski!!!

Once you experience the extraordinary stability and power you get from a well tuned ski you will never but never ski on a "dull ski"!!

Allow me to illustrate.
Yesterday I was skiing with a friend and I was teaching him a very important technique in skiing. After several runs, there seemed to be a problem. This person usually got and applied all that I taught him, yet on this technique I was not seeing any progress.
I checked his skis and discovered the problem. He had not tuned his skis since he was "too busy" with his "other work"!

We switched skis and amazing he was now really cutting the hill !

This step is perhaps the very most important step since it will reflect on the ski run right away!!!!

This is where you will have to make some personal and wise decisions about where you ski, how you ski and how much performance you want from the ski.

What you will be doing is what car mechanics do on race cars when they "tune the car's suspension". I can not be with you so you will have to make choices on how radical the side bevel will be. Be honest in evaluating you abilities!

A little theory first ( and some practical comments).

If you visit this site and read all the topics you will note that many skiers ask about "carving" and what this animal is.

In short,,,,,, skiing on a modern ski means you are on "edge" rather than on the ski base! This edge becomes much more important than "older" skis since it is the interface now between you ( your brain) and the ski surface.
If the edge is dull, broken, scrapped etc....your brain will get dull, confused messages about what is happening down there.

You have no time to check so the only information you are getting is that your technique is poor, lousy or just in ineffective! So you are confused and try "other" techniques.

Is it possible that your technique is good but the ski is not to effective?

That is why you tune EVERY TIME YOU SKI!!!!

What is the saying about a dull knife?

I know what will be your problem!
Since this is a new project you feel not "competent" in doing this. You are not sure what to do! So some of you take the easy way out,,,,bring ski to shop. That is acceptable if you want the run of the mill tune that all get.

But if you are that rare skier that wants absolute control in all conditions so that when you wiggle your ears the skis will respond like stallions, then read on.....

You will learn in this class to set an angle on the vertical axis so that you will have a ; sharp edge ( 90 or 0 degree ), a very sharp edge ( 89 or 1
degree) or super very very very sharp edge, that will cut ice apart. That will make one clear clean line on the slope! ( 88 or 2 degree).

I can not impose what degree is best for you but I can suggest some criteria to consider.

If you ski mainly ( 70% or more) on icy conditions go 2 degree
If you are an expert skier then go 2 degrees
If you are intermediate skier ,,then start at 1 degree and work up next year.

If you ski powder or soft snow,, then stay at 0 degree bevel.

Notice I did not discuss a 3 degree bevel.
This is the serious angle. This will give you power that you have never felt on a ski but with this power comes problems. You see the ski edges is so sharp ( like a razor) its edge is "delicate" and any stones, steel, etc,,,can damage it. Racers are willing to accept this "small" problem since they get skis free or the needs in a race requires them to have such a "extreme angle"!

It is your call. They are your skis! May I suggest you start slowly with mild tunes at 1 degree and work up!

Many skiers ask me, "Pavel is there a right and left ski". 99% of skiers will say, "of course not dodo"!

Well the answer is yes and no!!!!!

When you buy a ski both are the same, but when you tune your ski, you modify it for your needs and goals,,,so yes you will have soon a left and right ski. I know ,,I know I have started a debate now, so I will post soon the question and see why skiers think you should have a right and left ski!

In this class will will stay on target and speak of vertical tune.

Here are the steps;

Assuming you have done all other prep work ( see previous classes)

Place ski in vices ( you really need some form of "holding tool" ), so that ski is on side.

What you want to do is file the ski edge so that it is angled inward from base to top of ski. Just visualize the ski edge and draw a line from tip of ski edge to ski core. That line should be going down as it nears the ski core.
( for the official class members I can send you illustration).

To help you in this procedure you can get many tools which in essence are "guides" for the cutting tool. I have about 50 different tools and have found one that I love. You find the one that is best for you! Mine is the SKS racing double bladed tool. Great gift to ask the wife or dad!

The way you place ski in vice is CRITICAL here. The base Ptex should face away from you. In other words you have the binding close to your stomach on the vice.

I prefer to start my cut at tip and I never pressure hard the file or tool. It is better to do 5 passes than one hard one. Your tool hand must place pressure 45 degrees into the ski. So you are putting pressure downward on ski edges but ALSO inward towards ski core ( SO FILE WILL NOT SLIP OFF SKI EDGE).

Note larger type!!!!
This is the most common error beginner tuners make. They try too hard to cut ski edges once!!! Be patient and do smooth easy passes that overlap!

This is when you must listen to the file and its music. It will tell you if your prep work is well done.

If as you pass the file, the tone changes ( it is distinctiver sound) then you have a ding!!!! STOP!!!!

Take out stone or diamond stick and pass over this area!

Return to file and continue work.

DO NOT TOUCH EDGE AT THIS POINT!!! Always use paper towel after every passl!!
I know,,,I know you want to touch the edges to see if you have done great job! DO NOT!!! You see the ski edge now has microscopic metal bits that will cut into you and may cause infection. Listen that is your best input!

Once you have done an edge correctly, the sound that comes from the file is just like sweet music,,,,,one clear unique tone!!!

Take your stone ( 220 grit) and gently past it one over ski edge to get one uniform ski edge! I have several stones from 80 to 600 grit and I past from 220 to 600 grit. The last grit ( 600) is a very fine grit which make a ski edge so sharp I can take my ski and cut the roast!!!!! ( and my fingers, jeans, car seat, ski suit etc....)

I do not detune my skis. If you are not racer or top level expert skier then de-tune tip ( 10 cm) and tail ( 10 cm) with stone . This is done by placing stone at 45 degrees to ski edges and passing twice!

Repeat this procedure WITH THE INSIDE SKI EDGE of bot skis.

Again note large letters.

Here is your homework.
Why just inside edge!
What is inside edge?
How do you determine INSIDE EDGE?

Please be careful with skis once you have done this work since you now have a weapon!

DO NOT LEAN AGAINST WALL!!!

Yes I have had a dog cut off his ear on my skis!!!!!

Hope this helps you all!

If you need more information send via PM.


I am going off skiing for two weeks so please be patient if I do not "hear"from me. I promise to respond the minute I get back.

Bonjour!!!!