Lesson 1: Learning to feel

I promised you all that you will great tuners and you will!

Why? Because in this course you will not just learn the tricks in tuning but you will learn to use your senses!

You are not robots. You are not machines so from day one you must let your brain take in all the sensory input that occurs while tuning!

Let me give you 2-3 examples. Most average tuners see results of tuning. I want you to learn to smell, feel, and hear while you tune!
When you take out a burr with a file ( which is a no no). or if you have not done the proper preparatory work before, you will hear a distinct sound! A file has a wonderful uniform sound as it caresses the steel edges. If you hot a bad section of a ski, that sound will change very much like a violin changes its pitch. You must learn to listen!

Before doing any tuning most average tuners look at the ski edges for dings! I will ask you to close your eyes and with index finger gently pass this finger over the ski edge. I mean with minimum pressure! Feel every imperfection!
Feel the change in "sharpness". Try to visualize that burr!

I have tool called SKS racing tuner which has a blade 3 times more hard than most skis. As I pass this tool on the ski edge it gives off an odor which is unique! I will try to bottle it for you so you can smell it!!!! It tells me a great deal!

Of course I will ask you to burn a ski base so that first you will learn the warning signs of a "too hot" iron but also to allow you to "experience" that smell which comes from hot plastic base!

Waxes also have distinctive smells! I am surely not asking you to place your noses into wax fumes, but I am asking you to learn to be aware of all these sensory inputs! They tell you a great deal , once you know what they mean!

So as our first exercise I want you to get to know your skis as if it was a new friend! Do not just look at it! Feel it! Try to find all the tiny scratches with your fingers. See with your eyes closed if you can identify your right and left ski! Tell me how you did this! Because unlike what skiers will tell you there is a right and left ski!

Now smell the ski! I can identify at least 4 evident odors! That is before you even tune them!

Now look at the ski! I mean LOOK at it clinically! There are so many signs which are there if you take the time to look. It is like being in a forest and looking for that path!
That tiny space at tip could be the begin of de-lamination!
That space between the binding and the top of the ski may be a screw loosening!
That scratch in binding may be worn boot sole.
That darkened ski base near edge may be an edge that is rusting due to water getting into the core!

A hint. Many of the modern skis have an internal plate which acts as an anti-vibration element, however at the very end of this plate near tip just ahead of the front binding there is a weak area. Many skis break or de-laminate there. Check at the top for tiny cracks! I will send you if you want a top level racing ski with such a break! Once you have seen this once you will know what to look for!

Often if you hit a rock the ski edge bends inwards! You will feel this bend before you will see it!

What I am asking you to do is get to know your ski so that in the dark you can identify it! I ask students to select their skis in the dark before they even begin to tune the ski! You must know all aspects of the ski so that when a new fissure, a new color appears you see it!

So take the time to "know" your ski! Really know it!


Whenever I have a new ski, I do some basic measurements so for the past 15 years I have used the same weights and same procedures to get the new ski's flex, torsion, camber, etc...
I do not expect you now to do so, but as you get better and better you will see that is important to determine how a ski "performs" on standard bench test over time!

I want you to learn to look at your ski in a new more clinical fashion! I want then for every tuning session to always examine the ski for any changes BEFORE you do any tuning! Soon it will be second nature!

Here is what a typical poor tuner will do!
Take ski put in vice and start A, B, C' etc...
Then perhaps discover a small separation at tails or a small sidewall deflection.

Always clean ski and look and feel ski!



A small comment.
I know you are hesitating, wondering if you can do all these complex procedures. Believe in yourself and trust me they are not that complex! I will be with you every step of the way! You can reach me via PM any time!

Also there is not one way to do anything. I am not an "expert". I am just giving you my way and if you find a better way go ahead and use it! Never do anything blindly! Question me! Ask me to be more clear!

I warn you, sometimes I will ask you all to do something that well is ridiculous!!! Stop me! I may just checking to see if you are not asleep! If I ask you to apply wax to the TOP of the ski, I hope you will stop and say, "that Pavel is silly,,,,,and.....)

I do not want robot tuners. I want smart, intelligent tuners who some day will find new way better ways to do things!

Finally great tuning is a mix of science and art! How much of each you will discover as we go along!

Now enjoy getting to know your new friend the ski! A small comment to my two friends who are related, you know brother and sister. Do this "getting to know your skis alone" and if your parents ask you why you are in the dark with your skis, tell them it is a introductory ritual Pavel requires!

Enjoy!