Tuning Info

Several persons have asked to explain some tools and their use in more detail.

I will. With pictures and more precise presentations. Once I get into actual tuning procedures, I will go step by step.

My goal in the past class is to allow everyone to get tools and practice with old ski.

By next week we will take all tools and discuss their use.

For the class ( the ones registered and still active) they will get a DVD from me with the Rossignol race technician showing how pros do it! So do not panic if all this seems strange. Keep sending me massages on topics I did not present well!

I hope you all have by next Monday a true bar!

We will do a very important exercise with this bar, so please get true bar!
With this bar you will understand the concepts of beveled ski bases and the number of degrees you will chose to do your skis!

I will also provide you all with illustrations and pictures on these concepts and procedures.

In conclusion, remember that tuning skills are learned over time. You will not master all the techniques in one skiing season. You will learn here the basic "correct" procedures, then you will be at ease to try alone all the prep.

Please do not go out and buy all sorts of "specialized" tools. At this time you do not need them. Think long term. That is buy tools, as you need them and do not let "others" convince you that you need this or that tool.

Think "outside" the box,,,,,,, so buy tools that do the same function but are 60% cheaper since they are not ski specific!

Two examples

Wax iron. I have used 30+ irons in my tuning. I have at least 3 specialized ski irons, one is a Toko iron that allows wax sheets to be held on iron while you "iron on" the wax. My old 5 euro old iron is better!

Wax metal scraper. You can get special ski metal and nylon ski scrapers but you can also use very effectively; plaster spreaders by Stanley, cut sheet metal from machinists, plastic mastic spreaders, etc.....

I want you to get your tools and become "familiar" with their use. You must learn to feel the tool doing its work. Ad an example when using a file, you must learn to listen to sound it makes and the feel it generates as you pass it over the edges.

The first impressions you will have ( if you INCORRECTLY prepared ski edges) is a file that seems to go well, then a hard spot stops file) That is a burr or ding caused by rocks or rail ! The feel and sound will tell you that you did not do your prep!

When I teach this here, I am just behind you and can tell you to notice sound or feel. Since I can not be there with you, you must be sensitive to all the sensory messages from the file ski edges, iron and wax.

I asked all the class to tell me what happens when you apply wax on old ski base!

Look carefully as wax solidifies. It is fascinating. It is like taking the pulse of your ski! I can tell you from looking at wax solidifying on your ski;
-condition of your ski base
-condition of inner ski edges ( broken or not)
-quality of base structure
-level of adhesion of wax due to impurities
-quality of wax
-quantity of wax
-acceptable pre-heating of base


So you see there are many things you will learn.