Lesson 8 Learning to Read

Welcome back everyone. Hope you all had a great rest because from now on you will be hard at work every week! This brief period gave me chance to plan all sorts of projects, exercises and pictures!

So roll up your sleeves here we go!

Did you notice title of class! Look up!

Learning to read! Please do not be offended since I know you learnt to read in elementary school! What I am talking about here is reading the "ski/marketing jargon" you will see ! More particularly as it relates to ski tuning!

In most classes homework is given at the end of the course.This once I am giving you the most important task in all the course and possibly the longest in the history of all the course I have given.You are taking this course because you want to be great ski tuners so all this homework is for you to get better!

Starting today get a file and a memory stick! Collect all information you can get on ski tuning from all sorts of sources! I will send you over the years ( since I will keep your emails) electronic material from the various conferences, workshops, clinics I attend!

Have the attitude that you are constantly learning! Improving your tuning skills!

That is why now we must talk about, "learning to READ" material. That is for you to evaluate what is relevant and "proven"! For the younger members of this class you must learn that just because someone is older, or someone had many degrees or titles it does not mean all information from such persons is "truth"!
We older class members have practical experience to demonstrate that some very important people do tell us "strange" things!

I am going to use tuning technical manual of a very well know company as the springboard of my class. I must stress my goal is not to critize them nor their manual. This company is an excellent company and has excellent products, however you must learn that their goal is to sell!
So the message is "filtered" to sell you all their products!
The manual I will refer to is coded PRO624E and entitled, Ski/Snowboard Preparation, Racing 2007. It comes from the Swix company!

I suggest you get a copie! I also suggest you visit their internet clinic to view their clinic after this class.


I repeat that the goal of this class is for you to develop critical reading skills so that you will be able to read any manual on ski tuning and distinguish fact from "marketing jargon"!

First comment: Note title tem "racing 2007"

On page 1 third paragraph it is stated that the maual is for racers AND people who demand the absolute best performance from skis....." Yet I counted 18 mentions of race, racer, racing course, etc... None on recerational skiing!
Soon we will talk about "structuring" the ski base and this manual is one of the very best in presenting this. The relationship to type of structure ( grooves) and type of snow is well presented!

On page 6 Ski Edge Angles the topic is very well presented with great illustrations and excellent pictures. However as you read any manual or document keeep in mind what is your goal in reading and what is the author's goal.

Look carefully at the guidelines for edge angles FOR RACING!

On Page 7 you have an excellent pictures of how you use the tool for beveling edges (if you want)!

You will also learn how to "de-tune" the tip and tails of your ski. They recdommned 15 cm. I suggest you start at 5 and slowly go to 15 if skis are too "bitting".

Here on page 8 begins the "selling" part of the manual. Various tools are recommended for various procedures. You do not need a special tool to de-tune a ski! A simple file or diamond stone will do job!

If you read blindly all the manual you end up buying too many tools!

May I quote, " The files are made to our own specifications to meet...."! That means that SWix does not make files but buys them from a file company. The very same files cost 10-15% cheaper!

BASE BRUSHING
Swix has 10 brushes. You need two types!
Never but never use the steel brush to "restore base" You will ruin it!

Read base 14 of this manual since it is one of the very best on explaining factors which you must consider in the selection of wax type! I will have a complete class just on this selection process in the recreational skier context! For my "advanced" students when you read the snow friction section remember that mysterious layer we discussed!

The cera F Powders section should be read very critically! You do not need these exotic powder and they are "problematic" as far as health issues!

The choices of waxes is what stops often skier to wax their own skis, since there seems to be such a large choice! In effect there is very little choice for our needs. The secret is to eliminate the obvious waxes which do not answer your needs.
For example; All waxes in tampon for easy spray or wipe!
All waxes with exotic powders.
All "solid F Turbo bars" for between race applications!

In the Swix wax repetoire you essentially have then 3 groups of waxes to chose from!
I will later present each group and tell you their positive and negative aspects.



Remember to read this manual and all manuals with your goal in mind!

You do not need a "special' iron with digital read out!

On page 31 they recommend applying a "special" cleaning wax to clean out base! Sorry Swix no need for recreational skiing!

I am very much a roto-brush man and suggest you get such brushes as soon as possible and this manual does present very well some techniques!


One last comment! On page 50 you have an excellent series of pictures on how to repair a ski base with polystick. One huge gaff! Never but never use a Panzer file to get melted material off ski base!

First let ski stand for one day! (to cool down and bind) and use those famous knives with blades that come out as they dull! Extend blade out to maximum and past over damaged area like a surf board.

In conclusion begin today to read all material with "critical" eye! Evaluate information for your needs!
Finally begin to collect books, booklets, guides on ski tuning!



Pavel