Latest posts for the topic "Ski servicing?"

Ski servicing?

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:49:02 GMT

OK all you experts, let me have the benefit of your experience.
I bought new skis for this season, having always hired in past years.
How often do you think I should have them serviced, and what type of service should they have?
I have used them for 1 week up to now and they have some scratches on the base and some nicks to the edges, but nothing serious, and they still feel sharp. They will be doing another 2 weeks this season and I would expect to have them fully serviced before I read them a story and put them to bed. But what about in between the current trips, what do you reckon?

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 09:08:26 GMT

Waxed and edged after every trip, that is a one week trip …. the light scatches will be covered with rewaxing …. to save money do it yourself.

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 09:50:50 GMT

I did three weeks on one service last year and had no problems. After one week this year the bases and edges look like someone has taken an angle grinder to them so I will need to get them done again before my next trip. It just depends upon how much of a beating they have taken.

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:36:14 GMT

At the end of season, always put on a protective wax.

At the start, check the bindings, and bases, have them serviced if required. After that, I have them serviced to conditions.

The main element for me, particularly for afternoon hard pack, is the edge sharpen. I get an 87 degree cut, but a normal 89 degree would suit most people. In soft porrage snow, I may have a double waxing, red under and silver over.

Like Ian, I used to service my own skis, but I now pay only a few Eurus for a service, (plus a number of beers for the techie)!

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 11:42:44 GMT

Mine get serviced when they need servicing, that could be after 3 days or 3 weeks depending on conditions.

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:34:27 GMT

Piste skis after every 7 days edge and wax. Offpiste I would do every 2 weeks but would wax myself between. New Concept show in Chamonix is servicing whilst you wait with free beer thrown in. Almost rude not to have them serviced.

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:45:49 GMT

Most ski bases are only about 1.3mm thick so if you put them in for a full machine service every time the edges become blunt or the bases get gouged they won't last very long.

I have the bases of my piste skis ground when the structure has almost worn off (usually once or twice a season) at the same time I get the shop put a 0.7 degree bevel on the base edges and set the side edges to 87 degrees. My wider skis get their base edges set to 1 degree and side edges set to 88 degrees.

Ideally the bases should be stone ground on a machine that has the facility to cut a pattern into the stone, which will then cut the structure into the base. Diagonal (KA) or chevron (CHV) structures generally work better than plain linear structures on piste skis, although most people won't notice much difference.

Between services I just keep the side edges sharp by hand filing and polishing with diamond stones (I don't touch the base edges), fill any gouges in the base as and when and hot wax them. If you don't want to go to the trouble of diy a decent shop should be able to do it for you.

At the end of the season it's a good idea coat the edges with wax to stop them rusting.

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:25:32 GMT

Good post SB. Many people will not recognise the terminology. The base edge relates to the difference from the horizontal, when the ski is laid flat. I generally don't touch this after the first setting, mainly because the side cut grind brings the side back to an edge with the base, (Not always, if there has been some rough skiing, perhaps not)

Re:Ski servicing?

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 09:40:42 GMT

Thanks for the advice all. I have settled for an edge and wax after 1 week.
Do I need the full back, sack and crack though?
:-)

Re:Ski servicing?

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 10:16:19 GMT

Depends on a season. In a good season I only wax when I feel like skis need it, in a season like a current one I also do edges, but not too often. Actually only serviced one pair of skis once at the end of December after buying them in February 2012. Already skied on them about 10 times since the service so probably will drop them in a shop after next weekend. Bases can do with a little repair as no matter how I try not to hit any rocks sometimes I still do. I am not a racer so don't worry too much about tuning. Whatever is the factory setting I don't change it. I've got the stone but never used it either.

Re:Ski servicing?

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 17:35:28 GMT

DougR wrote:Thanks for the advice all. I have settled for an edge and wax after 1 week.
Do I need the full back, sack and crack though?
:-)

A good decision Doug .... :thumbup:

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:15:36 GMT

I made an impulse purchase of a new pair of skis at the end of a ski trip 3 years ago. An end-of-season bargain. However, I haven't used them since because of the exorbitant cost of ski carriage on most scheduled airlines and they have just been sitting flat in the attic in their bag ever since:oops:.

I am planning on taking them to St Anton next month - the cost of ski hire there definitely makes it worthwhile bringing them :shock:.

However, I am wondering if they will be ok to start using straight away or will I need to get them waxed or do anything else to them. Settings were set by the shop where I bought them based on the settings of the hire set I had that year.

Can any of the knowledgeable people out there give me any advice?

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:07:32 GMT

Well, obviously I am no expert, but if the skis have never been used, then I would assume you won't have to do anything with them, however, if they had been used then I would imagine they may need some tlc.
Bit puzzled when you say ski carriage is expensive. Crystal charge GBP35, others I believe may charge about GBP50. Hire for a good set of skis can be about GBP100, so unless I'm missing something it seems taking your own will work out cheaper than hiring (not taking into account the purchase price of the skis of course).

Re:Ski servicing?

Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:07:31 GMT

They would benefit from an edge and wax but, if the edges aren't rusty you should be OK. If they don't run or grip as well as you'd like you can get them serviced there. Hervis charges Euro20 for a base / edge grind and wax.

Hiring skis in St Anton is supposed to be very expensive. Hervis will probably be the cheapest in St Anton Dorf, Mietski in Pettneu a 5 min bus ride away will be cheaper still.