End of season, what now?

Storing winter sports equipment after the season

At the end of the winter season, our gear needs a little extra attention. To ensure it weathers the summer, we store it in a generous layer of greasy (silicone) wax. The most suitable wax for this is MX901 , but Universal Wax is also suitable.

Step 1. Edge maintenance
First, maintain the edges. This way, your material is immediately ready for the next snowfall, and rust or oxidation is removed before it eats deeply into the steel. You might have some damage or even some rust.

You can grind out damage with a diamond, aluminum oxide stone and then use a normal edge service.
If there's rust on it, you can also remove it with a rubber before sharpening. This will protect your maintenance tools from wear and tear.

Step 2. Cleaning the Surface
After you've trimmed the edges, it's important to clean your base. Especially at the end of winter or after using your skis on an indoor slope, there's a lot of dirt in the snow, and therefore also in your base.

Think of dust, sand, spilled beer, and other things that can make your skis look worse. Therefore, clean your skis thoroughly after the winter sports season. First, brush your skis with a fine-handled or brass brush.
For a deep clean, use RO21 wax afterwards. This wax also ensures that the new (gliding) wax adheres well and is absorbed into the base. Another advantage of RO21 over liquid wax remover is that RO21 also cleans the base deep down. Furthermore, RO21 does not contain any substances that could damage the adhesive in the ski or board.

See more about using RO21 here .

Step 3. Waxing
After cleaning, apply a generous layer of wax. The MX901 is best for this, as it's also very suitable for preparing new skis. Uniwax is also perfect for summer storage. It's best to put a piece of tape over the binding to prevent any wax residue from getting on it. Also, make sure your edges have a good layer of wax on them to prevent rust. Of course, don't scrape off the wax and store them with a thick layer of wax.

Step 4. Binding Check
Pay some attention to the bindings as well. Clean them and spray some Snoli Binding Spray on the moving parts. I also clean the top of the ski with a cloth and wax remover.

Next, check the DIN setting. The DIN (numbers on your bindings) are calculated by a computer in a ski shop. This takes into account your boot size, ski length, weight, and technique. It's important not to try to adjust this yourself. This can lead to injuries and insurance problems. If you check the DIN, write it down on a piece of paper and stick it to your ski. Then, turn the binding back to the lowest number. This ensures that the spring in the binding isn't under tension all summer.

Step 5. Storing skis
After maintenance, secure the skis in two straps. It's best to store them upright. If you lay them flat or on a rack, they'll sag, affecting the pre-tension.