Tag: nature

As I write this it is late April in Minnesota, the grass is fully green, the dandelions are bright yellow and the lawn mower will be running by next week. Maybe I am a little late in getting to ski storage for the season, but that is the way it goes in the north country, after all, only a couple weeks ago there was still viable skiing in the northern parts of the state. 

When it comes to ski storage, I am no chemist or expert in polymers, nor do I want to add to the ongoing debate as to whether or not applying storage wax is even needed. My philosophy is that applying storage wax will certainly do no harm, so why not protect my expensive skis? Admittedly, I have rock skis and B skis that have never seen storage wax.

Regardless of the storage wax question there are still steps that are worthy of taking when putting your skis away for the year. This is what I do…

1. Clean them: Especially classic skis, make sure that all kick wax is removed from the base, sidewalls and maybe even the bindings, your gloves and ski bag from that time you got carried away with the klister! Just be careful that you don’t clean off your markings for your kick wax zones, it might be a good idea to take some measurements of your zones so you can re-mark after the cleaning.
2. Apply storage wax: I typically use whatever blue wax I have on hand. Specific storage waxes are available, but I have never understood the need for a special wax that will just sit there, when I can be taking the next step to skiing next season. If your first ski’s of the year are usually warmer, you may want to use a red wax for your storage, etc. 
3. Find a place to store them: I use shelf brackets with simple wood planks for “arms” that hold my skis. These are all stored in the basement where I happen to have the wax bench set up as well. The temperatures are never extreme, there is no sunlight and I get to see them whenever I do laundry! Avoid storing them in a hot attic or in direct sunlight.
4. Position and ski ties: Again, I don’t have evidence to back this up, but for long term storage it just makes sense to me that skis are stored horizontally, or if they are in a vertical ski rack, it should be one that supports the tail and another point in the middle of the ski. It just bothers me when I see skis leaned in a corner where the ski tips are being flexed. I also make sure that the ski ties are not snugged down on the skies, I don’t want my skis being held in a flexed position for a long period of time. 

That’s pretty much it, the only other thing I like to do is organize my gear, maybe I’ll even find the glove that went missing on the first trip of the year! Keep making tracks and go get your bikes ready!