As the last remains of winter are melting away, this is the perfect time to clean and glide wax your skis before putting them away for the season. Cleaning, waxing and storing your skis properly is easy and only takes a few minutes, but makes a huge difference.
Here’s a quick guide to how and why you should do it.
Why?
Storing the skis with a layer of glide wax protects the bases from scratches and damage during storage. The wax layer also prevents the bases from drying out, making sure your skis stay lightning-fast next winter as well.
Plus, it’s much more enjoyable to pull out clean skis that are ready to roll when the snow flies again in the fall. Just scrape, brush and go ski!
How?
Basic summer care is the same for all skis: skin skis, skate skis, classic skis, touring ski and backcountry skis. Clean, glide wax and store.
Step One: Cleaning
For all skis: Clean all glide zones and kick/grip zones (for traditional classic skis) using a ski-specific glide wax/base cleaner. Wipe off excess product and let dry.
For skin skis: Clean the skin using a skin-ski specific skin cleaner. A regular base cleaner may contain solvents that are too harsh and could harm the glue that attaches the skin to the bases.
For waxable classic/touring/backcountry skis: Also make sure to wipe down the sidewalls, tops and bindings with base cleaner to remove any kick wax or klister wasx that may have collected there. This will prevent a sticky mess, as kick wax and klister in a warm environment has a tendency to run and trap lint and dust on your skis, as well as drip onto other surfaces.
Step Two: Glide waxing
For all skis: Wipe your clean bases with a lint-free shop towel, such as Fiberlene. Then drip on and heat in a layer of medium-warm glide wax, such as Swix PS7, PS8 or equivalent. Then store your skis (preferably horizontally) in a dry place until the snow flies again.
For skin skis, waxable classic/touring/backcountry skis: Cover the skins/waxable kick zones with a wide ski shop tape/ masking tape before applying glide wax to avoid accidentally dripping glide wax on the skins/waxable kick zones.
Tip: If the bases are extremely dirty, perform a “hot clean” procedure before applying the storage wax. This is done by dripping on and heating in a layer of glide wax, then scrape off the layer of wax while still hot, brush and polish. Then let the skis cool. Scraping the glide wax while still hot will remove any dirt and grit trapped in the structure of the ski even after cleaning with base cleaner (step one above). Once the bases have cooled off after the hot cleaning, drip on a layer of glide wax as above and store your skis.
Step Three: Storing your skis
For all skis: Look for a space that will not get too hot. Keep in mind that the temperature right below a non-insulated metal roof that bakes in the sun can get extremely high!
Tip: Make sure to store your waxes and supplies in a cool place. Open containers of kick waxes and klisters in particular have a tendency to ooze out of their containers, drip onto everything in proximity and create a sticky mess if left in a place that gets hot. If possible, wrap and box up your klisters and kick waxes and store them in a fridge or freezer over the summer.
Bonus: Take stock
This is a great time to take stock of your equipment, wax and tool kits.
Examine your gear for broken or worn parts that need to be replaced or repaired, such as bindings, pole tips, baskets and tools such as scrapers and brushes.
Also make a note of items you’re out of or running low on, such as various waxes, cleaners and shop supplies.
That’s all! Go enjoy summer!