Learn from professionals. How to care and store skis and snowboards during the off-season

How do you usually store your skis and snowboards during the off-season? There's still time to preserve your favorite boards and get them back on the slopes in style come the 2024-2025 season! Let the experts tell you what you need to do now

To avoid the worst-case scenario

Now that summer has arrived and the season is (probably) over, what happens to your skis and snowboards that have outlived their usefulness? It would be a disaster if you left them lying around somewhere without doing anything with them since your last time using them on the mountain. While there are probably no STEEP users who would leave their skis and snowboards outside in the rain, perhaps they are carelessly leaving them in a storage shed where they can get piping hot in the midsummer heat?　

The worst-case scenario is that your precious skis and snowboards, which you spent a lot of money on, will soon become unusable. Why is that?
Because the way you maintain and store your skis during the off-season has a big impact on the maintenance of their gliding performance and their lifespan. How can you prevent this worst-case scenario? We asked Gallium, a manufacturer specializing in wax and tuning gear, to teach us about off-season care and proper storage methods.

Our guide was Tanaka Satoshi, a gallium engineer and specialist with 20 years of experience

"After the season, boards have been used on a variety of slopes and snow types, so both the base and edges are completely worn. In particular, the granular snow in early spring has black dirt particles floating on the surface. By skiing on dirt, that dirt accumulates on the base. Even if you only ski on powder snow in the peak season, the snow that looks clean in January or February is actually dirty. If left unattended, the dirt will oxidize and gradually deteriorate the base

There's no way a board with a base in that condition can glide smoothly on the snow. It gets caught in the snow, you can't gain any speed, and you can't accelerate as you'd like. Naturally, if this happens, the pleasure and enjoyment of skiing will be halved. Furthermore, deterioration of the base will have a big impact on the lifespan of the board. To prevent this from happening, maintenance is important. Even if you've left your boards unused since the season ended, it's not too late to take care of them and store them properly

The thing you must do is "clean the running surface"

When skis or snowboards are out of season, the first priority is to use a cleaner to wipe off any dirt from the sliding surface

Step 1. Apply cleaner to the sliding surface

Check out this video for more details!

To wipe off dirt from the sliding surface, it is best to use kitchen paper, but an old T-shirt or towel will also work. Tissue leaves paper dust, so it's a no-no. When you try it, you'll be surprised at how dirty it is

While deterioration of the sliding surface is one thing, the main cause of the more simple problem of "my board no longer slides" is the accumulation of dirt

Step 2. To remove lint, dust, and dirt not only from the surface but also from within the structure, it is a good idea to brush from the top to the tail using a bronze brush

Step 3. To make it even more perfect, wrap the cork in Fibertex (for rough finishing) to remove any fine fuzz

Q. What should I do about the edges?

Tanaka says
, "If you're concerned about burrs or other issues, it's a good idea to use a rust remover to remove them and keep the surface relatively clean."

Another thing that is essential before storage is "wax coating (packing) to prevent oxidation."

Once the surface has been cleaned, it is essential to apply a base wax to protect it from exposure to air. The best and most effective method is to melt solid wax with an iron and apply it

Step 4. Apply the wax evenly to the entire sliding surface. It will be easier to apply the wax if you apply the solid wax to the iron to soften the surface

Step 5. Pour the wax onto the sliding surface. Melt the wax onto the waxing paper and pour an appropriate amount evenly over the surface

Step 6. Spread the wax with an iron. Spread it evenly over the entire sliding surface without stopping the iron

Check out the video to see the entire process. The video clearly explains how much wax to apply, how to move your hands when brushing, and how much pressure to apply

Q. What if I don't have an iron (or don't want to buy one)?

Tanaka says
, "There are quite a few people who don't own an iron. But that doesn't mean you need one. You can apply a thick coat of solid wax. You can also apply a simple spray or paste wax and leave it as is, which is much better than doing nothing."

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Items used for care

Where and how to store it?

Once you have completed all the necessary maintenance, where and how should you store it?

"The best thing to do is to store it in a cool, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight. A cool, dark place is best, but if that's difficult, at least store it in a place that's not exposed to direct sunlight. Even if you store it indoors, if you store it in a place where the afternoon sun is hitting it through a window in the summer, the temperature will rise and the wax that's been applied will melt

Also, since boards are basically made of wood, there is a risk that they will deform if they are kept too hot. The ideal temperature is below 30°C, but if they are below 40°C, I don't think there is any major concern," says Tanaka

This is just an idea from STEEP, but if you like the graphics on your skis, why not display them in your room? All you need
" Hover. The Wall Mount Ski " that lets you hang your skis on the wall. Inside the room, there is good ventilation and you can adjust the humidity to a moderate level. It's also a great place to dry your skis. Just make sure to choose a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

InfoGallium
Co., Ltd.
Official website: https://www.galliumwax.co.jp/Official
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