What Is Ski Tuning? How Often to Do It, How Much Does It Cost

Skiing is loved by men, women and even kids. Like all equipment, ski's need maintenance to ensure they’re up to par.

What is ski tuning? Ski tuning is a general service that most ski resorts offer to their guests. It is the process of reshaping and fixing your skis to your particular style and skiing ability. Skis can be adjusted in many ways to make them a better fit for your needs.

So, if you need more information on how to tune your ski, keep reading this full guide. 

The process involves adding wax to the skis and using a thermal device such as hot iron, stone, or a pneumatic machine to melt the wax; this is called base tuning. The ski is then put through a series of turns and strokes to smooth and polish the base. 

A metal scraper is then used to remove excess wax and the ski is done. This process will allow the skier to get a better grip on the snow and make it easier to turn.

Before You Start

Professional ski and snowboard tuning is key to an enjoyable skiing and snowboarding trip. There are many things that you can do before you start your ski tuning. Many ski shops will have a list of steps that you should take before you start tuning. You should always have your ski tuning tools ready to go before you start, so you are ready to begin as soon as you are finished with the preparation. You should always be sure to use a wax remover before you polish your skis. The remover will have a solvent to help soften the wax so you can remove it easily. Also, you should always rub the remover in a circular motion and then remove the wax with a soft cloth and always make sure to clean your ski before tuning. You can use a cloth and some water and vinegar mix. 

What Is Ski Tuning?

A ski's edge can become dull or misshaped, which can drastically affect the performance of your ski. A ski tuner will inspect the base to determine what needs to be done to fix your ski. The technique of turning the ski's edge is called ski tuning. Tuning may involve sharpening the edge for a short period or replacing it with a new sharp edge. The goal of tuning is to get your ski's edge in top shape to glide smoothly over the snow.

Many people are unaware of the benefits of tuning their skis. Ski tuning provides many benefits for the skier by improving ski performance and reducing the likelihood of injury. The most crucial advantage of tuning one's skis is the opportunity to adjust the skis' balance by affecting the pitch, sag, and cant angles. 

Balance is key to efficient skiing and can be achieved by adjusting pitch, sag, and cant angles. When tuners change the pitch of the ski, they are raising or lowering the center of mass on the ski.

If the pitch is increased, then the skier's weight will become more forward on the ski.

How Often Should I Tune My Skis?

To have a good skiing experience, one of the most important things is your equipment. Whether you're looking at your ski gear, your boots, or your ski bindings, it's essential to keep your equipment in good condition so you can enjoy yourself on the slopes. One of the most important aspects that can make your ski trip amazing is a well-tuned and sharpened set of skis, so focus on how many times you should tune your ski. 

The obvious answer would be "as soon as you can," but that's not always possible, and you might likely need to tune them at different intervals depending on the snow conditions and terrain. 

If you usually use your skis predominantly on groomed piste, then tuning them each time you ski is overkill. If you are skiing on the less well-groomed piste, you might need to have a long-term strategy. If you are skiing mainly off-piste, then the more often, the better. Maybe even more than once a year? It is all about getting the skis to behave more easily on the terrain they are being used for. 

How Much Does Ski Tuning Cost?

So you are considering taking up the sport of skiing but are afraid of the expense? The average cost of ski tuning can vary depending on the company or individual, but in general, ski tuning costs between $3 -$ 25. This is a relatively small cost in comparison to the time and money you will spend to learn how to ski.

Some tips to keep in mind when considering the cost of ski tuning are that you should always research ski tuning companies and get quotes from more than one. Some ski tuning companies take extra time to contact you ski or board tuned, and some do not accept cash payments. There are also different levels of ski tuning services available.

You may be surprised how many people are not aware of the ability to sharpen their ski equipment. 

It is necessary to have several tools to tune your skis, such as a ski pole, ski wax, scraper, and ski tuning tool. For your ski tuning to be practical, you may need to have a range of devices. 

One tool for cleaning the base of the ski, one mechanism for removing the wax from the surface of the ski, one tool for smoothing the surface of the ski, and a final device for finishing the ski. You should be careful with these tools because they could result in a severe injury. 

How Ski Tuning Affects the Performance of Your Skis

Ski tuning is a vital part of every skier's experience. It costs too much. However, maintaining their performance is worth the time and expense.

The process of ski tuning is to remove small amounts of wood or metal from the ski’s base to counter the progress that the ski base makes degradation over time. It is best to have experienced technicians do this to ensure you are getting the desired amount removed. Too much material removed will result in poor ski performance, so too little material could also result in poor performance. 

This is because ski grip depends on the rise of the ski base, so if you remove too much ski material, the rise could change, resulting in the ski grip changing. Ski tuning is an essential part of getting the most out of your skis. If your skis are not tuned properly, your skiing performance is sure to suffer.

Final Thoughts

Ski tuning helps to make your ski function better. Those enthusiasts who love the winter season and winter sports can benefit from turning their skis. If you are new to skiing, it is essential to make sure that your skis are tuned correctly. Skis can be tuned to complement your skiing skills and level of expertise, which will make you more comfortable on the slopes. Skis that are tuned properly will function better and help you to perform the best results when skiing and enjoy the process. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does wax last on skis?

Wax on a ski lasts from about 8 to 12 runs, depending on the type of snow conditions.

2. Is it safe to ski on old bindings?

While it is possible to ski on old bindings, you are more likely to have an injury when doing so. This is because the outdated bindings do not adequately support your feet or ankles to offer you the same amount of protection as newer bindings. 

3. Can ski edges be too sharp?

Skiers are often looking for an edge sharpening but are not sure how it can affect their skiing. A sharp edge can provide a quicker release, smaller turn radius, and increased edge angle, which will give the skier more control during their turn. It is important to note that skis with sharper edges can be frustrating to ride with, especially for beginners.

4. Are ten-year-old skis still good?

It's worth considering, however, that the material of the ski itself will have changed in the last ten years. The newest models are lighter, have more flex, are durable, have better grip for icy conditions, are made with more eco-friendly materials, are more durable to impacts, and are less expensive. 

Other changes in the ski industry may have to do with the ski poles, which use different materials. It's hard to say precisely what would happen if you put ten-year-old skis on a ski trip after so many years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Djurdjevic          

Senior Content Creator

Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering snowboarding, skiing and trends in outdoor winter activities. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the mountains, getting out in the snow on her board, season after season, seeking wild snow adventures across the globe helps her continue to be a top expert at CSG.