Factory-fresh edges are magic underfoot, but let those tips and tail go untouched for long and you’re aiming to hook your way into edge-catch city and tip-dive town. Sharp, tuned edges are there to help you slow and control your descent on the mountain (and so you don’t die on East Coast ice). Thing is, while most of your ski is wrapped with a metal edge, you don’t actually use your entire tip-to-tail edge for control. In fact, the tips and tails of tuned and new skis often hook and catch on the snow, making for bad days on the mountain.
First thing to do with new skis: de-tune your ski tips and tails. By de-tuning—or taking off the edge—of your tips (and tails on twinips), you’ll save yourself the trouble of having to control squirrely, dive-y tips and tails so you can focus on having fun, instead.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Flat tuning file
- Diamond stone
- Gummy stone
- Cup of water
- Vices or tuning stand (optional)
Steps:
- Establish contact points on tips and tails; this is where your skis touch the snow.
- Run file across edges at the contact points: three or four swipes/area will break down the edge. Don’t go too overboard on this step; you’re just aiming for a slightly dulled edge.
- Wet the diamond stone
- Slide diamond stone along the base-side of one of the edges until all burrs or rough spots from the file are smoothed over. Keep the stone parallel to the base.
- Repeat Step 4 for the other sidewall-side edge.
- Polish all tip and tail edges with the gummy stone.
Tips:
- Feel your edges often as you go. Scrape your thumbnail up and down on the edge to tell the difference between sharp and dull. Feel the edge as you go to track your progress.
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Tags: DIY, do-it-yourself, edge tuning, gear repair, ski tuning, skiing, video