| A finely tuned ski or snowboard can be the | | | | because it messes up the finished waxed product. |
| difference between a great day on your favorite | | | | Always move from tip to tail when use a file and a |
| mountain or a nightmare of an experience trying to | | | | guide on your ski. After a few passes with the file, |
| get to the bottom of the hill. The reason tuning your | | | | take your scouring pad and wipe off any metal |
| gear is so essential is how it affects the performance | | | | scraping that may have been left by the file. |
| of your boards. There are many ways to tune | | | | 4. While you are edging, plug in your iron so it will be |
| equipment and many techniques. I am going to impart | | | | hot by the time you need it. Great, now you are |
| some basic knowledge that should help the everyday | | | | ready to begin waxing. Take your iron in one hand |
| skier to have an amazing time on their equipment. | | | | and a small piece of temperatured ski wax in the |
| 1. The first thing you are going to want do is check | | | | other, and apply a thin coat to the base of the ski. |
| the base of the skis or snowboard you are riding. If | | | | Use the iron to smooth out the wax and evenly |
| it has an ashey dry look to it, then it desperately | | | | apply it to the bottom. Once this is done, you have |
| needs wax. You will need an iron, a plexi-glass | | | | to let the wax cool and adhere to the ski or |
| scraper, and a scouring pad to buff out the surface. | | | | snowboard. |
| 2. Secondly, you are going to want to run your finger | | | | 5. Once we have given the ski enough time to dry |
| along the edge of the gear to feel for any burrs | | | | (about 10 min) you are ready to scrape it. You will |
| (which are nics on the edge that you can feel with | | | | need a plexi-glass scraper and a scouring pad to finish |
| your finger). You will want to smooth these out with | | | | the job. As with the edging, you are going to scrape |
| your hand edging tools. You will need a file and a | | | | tip to tail. Once you have removed the globs of wax |
| guide to accomplish this. There are two separated | | | | from the base, you will take your scouring pad and |
| guides you will have to own to get this done: One is | | | | buff it out. Now you can bask in the glory. |
| for the base edge and the second is for the side | | | | 6. Your skis or boards should feel smooth to the |
| edge. These edges have to be smooth in order for | | | | touch and appear moist. This is a great sign of a |
| the operator of the gear to effectively turn the ski. | | | | freshly tuned ski. Now that everything is waxed go |
| Burrs and un-smooth edges make it hard for the ski | | | | enjoy how fast and smooth turning your equipment |
| and the skier to charge down the mountain. | | | | should be. |
| 3. Third, you will want to do all edging work first | | | | |