“Tuning is critical,” explains Jed Duke, director of product development for Blizzard Skis as well as a former race room director. “You lose control without a proper tune!”

“Whether you buy a beginner or expert ski it’s good to have it function as it was intended,” adds Tim Mullen, Marketing & Merchandising Director at Reliable Racing, a well-known supplier for equipment of all types to skiers, riders, as well as competitors. “You may know about tuning by trying another ski and seeing what really turns like a dream. We tune to make the ski perform as intended or better!”

For any skier or rider, a tuned ski can maximize your skills and enjoyment. Tuned edges maximize grip and ease turn entry. In addition, waxing allows a ski to glide more easily and turn with less effort.

“I’m amazed how many skiers buy $1,000 skis and then don’t keep them up to tune! It’s like putting cheap tires on a Porsche.”

“Dropping them off at the shop was a pain, expensive, and usually forgotten until too late,” reflects longtime skier Dave Hibbert. In his case, with multiple skiers in the family, shop tuning was expensive. The Edgetune System, which he invented, uses a Dremel drill to bring ceramic stone grinding technology to home tuners, clubs, and race programs.

“The results of a fresh, quality tune are clearly evident. Tuned to factory standards, and with proper ongoing maintenance, you can maximize your investment!” reflects former World Cup tuner Mike DeSantis, presently the owner of Ski MD, an elite tuning shop in Framingham, MA.

So, you know tuning is critical. Still, what should you know to effectively tune your skis? What can you do to maintain a well-tuned ski? The good news is that with a few home tuning tools skis can readily be maintained at a high performance standard. Welcome to our Tuning Clinic.

The skier’s guide to home tuning

1) Wipe your skis after use.

Elite skaters wipe edges regularly. Similarly, wiping your skis minimizes corrosion and helps remove harmful chemicals and pollutants which can damage the edge and base. Wipe the skis at the end of the day. Wipe your expensive skis.

2) Inspect the bases.

Ski bases perform best when free of major gouges. Check your bases. Either fill or have the shop fill gouges.

3) Keep side edges smooth and sharp.

To start, purchase a “file guide” and diamond stone. Tools can vary from a simple plastic or metal file holder to the Dremel attachment at Edgetune which uses stone grinding technology. Ask the shop for the side edge “setting” on your ski. Mike DeSantis suggests that most skiers use a one degree base bevel and a three degree side bevel

“Don’t mess with the base edge,” suggests Duke. “You might use a fine stone to smooth burrs but do not use a coarse stone as you do not want to change that bevel.” Base edges are filed and polished much less frequently and can typically be addressed by a shop annually. Know that overly filing base edges can change performance dramatically.

Use a diamond stone - a blue stone is nice medium grit - to eliminate the initial dings and marks on the side edge. Use a file guide to keep the stone “square, flat, and even” against the ski. Gently move the stone on the side edge until burrs are removed, and the edge smooth. We suggest that you use thick rubber bands to hold the ski brakes away while working.

Mark the edges with black magic marker. Work tip to tail. “This makes sense,” says Duke.

Gradually remove the magic marker! A small ski shop file can quickly restore sharpness. (Ski-specific files are tailored for the hardness of a ski edge.)

Following filing use a diamond stone to polish.

4) Wax.

Waxing protects the base and allows a ski to glide and turn more easily. Unfortunately, poor use of an iron if hot waxing CAN damage a ski. The solution? Consider “rub on” paste wax or consider the Wax Wizard which inventor Ray Yusi explains safely and quickly “melts” a wax into the base using friction. The skier simply rubs wax from a bar of wax onto the base and polishes the base with the Wax Wizard. The round tool allows greater pressure then a flat cloth or cork and the friction melts the wax into the base.

“This can really protect a ski,” emphasizes DeSantis.

Maintenance notes

1) Wipe your skis.

2) Prepare side edges:

Use a diamond stone to remove burrs.

Use a file to resharpen the edge.

Use the diamond stone to polish.

The alternative: The Edge-Tune Stone Grind System.

Realize that files and stones wear out! They do not last forever! I use two diamonds a year and usually one file.

“DMT, Moonflex, and SWIX are major brands of diamonds,” says Mullen. “They are all good.”

3) Wax.

“I would say that once that base edge is set do not file that base edge,” emphasizes Duke. “The side edge you can file or stone daily as long as you keep the guide to maintain that angle. If you touch that base use a green stone.”

TuningtTools

Home tuning – maintaining a tuned edge and base – is not complicated, nor overly time consuming. Still, it takes a few tools! For those interested in tuning and general maintenance the good news is that a variety of tools are available through both “mountain shops” or on-line distributors. In fact, with a few tools it is relatively simply to maintain a well-tuned ski.

For all tuners a “guide” will be necessary to maintain that factory set edge angle. These can vary from a basic plastic guide with a variable side edge setting such as the FK Variable Sharpener from Reliable Racing to the SKS Racing Combo which includes small wheels to avoid filings from impacting the base.

Elsewhere, several manufacturers, including FK/SKS Tools and Sun Valley Tools sell metal side edge guides. All vary slightly in accuracy but can serve as invaluable tools for tuning.

Finally, in contrast to these hand held and hand-powered tools, Edge Tune’s Stone Grinder uses the power of a small Dremel drill to power a guide which uses ceramic stones to sharpen and maintain edges. This somewhat mimics shop tools and with a soft touch provides an amazingly polished edge. I found the results stunning and fast!

Websites for tools and information include: Reliable Racing: www.reliableracing.com; The Race Place: www.The-raceplace.com; Ski Sharp Products (Wax Wizard): www.alpineskituning.com; and Edge Tune’s Home Stone Grinder: www. Edgetune.com.

Sharp thoughts

With minimal effort, a cloth to wipe skis, a diamond stone, a file, a side edge guide, and wax, you can maintain a ski and maximize performance. In fact, virtually a set of tools, whether this is a file guide with file, diamond stone, and wax, or the Edge Tune Dremel Driven System, can pay for itself within a half dozen tunes.

Not just racers enjoy a tuned ski. Any skier or rider can enjoy the benefits of a ski which turns easily, glides smoothly, and holds strongly on hardpack. And it need not require great time or too many tools. My tools travel in a camera bag!

Stay tuned. From that first run to your last run.

Tony Crespi has served as both a ski school supervisor and development team coach. A frequent contributor to publications throughout snow country, his column is published throughout the season.