Why is it important to get your equipment tuned-up?

At some point, every skier and boarder knows that they will need to have a service shop tune-up their equipment. Some questions that arise when customers come into the shop for a tune-up are, "How do you tune-up the ski?", "What do you to do to the skis?” The real question is always, "What good does a tune-up really do for my skis and my skiing?"

There are two things that happen to a ski or board as you use it. The ski or snowboard base and bottom of the edges wear down, and the beveled edge becomes dull and burred from hitting rocks. As the base and edges wear down, your ski or snowboard will not work as freely as it should, frustrating your efforts and making it less fun. The experienced technicians at Cliff House can correct these conditions with a proper tune-up.

At Cliff House all skis or boards are tuned using one or more of the following methods; by hand, a belt grinder, a stone grinder and a ceramic disc. All four of these tuning methods help us flatten the ski base, bevel the edges and allow us to put a structure into the base, allowing for different turn and glide characteristics for different snow conditions. The edges are sharpened, beveled and polished to provide glide, control, and enhance the edge grip on the ice. Hand tuning involves the use of various files, brushes, ceramic and diamond stones that are designed to help us get the base flat. A perfectly tuned ski or board will allow you to make the minutest changes in their turns.

The final step in any tune-up is waxing. Our Wintersteiger Wax Jet 80 waxer applies an even coat of wax that protects the base from oxidation (drying out), and to a small degree from scratches and dings that could be worse without a wax. The wax also reduces the suction between the base and snow to let the ski or board glide. This allows the skier or boarder to swing into a carved turn with less effort. All skis and boards will turn easier when waxed! A waxed ski or board may reduce the risk of injury because it will be more predictable in all snow conditions.

Experience the difference! Experience the passion!

Click here to download our guide to Do-It-Yourself Waxing