Pre-Season Ski Maintenance: 5 Things to Check Before Winter
Ski season might still feel a long way off. Especially when it still feels like summer outside, digging your skis out of storage probably isn’t high on your list. But waiting for the first snow report could leave you a little late with your pre-season ski maintenance.
Equipment that only comes out once a year can develop surface rust, bases can dry out, and small bits of damage from last season can go unnoticed. Boots, bindings and the rest of your kit can have a few surprises waiting, too. Dealing with them just as the season gets going isn’t much fun. The good news? Looking after your skis doesn’t have to mean hours of work. For most people, a good initial check starts with taking a proper look at their skis and working through the five points below. If you’re still putting your kit together, our guide to renting versus buying ski equipment might help, too.
1. Start with the bases
When you take your skis out of storage, check the bases before reaching for the wax. Waxing is usually the first thing people think of when ski maintenance comes up, but have a look for these three things first:
- Deep scratches
- Gouges or other surface damage
- Whitish patches that look dry
Small surface scratches are a normal part of skiing. But deep grooves that clearly catch your fingernail, or damage that gets close to the ski’s core, may need a professional repair. If parts of the base look grey or white, that often means the surface has dried out. You can still ski on it, but waxing can help improve glide and keep the base in good condition. The idea isn’t to panic over every little scratch. It’s to avoid finding damage you missed last season on your very first day back on the slopes.
2. Check whether they need waxing
Now for one of the words you’ll hear most often when it comes to ski care: wax. It helps the bases glide more easily over snow and reduces drying out. With benefits like that, it’s no surprise that many people head straight for the wax when getting ready for the season. If the bases still look good and your skis were put away after proper care at the end of last season, they may not need immediate attention. On the other hand, if the surface looks dry or it’s been a long time since their last wax, a pre-season application could be a good idea.
You can hot-wax skis at home. You’ll need to get a few stages right, including using a waxing iron, setting the correct temperature, scraping off excess wax and brushing the bases. There are plenty of guides online showing how it’s done. But if you’ve never done it before, or haven’t watched someone experienced do it in person, your own skis might not be the best place for a first experiment. Having them waxed at a ski shop can be a more practical and safer option.
3. Look for rust and burrs on the edges
Ski edges are particularly vulnerable to moisture during storage, so check the metal edges along their full length. A little surface rust isn’t an immediate cause for worry. Small patches can appear if skis were put away damp or have spent a long time in storage. Actual damage to the edges deserves a closer look. Rather than running your hand directly along a sharp edge, inspect it visually. Noticeable burrs, dents or impacts that have distorted the edge are best checked by a ski technician.
Sharp, even edges matter especially when turning on hard or icy snow. A dull edge you barely notice in softer conditions can make itself known pretty quickly on an icy run. That doesn’t mean “the sharper, the better,” though. Edge angles and tuning depend on your skis and how you use them. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, leave it to a ski shop rather than getting carried away with a file.
4. Don’t stop at a quick look at the bindings
A few scratches underneath your skis can be annoying, but bindings are the most important safety check on this list. They’re designed to release when needed during a fall, helping reduce the risk of serious injury. You can start with a visual check:
- Are there any cracked or broken plastic parts?
- Is there any visible looseness around the screws?
- Do the ski brake arms move properly?
- Are there any obvious signs of an impact from last season?
But don’t leave it at that. If your weight, boots or equipment have changed, your binding settings may need checking again. Changing the DIN setting based on a random table you found online isn’t a good idea. Several factors come into play, including skiing ability, weight, height, boot sole length and skiing style. Procedures for these checks are covered in the ASTM F1063 standard. If you’re unsure, having your bindings checked at a ski shop before the season starts is one of the most sensible jobs on this list.
5. Take your boots and the rest of your kit out, too
When we talk about ski maintenance, it’s natural to focus on the skis themselves. But plenty of problems on the slopes can come from the rest of your kit. Make sure you try your ski boots on before the season and check the following:
- Do the buckles close properly?
- Are the straps damaged?
- Are the liners damp or smelling unpleasant?
- Are the soles excessively worn?
Checking equipment for the first time at the resort after months in a cupboard isn’t a great plan. Your goggle lenses might have scratches or damaged coatings. Your gloves might no longer keep water out as well as they used to. And your ski clothing could have a tear, a faulty zip or another bit of damage left over from last season. For a reminder of what you might be missing, take another look at our guide to what to wear skiing.
Give your helmet some extra attention. If it took a serious hit last season, looking fine on the outside may not be enough. In that case, check the manufacturer’s guidance on use and replacement. Requirements for snow sports helmets are set out in standards such as ASTM F2040.
When should you do your pre-season ski maintenance?
There’s no single month when everyone has to get it done. But “I’ll look when the first snow falls” isn’t much of a plan, either. September and October are good months for a pre-season equipment check, giving you time to sort out any problems before ski shops get busy. You can also keep an eye on whether snow is settling at a resort before the season opens. In Kartalkaya, for example, the pistes sit between 1,854 and 2,197 metres, and snow depth is measured daily.
Since ski resorts in Türkiye generally open during the winter months, checking your equipment a few months ahead might feel a bit early. But the point isn’t to use it straight away. It’s to spot anything missing or damaged while there’s still time to deal with it. That gives you a chance to arrange any servicing or pick up the equipment you need before the season starts. You’re also less likely to get caught in the winter rush at the ski shop. To follow conditions at the resorts throughout the season, you can use our snow depth and weather forecast tool.
Do your skis need a professional service every season?
No.
How often they need attention depends on how much you ski, the conditions you skied in last season and whether your equipment took any knocks. Someone who skis a few days a season won’t have the same maintenance needs as someone spending dozens of days on the slopes.
If the bases are in good shape, the edges are sound and there are no problems with the bindings, a full service may not be necessary every season. But if you’ve spent a lot of time on icy runs, hit rocks or picked up serious scratches in the bases, professional servicing makes more sense. The best approach is to look at the condition of your equipment rather than stick rigidly to a maintenance calendar.
A 10-minute pre-season ski check
Don’t fancy spending ages on it? Start with this quick run-through:
- Bases
- Edges
- Bindings
- Boots
- Helmet and goggles
Give each one a couple of minutes. If everything looks good, you can put your kit away again until the season starts. If you spot a problem, you’ve got a chance to sort it out before your first ski day. When the first snow falls, it’s always nicer to be ready to ski than still sorting out your gear.