How to Store your Ski Gear
The end of winter does not mean the end of skiing. There will be another winter coming next season, and when the time comes, you have to be ready for skiing. Ski gear had to be handled carefully and stored properly to ensure that they are in the right condition the next time they are being used. It means that you have to observe proper storage practices. Sports overnight sheds some light on how best to store your ski gear until the next time you will have to use them.
Skis
After your last run, do not just store them up in some box in your garage. First, begin by rinsing the skis using water and a soft cloth to remove any debris that may have stuck on the surface. After cleaning, let them air dry. Once they are dry, check whether there is any rust on the surface of the board and carefully remove the same with either a fine steel wool, a bright scotch pad or a gummy stone. Wax the edges and the base of the skis to protect them from moisture which always leads to their rusting.
Bindings
There is some controversy among experts on how best bindings should be stored. One group of experts suggest that they are best stored by releasing their tension through backing them to their lowest setting. They say that this will extend the lifetime of the bindings. However, others are of a contrary opinion and are not for the idea of having to resent the binding again when one has to ski again. These are the two options that are available, and it is up to you to decide on which one seems more appealing and reasonable to you.
Ski goggles
The goggle lenses have to be handled carefully to avoid scratching them. Once the glasses have dried completely, wipe the lenses using a lens cloth. When cleaning, do not touch or clean the inside of the goggles as that will wipe off the anti-fog coating. It means that in future, the glasses will fog up hence inhibiting your visibility.
Once you are done cleaning the lenses, cover the goggles with a soft protective wrapping and put it in the pouch it came in or in your ski bag.
Ski boots
After using your ski boots, have them thoroughly cleaned and aired out until they are scorched. Once they are dry entirely, scrutinize the boots for any broken buckles, cracks or torn straps to be repaired or replaced. If the shoes are spoilt beyond repair, organize to get another pair before your next skiing expedition. Remember to buckle your boots before you store them. It is because boots always tend to lose their shape when they are left unbuckled for a long time. Clasp and clock them on the loosest setting before you store them.
Poles
Clean the surface of your ski poles and let them dry completely. Once they are dry, strap them together and hang or lay them safely in a safe location until you have used them again.
Ski clothing
During the winter season when you ski regularly, you can always wash your synthetic base layers with any ordinary soap since you will only be storing them for just a short while. But when the season is over, and you have to store your gear for a long time, it is recommended that you use a base layer wash to give your clothing a deeper clean to last it through summer. Also, when storing your clothing, do not throw them at the back of the closet and stack other clothing on top. Let your ski clothing breath and hang freely during storage.
Always remove your Beacon batteries
Removing the batteries from the beacons is a vital practice to observe as this helps prevent the cells from ruining you beacon through corrosion. Start the next season with fresh new batteries. But do not just throw away the batteries after every season. Sometimes the cells still have enough power to take you through another season. Therefore, before tossing your batteries, check whether they yet have enough juice in them. If they do, you can store them for future use.
Ensure your skins are dry and stored with skin savers
When drying your skins, do not use the sun’s heat to wipe them as this can lead to the glue being ruined. During the season you can store them without the skin savers, but you should always save them with skin savers during summer. Also, be sure not to keep your skins in hot areas in the garage as they may be damaged.
Be organized
When storing your gear, be sure to be organized. Have everything in the right spot. Do not just stack things up in the garage. Place them in an orderly manner to make them easy to retrieve next time.