If you failed to 'summerize' your skis in preparation for seasonal storage at the end of last season now would be the perfect time to have your skis tuned-up and the bindings inspected and lubricated. And a tune-up would not be complete without having your edges sharpened and the base and edge angles setup to your specifications. Setting and beveling the angles should only be done by a credible technician following the guidelines listed below for maximum performance. Every skier is different and their setup is unique to them, so be sure to discuss the options with the technician before the process of base and edge beveling begins.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChi6S1lgnUSxoO0HTPMQ4MzDh1s1psau0zGCIs1NIz1SWgiWOYYUdGOL_NPs4bTGbPQiuK5HONEt_vRshmKKF6ESRMhRWD91GaYF7Y6cigCeL1zTt_15pRFbXPry6fNzAMmksGmeKFCc/s400/Base+Edge+Bevel+Guidelines.jpg)
Choosing the right wax to use can be complicating to some, but as I noted in previous blog postings -- it is not an exact science. Every wax supplier utilizes their own formula chart to assist in finding the correct wax based on air and snow temperatures, snow conditions and the level humidity. In many cases the conditions may overlap from one grade of wax to the next, making the decision even more difficult. When in doubt you should select a wax that falls in the middle of the chart as your best all-around choice. But racing purests need to be more precise in order to achieve the success between the gates that propels them to a podium finish. The attachment below is the wax guide chart for Swix wax products in order to show the different wax compounds that Swix has developed in their highly successful line of waxes.
as were completed with the base prepping wax. When scraping off the wax always work from the tip of the ski down to the tail and use firm, even pressure to make sure that the wax is completely removed, leaving just a very thin layer on the base of the ski. You want the wax to saturate and adhere to the base of the ski but excess wax left on the base will slow you down, so remove as much as possible.
Now you're ready to begin the critical phases of brushing out the wax and final race prepping the
base for speed. The selection and application of the right wax will give you an edge against the competition, but it's the final prepping of the skis that separates the winners from the the rest of the field.
In my next posting I will review this important process and reveal the strategies, techniques
and tools you will need in order to perform the task.
Joe Pinto, Jr.