An expert’s guide to… Your annual snowsports gear health check
No one knows what’s coming up in the world of ski equipment better than Snow+Rock’s ski hardware buyer, Phil Gordon, who can often be found testing the latest high-tech breakthroughs and revolutionary designs on his own pilgrimages to the mountains.
Your gear is your pride and joy, and chances are you want to keep taking it to the slopes for many seasons to come. Luckily for you, we know just how to make that happen. Making regular kit health checks a priority is the best way to prolong your gear’s life, keeping performance at its best and doing your bit for the planet, too. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to do with each of your favourite bits of gear – you can thank us later.
BOOTS
We all know that once you take the plunge and get your own ski boots, there’s no going back. Well, the same can be said even for trading your old boots in for a shiny new pair – so keeping your beloved new boots in prime condition for as long as possible should be top of your to-do list. We recommend bringing them to our boot fitting labs for a check-up before you make your escape to the mountains, especially if you haven’t been skiing in a while.
Our in-store experts will first perform a few checks to evaluate the fit of your boots. Your feet can expand over time, and with wear you compress your boot linings – both of which can result in a poor fit, bad transmission and instability.
We can adjust your boot shell or the liners to get them back to fitting like a glove, or even craft brand new custom insoles for that perfect fit and uncompromising support.
Ready to make even more upgrades? We can also upgrade your soles to ‘grip walk’ technology to make getting around the resort a breeze. Trust us, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it.
Next is to make sure your boots still fit perfectly with your bindings. We’ll check the toes and heels of your boots, which are most susceptible to wearing away, to make sure they’ll still work safely with your setup, and replace those parts if needed. We can also check the DIN to make sure they still release properly – this is especially important if your weight has changed since you bought them.
SKI SERVICING
That perfect shred relies on your skis delivering on a delicate balance of factors, and getting them in for regular servicing preserves that balance for optimum underfoot performance.
Our ski services involve tuning and sharpening the edges, grinding the base for a smooth ride and fixing any gouges or holes to restore your skis back to their former glory.
The base of your skis is like skin, in that it needs oils to prevent it drying out, so we’ll also apply all the nourishment it needs to regulate water and maintain that sweet, smooth slide.
HELMETS
As a rule, your helmet should be replaced when it’s either five years old or you’ve had it for three years – whichever comes first.
The reason is that helmets are affected by the materials expanding and contracting in different temperatures, and being knocked about during travel, so it’s actually pretty difficult to know how damaged your helmet is – and every bit of damage impacts your safety.
Helmets don’t have to be expensive, but you should always consider getting the best possible one within your budget since they’re an investment in your safety – and let’s be honest, they look pretty cool too.
SOCKS
Anyone who’s spent even a day on the slopes knows that the sweat output is serious, so you need to have at least one backup pair of socks with you at all times.
We also recommend completely replacing all your ski socks regularly to help keep your boots clean and odour-free.
GOGGLES
Your goggles have a hydrophobic coating on the lens to stop them from fogging up, but this can be compromised by some cleaning products, so we recommend replacing them regularly.
It’s inconvenient, but much better than losing your vision halfway down the piste.
See what services are available in your local store, as well as opening information at snowandrock.com/stores
After more expert tips and inspiration? Find it all at snowandrock.com/adviceandinspiration
