The Absolute Guide to Storing Skis and Snowboards
The season's coming to an end and what a season it's been!
Unless you're lucky enough to be heading to the southern hemisphere to chase snow, most of you will be packing up your gear and throwing it in a cupboard somewhere until next winter.
The last thing you want is to take your board or skis out of hibernation only to find the summer months haven't been kind and it's in an unrecognizable state.
So here are some tips on how to treat and store your snow gear over the summer months.
1. Prepare for cleaning
This step is only applicable to snowboarders, so skiers can skip ahead to step 2.
Before we get onto the nitty gritty of how to clean and prep your snowboard for the summer, you will need to carefully remove your bindings so they don't get in the way when you clean and wax the board itself.
Once the bindings have been removed, it's good practice to lay the high backs flat and do all of the straps loosely over the top so they don't get knocked or damaged in storage.
Another great tip is to put all of the small niggly bits of hardware like screws and bolts into a small sealed bag and attach this directly to your bindings so that it all stays safe until next winter.
2. Clean It Up
The most common mistake made is to throw your hardware into a bag, stick it in a dark corner and forget all about it.
Get rid of the dirt, mud, beer and whatever else has been collecting over the season. Avoid using degreasers or detergents as this could damage the construction of your bindings - you'll usually find that water and a cloth is pretty good at getting rid of the muck!
If you have a Burton or Endeavor snowboard, you will need to ensure you also clean the channel, get right in there with your cloth as they're prone to collecting loads of grime over the season.
You need to make sure your board or skis are totally dry before you put them back in their storage bag. The same goes for your soft goods, your jacket and trousers can get really grubby by the end of the winter season.
Don't worry though, there's a whole selection of Gear Cleaner and Tech Wash that will get your outerwear looking almost as good as new!
3. Check Your Edges.
As the season draws to an end you may not have noticed that your edges have developed some rust or taken a few knocks whilst out riding (a sign of a damn good season)
Getting that rust off now is better (and much easier!) than trying to do it six months later.
There are plenty of home tuning kits available, so sharpening up your edges will clean them up and will give you an added bonus of being able to get straight on the hill when the snow hits next season.
Check out our full range of Servicing Essentials today!
4. Wax On.
Hot waxing your base is one of the most common practices in order to protect your board or skis over the summer months.
Adding a thick layer of hot wax to the base (including the edges) helps against rust and humidity. We recommend using a wax like you would use at the beginning of the season, as when the time comes you wont have to re-apply. Basically, do half a job: add the wax but don't scrape it off.
When you take your board or skis out next season you'll just have a fresh layer of wax to remove before you're ready to go!
Check out our full range of Wax & Servicing Essentials today!
5. Storage
Having a good place to store your stuff is great but having a good bag to stash it all in plays a big part. There are so many great ski and board bags available so, if you don't have one, now is the time to invest. Humidity is your gears worst enemy and you run the risk of rust and damp which can lead to even more problems down the line.
We suggest storing everything together as, when summer flies by, all of your stuff will be in one place. Storing your board upright will help keep the camber intact and you wont run the risk of putting heavy items on top and damaging the board.
The same goes for skis, and don't let anyone tell you that loosening the tension on your ski bindings for storage is essential. This can cause problems with your boots and your settings when the winter season rolls around so it's best just to leave your skis as they are.
If you're storing all of your outerwear in the same bag over the summer, make sure it's all dry when packing it away as you don't want any surprises when you get it out in 6 months time.
Check out our full range of Snowboard Bags today!
6. Put 'Em Up.
There's another option for storing your board or skis if you fancy showing them off to the world. We stock a good range of ski and board wall docks - perfect for attaching your pride and joy to the wall for everyone to see.
It does however mean that you'll get a daily reminder that it's not snowing outside and there's a bit of a wait for the winter season.
Check out our full range of Wall Mounts today!
7. Don't Forget Your Boots.
Most boot liners are removable, so pull them out, clean them and dry them out. This is also a great time to have a good look over them as see if anything needs replacing, like the laces or the heel. It's also the perfect time to check the inside of the boot and give it a clean as this will also prolong it's lifespan.
Once everything is dry, pop the liners back in and secure the boot on a light setting. This helps to keep the boots shape.
8. Wait For The Snow.
Now you can relax, enjoy the sunshine and wait for the snow to start falling - the season will be here again before you know it!
Need further advice? We're here to help!
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