Another snow season has come and gone, and while you may be excited to start pulling out the wakeboards and stand-up paddleboards, you need to figure out where and how to store your skis and snowboards. Sticking them up in the attic, in a musty garage or in a corner where they will easily get buried underneath other miscellaneous boxes and items might be simple, but it could cause your gear some serious problems in the long run.
Here are 6 steps for storing your ski and snowboard gear for the summer months so that it will be in great shape the next time the snow starts falling and you’re ready for your next trip.
1. Loosen or remove the bindings
This first step is important to ensure that your skis or snowboard won’t end up with dimples on the base or wear on the inserts from the bindings being compressed tightly all year. For skis, loosen the DIN settings on each toe piece and move the heel piece into “ski” position to take the tension out of the springs so that they won’t wear out as quickly. Just be sure that you remember to reset your DIN numbers before you hit the slopes next season. For snowboards, you can go ahead and remove the bindings completely.
2. Clean your gear
Next, you’ll want to remove all the dirt and gunk that has built up on your gear over the past several months. Scrub the base of your skis or snowboard with a base cleaner and rinse off the top with warm water to get it shining like new. Be sure to dry thoroughly, especially around ski bindings.
3. Check edges
The next step is to sharpen the edges of your snowboard or skis to remove any burrs and get the edges nice and smooth for next season. If you’ve never sharpened your skis or board before, take it into your local shop and have the pros do it for you. Otherwise, if you prefer to do it yourself, be sure to use proper tuning tools and edge files. Check out more specifics on how to properly use ski and snowboard tuning equipment here.
4. Apply wax
You’ll then want to apply a thick coat of all-purpose or warm-weather wax to your skis or snowboard. Cover the edges and don’t scrape it off—this will act as a seal for the base and keep it from drying out and prevent the edges from rusting.
5. Take care of your boots
Though they may be easy to overlook, your boots are a vital part of your comfort on the snow, so you’ll want to be sure that you care for them as well. Remove the liners so that they air out over the summer, and loosen the buckles on your ski boots so that they won’t stay compressed for months.
6. Find the perfect storage spot
Lastly, you’ll need to find a place where you can store your skis or snowboard safely until next season. Take into consideration how hot it typically gets in the area you live and what spaces tend to heat up faster. Try to find somewhere that stays right around room temperature, and keep your gear out of the sun. Also, be sure that you don’t stack items on top of your skis or snowboard as this could bend its profile out of shape.
Hopefully, this guide has been a helpful resource if you’ve been wondering how to properly care for and store your skis and snowboard for the summer months. Remember, the better you take care of your gear now, the longer you’ll be able to enjoy it and the fewer issues you’ll end up with later down the road.
For now, enjoy the warm weather and be sure to stay active this summer so that you can be in great shape next snow season!
Photos by Connor Nelson
