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Taking Care of Your Snowboard Between Sessions
Taking Care of Your Snowboard Between Sessions
If you are wondering how to care for your snowboard, there are a few basic steps to follow that will help keep your board in excellent shape between sessions. Your local snowboard shop in Ridgefield will carry the supplies you need to care for your board, and will often provide snowboard maintenance and repair services as well.
Wax Your Snowboard Regularly
A good rule of thumb for keeping your board in good condition and protected from the snow’s moisture is to wax it after every three trips. Using a scraper intended for snowboards, carefully remove the previous coat of wax. Next, take your snowboard wax and use an iron to warm it just enough for it to melt – if it’s smoking, the wax is too hot. Allow the wax to pool on your board and then use the iron to spread it evenly over the base. Finally, use your scraper to gently remove any bumps, and an abrasive pad made for snowboards to smooth the surface.
Store Your Snowboard Properly
After snowboarding, wipe down your board with a cloth to remove any dirt or debris that might be lingering on the surface to prevent it from getting scratched between uses. If you find that your board has been gouged, scrape off the wax and clean the area before melting repair wax into the hold to fill it. Never store your snowboard on cement and instead, hang it on a wall using strong supports.
Sharpen Your Board as Needed
Snowboards can be sharpened at a snowboard shop with a sharpening machine, or with a whetstone and file. First, use your whetstone to smooth out any scratches, snags, or patches of rust, keeping the stone flat against the surface. Next, run your file along the length of the board, keeping it at a 30º angle. The side and base edges require regular sharpening, but how often depends on the softness of the snow it was used on, so check your board for dullness between trips.
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The Essentials of Snowboard Maintenance
If you want to keep your snowboarding gear near Westport in top shape for as long as possible, you are going to have to provide it with the right type of maintenance. Proper maintenance will help you maneuver your snowboard with ease and prevent it from deteriorating when you are off of the slopes for a while. Three of the most important aspects of snowboard maintenance are sharpening, waxing, and finding a safe place to store your board. Continue reading if you are interested in taking a closer look at the essentials of snowboard maintenance.
Sharpening
Although skill plays an irreplaceable role in snowboarding, the quality and condition of your gear are important factors as well. When it comes to your board, you’ll want to have it sharpened whenever necessary; it can be tough to tear it up on the slopes with a dull board. Regular sharpening helps you clean off any blemishes and cosmetic issues as well as remove rust from your board. Many choose to take their snowboards into ski and snowboard shops to have them sharpened by the pros, but seasoned veterans are often able to sharpen their snowboards themselves.
Waxing
Those who have just started snowboarding may not know what to do with wax, but hobbyists and professionals are intimately familiar with the process of waxing their snowboards. You won’t want too much friction when you go out for a session, and wax can help to keep you gliding smoothly. Pick up some wax from your local ski and snowboard shop and iron the wax until it drips onto your board. You can remove any lumps and excess wax buildup as you smooth it out across the surface of your snowboard. It is a good idea to wax your snowboard regularly, after every three trips or so.
Storage
While sharpening and waxing are both hands-on maintenance requirements, some aspects of snowboard maintenance are more passive. After you have cleaned off your board and began the trek home, remember to refrain from storing it on a cement surface. You should also support it if you choose to hang it up.
A Look at Some Common Ski and Snowboard Repairs
A Look at Some Common Ski and Snowboard Repairs>/h1>
Regardless of whether you hit the slopes every single weekend during the wintertime or once or twice a year, you will need repairs from a ski and snowboard shop to keep your gear working the way it should. Prior to the start of the season, you should take a look at your ski and snowboard gear in Westport to see what kind of service it might need. Here are some of the most common repairs.
Dry Base
Every year, you should have the base of your skis or snowboard waxed. This will eliminate the friction that exists between them and the snowy surfaces that you will encounter. If you do not wax your skis or snowboard, you could risk injury and do further damage to the base of your skis or snowboard. You will know your base is too dry if the color of it begins to fade and it feels fuzzy when you touch it.
Base and Side Damage
As you begin to use your skis or snowboard more, you will likely see chips, cracks, gouges, and other blemishes on the bottom of them. Cosmetically, it won’t look good, and it will also increase the chances of your skis or snowboard suffering damage that may require replacement. You should have a ski and snowboard shop take care of the base and edges of your skis or snowboard and return them to like-new condition.
Bindings and Buckles Damage
The last thing you want is for the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard to break while you’re in the middle of skiing or snowboarding. It could lead to serious injuries to yourself and others. If the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard appear to be damaged, you should have them fixed right away. This will prevent an accident from taking place later. You should also check to make sure your boots fit you at the beginning of every season, and purchase new ones if you find that you have outgrown your old ones.
Regardless of whether you hit the slopes every single weekend during the wintertime or once or twice a year, you will need repairs from a ski and snowboard shop to keep your gear working the way it should. Prior to the start of the season, you should take a look at your ski and snowboard gear in Westport to see what kind of service it might need. Here are some of the most common repairs.
Dry Base
Every year, you should have the base of your skis or snowboard waxed. This will eliminate the friction that exists between them and the snowy surfaces that you will encounter. If you do not wax your skis or snowboard, you could risk injury and do further damage to the base of your skis or snowboard. You will know your base is too dry if the color of it begins to fade and it feels fuzzy when you touch it.
Base and Side Damage
As you begin to use your skis or snowboard more, you will likely see chips, cracks, gouges, and other blemishes on the bottom of them. Cosmetically, it won’t look good, and it will also increase the chances of your skis or snowboard suffering damage that may require replacement. You should have a ski and snowboard shop take care of the base and edges of your skis or snowboard and return them to like-new condition.
Bindings and Buckles Damage
The last thing you want is for the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard to break while you’re in the middle of skiing or snowboarding. It could lead to serious injuries to yourself and others. If the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard appear to be damaged, you should have them fixed right away. This will prevent an accident from taking place later. You should also check to make sure your boots fit you at the beginning of every season, and purchase new ones if you find that you have outgrown your old ones.
Spotlight on Our Ski and Snowboard Services
Spotlight on Our Ski and Snowboard Services
Whether you’re a professional skier or a casual winter sports enthusiast, keeping your ski and snowboard equipment in top condition is extremely important. After all, the condition of your ski and snowboard equipment will directly affect your comfort, performance, and safety on the slopes. Fortunately, Ski & Sport of Westport offers high-quality ski and snowboard services that will keep your gear in tip-top shape.
From ski and snowboard tuning to complete base repair, the experts at Ski & Sport of Westport can keep your gear in mountain-ready shape. In addition to board maintenance and repair, Ski & Sport also provides “super feet” ski boot fitting and customization services. How well your boots fit is just as important as the condition of your skis or snowboard, so let the boot experts at Ski & Sport show you the benefit of custom-fitting boots.
The Importance of Waxing Your Skis
The Importance of Waxing Your Skis
Whether you’re a serious skier or a casual winter sports enthusiast, keeping your skis in top condition is a must. One of the most important things you can do to enhance your experience on the slopes is to keep your skis waxed. There is no such thing as waxing your skis too much, or too often. However, all the wax in the world won’t make much difference if your bases are gouged and your edges are dull. To get the best performance out of your ski, drop them off at a ski shop in Westport for professional tuning and waxing. Here are a few reasons why. 
Skis Dry Out
If you didn’t put storage wax on your skis at the end of last season, the bases have probably dried out by now. How do you know if your skies have dried out? Besides dragging down the mountain, look for bases that are discolored, white, or chalky looking. Dried out skis will run poorly, so bring them in for a hot scrape and wax to get your season started off right.
Edges Can Rust
Wax keeps your skis moist, but they also protect the edges from moisture. Excess moisture can cause the edges to rust, which can cause all sorts of performance and ride problems on the slopes. Rusty edges are also more prone to ding and chip, which can cause your skis to catch awkwardly or skid unexpectedly. Keep your skis well waxed so you’ll always be ready to speed down the mountain.
Waxed Skis are More Fun
More than anything, well-tuned and properly waxed skis are just more fun! Wax makes your skis hydrophobic, or water resistant. The more hydrophobic your skis, the faster they will be down the slopes. Keeping your skis waxed will also make them easier to make smoother turns.