How to Put Your Nordic Skis to Bed
Ski season is ending, or perhaps has already ended, depending on where you live. If you’re tempted to just toss your equipment in the garage after your last nordic ski of the season - please, don’t do it!
Putting your skis to bed is really easy and has a huge payoff in terms of keeping your equipment in good shape for next season and beyond. You should always wax your skis before storing them for the off-season. This is called “storage waxing” and will go a long way in preventing the base of your skis from becoming oxidized, which can lead to base degradation. If the base of your skis looks white and chalky, chances are they’re oxidized and in need of some TLC.
A few minutes spent now can save you a lot of time and money down the line. Here are some easy steps to follow for putting your nordic skis to bed for the season.
What you’ll need
Your skis
Waxing iron
Scraper
Brass brush
Nylon brush
Warm/soft wax
The Process
1 - Hot Scrape
You want to start by making sure your skis are free of any dirty wax or dirt particles. A good hot scrape and thorough brushout should achieve this.
Brush your ski bases tip to tail with a few passes of your brash brush. Then, melt your wax onto the bases using your iron. Iron the wax into the bases being sure to always keep the iron moving to prevent burns. Make sure your waxing iron is set to the correct temperature for the wax you’re working with.
While the wax is still hot, use your scraper to remove the wax and all those pesky bits of dirt and grime. Let your skis cool for 10-15 minutes before moving onto the next step.
2 - Storage Wax
Once your skis have cooled, it’s time to return to your brash brush to remove any remaining wax from the hot scrape. Give your skis a thorough brushing with brass and then move onto your nylon brush until you see no more dust coming off the ski bases.
Now you’re ready to apply your layer of storage wax. Don’t be stingy here - be sure to use plenty of wax to cover the base of your skis. Iron it in and leave the skis to cool fully.
NOTE - If you’re storage waxing classic skis, you’ll definitely want to remove all kick wax and thoroughly clean your kick zone before storing your skis!
3 - Celebrate
Once your skis are cooled completely, you’re done! Now it’s time to celebrate because you’ve taken good care of your nordic skis. Yay you! When next season rolls around, you’ll scrape off the storage wax and start fresh with a healthy pair of skis. Ta da! Easy.
If you don’t have access to your own waxing equipment, check with your local nordic center, as most places have public waxing areas or can help you locate what you need. Happy trails!