It’s that time of year againend of the season. Time to say goodbye to your skis and boards for a few months and switch to mountain bikes and skateboards. But before you do, its important to store your gear the right way.
Unlike surfboards and bikes, which are often tossed in the back of a shed and forgotten, skis and snowboards need a little more care to stay in good shape and last longer.
If you want to keep your Lib Tech Orca in top condition for years to come, check out these essential tips for cleaning and storing your gear during the off-season.
1. Avoid Mould
If you’ve ever stored your gear the wrong way during the off-season, youve probably come back to find mold starting to grow. Definitely not something you want to deal with, especially since mold can be tough to get rid of. And if youre unpacking your board, theres a good chance its about to go through another round of wet conditions and dry rooms, which makes it easier for mold to keep growing.
To avoid this, be sure to wipe down your skis or board before storing them. You can use a mild cleaning product (or alcohol wipes) and a warm, damp towel to clean off any grime that built up during the season.
If you snowboard, dont forget to remove your bindings too. This helps prevent any moisture from getting trapped underneath and ensures you can clean the whole board properly.
2. Properly Store Boots
Your boots, just like your skis or board, can be a prime spot for mold to grow, especially since theyre damp so much during the season.
To avoid mold, start by removing the inner liners and letting them dry completely. Then, wipe down both the inside and outside of your boots with the same cleaner you used on your skis or board.
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Once everything is dry, put the liners back into your boots and buckle them up loosely to prevent the outer shell from warping. You dont want to tighten them too much, just enough to keep their shape.
Also, be sure to store your boots in a boot bag to protect them from dust or any unwanted bugs looking for a place to settle inside your liners.
3. Storage Wax
Once your board or skis are dry and free of grime, applying a storage wax is a great way to protect the base and keep it from drying out.
Storage wax is a thick layer of wax that you apply to the base of your gear. It helps lock in moisture and creates a protective coating. When the next season starts, simply scrape the wax off like you would with regular waxing, and youre all set to go.
If you dont have a waxing iron or havent waxed your gear before, its best to leave it to the pros. For a hassle-free storage wax, stop by our Rhythm Tunes Workshop the night before you pack your gear, and theyll have it ready for you by the morning. They can also polish off any rust and remove your bindings if youre not comfortable doing it yourself.
4. Turn Down Din Settings
If youre a skier, youve probably heard of DIN settings. These are the quick-release feature on your bindings that pop your boots out if you take a hard fall. But many skiers arent sure exactly how they work.
Inside your ski bindings, there are small springs that control your DIN settings. When you tighten your DIN settings, the springs get compressed. So, if you have high DIN settings to keep your boots secure during big jumps, its a good idea to loosen them to the lowest setting before storing your skis. This helps preserve the springs and ensures they stay in good condition for next season.
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The Demon Complete Ski Tune Kit includes all essentials for maintaining skis and snowboards. Perfect for waxing, edge tuning, and repairs, ensuring peak performance.
5. Remove Bindings Before Storage
While many people dont bother removing their bindings before storing their board, its actually a good idea for two main reasons. First, moisture can get trapped between the bindings and the board, which can lead to mould or damage. Second, if your board is stored in a place like a garage with fluctuating temperatures, the wood can expand. If the bindings are still attached, the tension could cause the board to crack or buckle.
Just a note: This only applies to snowboarders. Skis have mounted bindings, so they stay on during the off-season.
6. Polish Ski Edges Of Rust
Rust can spread quickly if you dont catch it early, just like mould. If you spot any rust starting to form on the edges of your skis or board, youll need to polish it off with a special gummy stone tool before storing them. Since this can be tricky and requires the right equipment, we recommend stopping by the Tunes Workshop for help with this task.
7. Appropriate Ski Storage
Many people store their skis and boards in a garage or shed during the off-season, but this can cause problems over time. Since most garages arent well insulated, the temperature can change a lot, causing your gear to go from hot to cold. This can lead to warping or mould.
To avoid this, we recommend storing your gear in a place thats well insulated, like a bedroom or a cupboard.
For extra protection from dust, moisture, and other elements, make sure to keep your skis and boards in specialized ski or board bags to prevent any damage.
8. Remove Batteries From Avalanche Beacon
Have you ever done a spring cleaning, found an old Gameboy Advance or Sony Walkman, and noticed the battery port was all rusted? Well, the same thing can happen to your avalanche beacon. If youre into backcountry riding, its really important to remove the batteries before storing it for the season. This helps prevent battery acid from corroding the metal terminals over time.
9. Use Skin Saver Netting
This ones for the backcountry lovers. If you use climbing skins while ski touring, make sure to dry them out completely before storing them. Use skin saver netting to keep them in good shape instead of letting the glue stick together. Then, you can store them in their bag, ready for next season.
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The Ultimate Ski & Snowboard Wall Storage Rack organizes gear with durable, space-saving design. Perfect for garages or homes, it securely holds skis and snowboards.
Also Read: What are the Best Budget-Friendly Ski Gear Brands?
10. Wash Outerwear
Ski jackets and pants are some of the only clothes that get worn up to 40 times in a few months without being washed. We get ityou dont want to wash your jacket and find it still wet the next morning when you’re ready to hit the slopes.
But before you pack them away for the summer, its important to give your gear a proper wash to avoid leaving sweat stains that could fester during storage.
Contrary to what some people think, Gore-Tex can actually be washed in a washing machine since its made to get wet. Heres how:
First, empty all the pockets, zip everything up, and make sure your gear isnt inside out (this will protect the Gore-Tex membrane). Then, toss it in the washing machine on a synthetic wash cycle with regular liquid detergentavoid using fabric softener and opt for liquid detergent instead of powder for the best results.
After washing, hang your gear to dry completely, and once it’s dry, pack it away for the summer.