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Do Skis Get Blunt?

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Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#81

Post by JumpCrisscross »

jajko wrote: post #28
swader999 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You will see rust on your edges if you leave them wet and don't wipe them off. It can be removed with a soft gummy stone. A thick layer of wax left on the skis and edges keeps them rust free over the summer. Typically done for race skis or higher end skis. I don't worry about corrosion much, but I'm tuning the skis I use on ice every couple of days. My powder skis get waxed every few days, edges only to set up the an…

Edges makes bigger difference in ski touring or more appropriately ski alpinism. Meaning tricky steep slopes where you sometimes switch skis for crampons and ice axe and put them on backpack, wildly varying conditions on the slopes. Or using ski crampons when its less extreme. There, any advantage is very important, ie how precisely you put skins on skis to leave that little bit of edge for... edging, at least thats…

> Edges makes bigger difference in ski touring or more appropriately ski alpinism

East Coast? I’m a Rocky Mountain skinner and I can’t remember the last time I edged off piste.

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#82

Post by KineticLensman »

jval43 wrote: post #79
KineticLensman wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to ski religiously for 20 years but stopped for health reasons 10 years ago. I found the debate fascinating rather than maddening to see how the tech has continued to evolve. When I started (1986) it was still expected that you would use thin straight skis that were much taller than you were. Carving skis simply weren’t available, at least not at my beginning level

Now that you mention it I suspect this may be a big reason some people have had different experiences. I also started with long straight skis and they are a lot less forgiving than the carving skis that followed. Nowadays I see a lot more freestyle skis which are again a different thing, but I don't have much experience with those. So maybe that's where people are coming from. I'll admit the discussion has gotten a l…

>> great n-gate bait

I also miss n-gate. One of the great concepts from it was concerned HN'ers 'incorrecting each other', which I thought was a superb expression, and now use more widely.

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#83

Post by tim333 »

My skis used to hit a variety of rocks, dirt, grit and bits of metal. Even on clean looking snow there are probably bits of grit occasionally. I'm not sure pure snow would wear the steel edges significantly?

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#84

Post by skittlebrau »

sgt wrote: post #32
gorbypark wrote: post #21

It totally depends on the type of skier and the type of skis you have. I worked in the ski industry and thus lived and worked in ski towns for 15 years. If you are a ski racer, tuning edges matter. If you aggressively ride groomers all day, then they will matter. Riding big fat powder skis everyday, inside and outside of the resort? More or less doesn't matter. Are you a park rat that only ever skis the park? Those f…

Yeah, I grew up with skis, but I don't think I have ever heard of anyone sharpening the edges. Waxing the skis yes.

Tell me you don’t ski in New England without telling me you don’t ski in New England.

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#85

Post by te_chris »

MandieD wrote: post #34

If you’re a weekend warrior like me, for whom 20 days is a fantastic season, the binding release check that your shop should be doing as part of your ski service is probably the most important part, especially as your skis get older. I had to stop using my beloved “ice cutters” because one of the bindings failed to release in the shop. Up to that point, I had rarely been disappointed by them releasing too easily, and…

I'll take 20 days! Sounds amazing. Generally get a week in a year - but in the Alps, so pretty good.

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#87

Post by jcgrillo »

strstr wrote: post #33

Unless you do your own tuning (or are willing to light money on fire) it’s hard to A/B test ski waxing/edge tuning. I kinda suspect this alleged olympic tuner didn’t cross compare, or just doesn’t ski in ways where you’d notice (he might just like skid turns through packed powder). Or he just uses backcountry noodles on groomed snow, and can’t tell since he’s using skis that won’t let him. Going from dull edges (even…

Switching to more aggressive edge angles (1° base, 3° side from 0° base, 1° side) on my snowboard made a huge difference. I can lock in a carved turn much easier on ice and don't catch my tails or any other sketchiness in slow floating transitions across the board. I think most of the improvement is attributable to base bevel, and I agree with your assessment that freshness of sharpening is important. I hit my edges with a fine grit stone and a gummy stone every morning before heading out, and by afternoon they're noticeably more dull and hold less well. One test you can do to measure this is to drag the top of your fingernail across the edge in a perpendicular manner. If the edge is sharp it'll shave a little ribbon of fingernail off, if it isn't it won't. I only ever use a file to change angles or if I need to take a bunch of material off to fix a large rock gouge (like something that would require also ptex repair). I ride a Tanker 201 with Upz hardboots and F2 plates.

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#88

Post by jcgrillo »

skittlebrau wrote: post #84
sgt wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I grew up with skis, but I don't think I have ever heard of anyone sharpening the edges. Waxing the skis yes.

Tell me you don’t ski in New England without telling me you don’t ski in New England.

I grew up in VT skiing and snowboarding 4 days/wk, edge tuning was a daily ritual and base prep was about once a week (although probably should have been twice)

Re: Do Skis Get Blunt?

#90

Post by jcgrillo »

vlovich123 wrote: post #5
ReleaseCandidat wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> does it get blunt enough to affect performance Edges matter on ice. And yes, the difference is noticable (if the edga has been blunt "enough").

How frequently do you need to tune? I usually only tune at the beginning of each season. Does tuning also prolong the longevity of the board? This article doesn’t seem to address that.

I do edges every day (usually just a few passes with a fine stone and a light deburring with gummy stone), base wax as required by the conditions.
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