Showing your love to "your skiing friends"

We take for granted all that our skiing equipment does for us.
Often , very often we ,after a ski holiday just store the boots, skis poles in the basement, garage or closet! We forget them while they gather dust.

Yet they are your best skiing friends. They carried you to emotional heights you never thought you could achieve. They boosted your ego in front of your friends. They "hide" all your errors. They helped you get passed that "dangerous" ski section. They created memories which you will relive this Summer.
They do not deserve the dark cellar, the damp garage nor the corner section of your closet.

If you truly appreciate skiing and want to in 2008 again find that "skiing feeling" show your love to your skiing friends. Take the time to wish them a good Summer by doing the following;


Boots
Take out liners and dry them
Take the water in the bottom boot soles out
Wipe shell with VIM or any mild detergent.
Clean boot soles and wipe interface section with 400 sand grit paper
Put a drop of thin lubricate oil in all clip screws
Check cant side screws ( 90% are loose)
Gently sprinkle some foot odor powder in boot liners while chanting a song of thanks to the pleasures they gave you.
Finally find a place of honor in your ski section so that mice, spiders, ants.....will not find a home.


Skis
With mild VIM like cleaner clean top ski
With 200 grit sandpaper sand top edge of all cuts, grooves etc...
Reduce DIN value to 0 so that there is no tension on inner spring
Tune ski edges and apply cheapest wax on ski edges so they will not rust
Look very carefully at all top and side layers to see if there are any de-laminations.
Tap the ski tips and thank them for the "support" and pleasure they gave you.
Promise them that you will visit them at least once during the Summer to see how they are.
Place them away from heat or dampness


Poles
Check baskets
Check handles and straps
If you have carbon fiber poles check bottom carbine tips. Often the tips cause "stress tears" in the bottom section of pole.
They like to be close to their partners, the skis so lean them against the skis.


Once all this is done sit down and think of all your ski trips. It is said that when you go on a ski trip you actually go on three trips.
The first is when you plan all the activities
The second is when you actually live this experience
The third is when you remember all the pleasant memories.

Enjoy this time.

AND

Make a list of the things you need for next year.

Then visit ski shops, ski swaps, ski bazzars to find them. It will make Summer shorter.


Take care of your skiing friends and next year they will again show you how much they love you too.


It was a pleasure sharing with you my " skiing passions"!

Hope to see you in ski shops, ski swaps this Summer.

Respectfully your,
Pavel

With 200 grit sandpaper sand top edge of all cuts, grooves etc...

Are you refering to the top or the bottom of the ski here? My beloved 1 ski week old streetracer 10's have quite a few cuts on top that I would love to be able to get rid off. No idea how they got there mind. I'm sure I'm not crossing my skis - at least not knowingly!

So nice to have skiers like you who "care" for your equipment.

I am referring to the very top edges and ski tips.
Just gently use the sandpaper to even out the top edges. Take sandpaper and along ski top edge follow top edge in parallel strokes. Do not go up and down. Rather at 45 degrees from edge.

As far as top ski scratches, I find this VIM product which is a mild liquid abrasive does wonders on the ski top skin. Do not use strong detergents since they will harm clear plastic coating that all skis have to protect graphics.

Never use the SOS scrub pads you get for pot cleaning. They really make a mess.

Hope this helps.

PS
Before you do any work on your skis, observe the damage you have done. Note how inside top edge of right and left ski ( tip area)is much more damaged than outside top area.

That is why "smart" skiers have right and left ski. Every year they alternate them so that wear becomes even. Thus your 2007 right ski will now become your 2008 left ski!

Seems skiers have a "favorite" side and skis are like children. They become jealous if you give more attention to another. Soon the "forgotten" one will not perform as well!

Hope this will help!

Ellistine, hope you like my definition of "SKI FEEL" on one of the messages in this site!

Cheers,
Pavel

As far as top ski scratches, I find this VIM product which is a mild liquid abrasive does wonders on the ski top skin.

Is VIM a brandname or a product type? I'm trying to think of a UK equivilent. I'm assuming it's a bit like Brasso (used for polishing brass). I've polished scratches out of damaged CD's with Brasso before.

Ellistine, hope you like my definition of "SKI FEEL" on one of the messages in this site!

Yes! I think I have to remember to forget thinking about it!

Hi Ellistine - the product you need is called 'Bar Keepers Friend'. You will find a multitude of uses for it around the home & I'm sure it will be ideal for the scratches on your skis. (My husband even used it on his white car to remove the scratches caused by a gate post that swerved towards him). It is a very fine powder which cleans just about anything off just about anything. Some leading supermarkets sell it, or you can buy it from the homewares dept. at John Lewis.

I can remember Vim, but don't know if you can still get it in the UK - maybe I'm a bit older than you :?

Do let me know if you try it!

(Gosh - you can tell the ski season is coming to an end - we'll be swapping recipes soon) :roll:

Salski is correct. Any MILD abrasive liquid can be used. If you have a stove with a glass top, there is a cleaner that is "milky" which can also be used.

If her car was not damaged , then it is correct to use on ski tops!

Pavel