Once a car reaches a certain mileage, a major tune up is due. So too does central heating need an annual check. Maintenance work guarantees performance ability and serves as a safety measure against damage. This procedure is simply routine in many areas. Regular check-ups are also required for ski touring bindings and skis. A visit to a specialty shop is required for take care of this. Certain service work on skis and bindings can however be done by yourself without a problem.
A longer, snowier winter draws to a close. Once the last ski tour is done and the final alpine tour has been logged in your ski touring book, your beloved skis including bindings must be prepared to “oversummer.” But what is it you have to pay attention to so your setup is ready for use next winter without an issue? We asked two specialists who are involved day-in, day-out at Dynafit with touring skis and touring bindings.
Touring Skis
- Clean and dry your skis well with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.
- Apply wax generously to the ski base, including edges. Wax protects the base in the summer from drying out and the edges from rust spots. For this, a reasonably priced base wax will do just fine.
- Storage: It’s up to you whether you want to store them horizontally or standing up. Ideally, however, in a dark and especially dry place. Musty, muggy basements are not at all appropriate.
In general, touring skis should be dried with a soft cloth after every use to avoid rust spots.
Ski Touring Bindings
- Clean pin bindings with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Do not use pressure washers or degreasing agents to ensure greased areas of the bindings are not degreased.
- Bindings should be examined and tuned after each season by a specialty shop. Please do not grease the bindings yourself since lubricants could end up on supporting parts such as pins or bolts. That could affect the safety of touring bindings in some circumstances.
- Storage: The toe piece of touring bindings should be closed but not locked, as when climbing. The heel unit should remain in the downhill position.
- Store in a cool and especially dry area.
- To avoid corrosion, be sure no batteries (such as car batteries) are being charged near the bindings.
I recommend that ski bindings should be checked immediately prior to the season by a specialty shop for performance ability and the correct settings.
One of the developers of ski touring bindings at Dynafit is Michi Zimmermann. Every day, he is preoccupied with how he can make the lives of ski touring enthusiasts even simpler when it comes to bindings:
Robert Schlemer oversees the entire ski fleet as product developer. As a passionate free tourer and a finisher of the Patrouille des Glaciers, he intimately knows his way around all disciplines from freeride to racing:
In general, touring skis should be dried with a soft cloth after every use to avoid rust spots.
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