How to Store Skis for the Summer

The temperatures are rising, and the ski season is over, but don’t forget to take care of your skis before putting them away until next winter. If you want to preserve your skis, you need to know how to store them the right way. No matter, if you are keeping them in your garage or storage, following some simple steps, will help you be better prepared when the next snow falls.

So, if you:

• Want to know how to store your skis properly;
• Want to extend the life of your winter sports equipment;
• Want to keep the good condition of your skis.

Then this guide is for you!

Check your ski equipment

If you have been hitting the slopes for the past few months, your gear has probably taken some beatings. And based on how old it is, you may need to replace part of it. That’s why we suggest you check what needs to be replaced now rather than when winter arrives.

That way, you will be prepared for the next session and will avoid the crowds that will hit ski shops once the snow begins to fall. Checking your ski goggles, jacket, and boots means you will be ready to hit the slopes when the snow falls instead of queuing at the ski shops.

Clean your skis

Dirt and debris may have built up on your skis over time. Use a damp cloth to wash them thoroughly and get rid of any unwanted grime that may have accumulated. 

If your skis are particularly dirty, you may even want to use a hose to clean them completely. Тhoroughly spray down everything without forcing water into the bindings. It is best to avoid the use of degreasers or detergents, as they could affect the binding lubricant. 

Make sure you clean your skis’ top sheets, bases, edges, and binding areas. For best results, let them dry overnight.

Check the edges

In order to increase the speed and smoothness of your skies, it’s important to sharpen their edges so that you can reduce drag. Use a gummy stone to smooth out any burrs, nicks, or rust around each edge. Now is the perfect time to base grind your skies and repair any damage that occurred during the winter.

Wax your skis

If you are passionate about skiing, you probably know that ski storage wax is always a must. It serves as a protective layer between the ski’s bases and oxygen. If you don’t apply the wax product onto the equipment, it could lead to a very slow but certain base degradation.

Using a waxing iron apply the wax generously from the tip to the tail of the bases. Make sure that it covers all edges of the surface so that you can prevent the rust from building up.

Store your skis properly

After you have taken care of the skies, you should find a suitable location to store them. A place that is too hot and dry will damage the plastic, while a room that is cool and damp will rust the metal along with the binding internals.

Storing skis in a garage, attic, or basement might sound like a good idea, but you may have to reconsider, as humidity often runs high in these areas. The perfect location would be a place with a controlled temperature and humidity, where the skis will also be out of sunlight. That could be a closet, a spare room, and even the space under your bed.

Ensure that you store your skis in a manner that does not put any strain on them or can cause damage to their shape. Lay them in a natural position without strapping the skis too tightly.

How to store the rest of your winter equipment

Just like skis, the rest of your winter sports equipment, such as ski boots, goggles, snowboards, ice skates etc., needs some care and proper storage so you can keep it in good condition. Here is all you need to preserve it properly.

What is the best way to store ski boots?

Once you have the skis sorted, it’s time for all the gear that comes with them, starting with the boots. Carefully examine the item to determine whether there is any damage that should be taken care of. If all is fine, you only have to clean the boots and let them air dry. Place the footwear in a soft cloth bag or, even better – the original box if you still have it.

Throw a couple of humid absorbing balls in each boot before putting them away for the summer. That will keep the inside nice and dry and prevent bacteria development, especially if you have recently been skiing.

How do you clean and store ski goggles?

It’s important to remember that when cleaning the ski goggles, touching their lenses is never a good idea. They have a special anti-fog coating which could be easily smeared. In case you have kept the original microfibre cloth, you could use it to blot the lens gently. Most brands also have their own lens cleaning solutions that you can buy. Dry the goggles carefully and put them in a soft cloth bag, a hard case, or the box they came with.

Remember, don’t just wipe your goggles with any clot, as it might damage the lens. Use dedicated detergent as well. Your ordinary spray for glass won’t be a suitable cleaning solution in this case. And if you mess up and ruin the anti-fog coating, you shouldn’t worry so much. There is a way to restore it, of course. You can search for a goggle anti-fog spray or liquid, both work well, but the spray is easier to apply.

When storing your goggles, it is a good idea to keep them at room temperature, away from sunlight and avoiding too high or low temperatures. To protect the lens, you can store your ski goggles in their storage bag along with your clothes or put them inside your helmet while in storage. That way, it will always be where you need it. And it will be well protected from external force.

How to store a snowboard over summer

When you choose a place to store your snowboard for the summer, keep in mind that low or high-humidity areas can be equally dangerous. The best snowboard storage would be somewhere cool and dark, like a wardrobe or under your bed. Before you put the board away, place it in a plastic zip-lock bag, or just wrap it in normal plastic, especially if you are storing it in rented storage, a garage or a basement.

Store the board standing on its tail. If you place it lying down, there will be too much pressure on the camber and rocker sections, which will cause them to flatten down permanently. This does not apply if your snowboard originally has a flat camber. (The camber is basically the angle of your board, if you look at it from the side, you can see the curves it follows.)

If you want to walk the extra mile, place a soft rug under the tail for double protection, and leave nothing leaning against the snowboard.

How to store ice skates for the summer

Depending on the material, some important steps must be followed before storing your ice skates.

Leather

If they are made of leather, use a special cleaning solution only for this material, and once the skates are cleaned and properly dried, apply leather conditioning.

Textile

If they are textiles, clean them well and leave them to dry. You can use a towel soaked in soap and warm water. Do not leave any soap on the blade, as it might ruin the polished finish.

Still, regardless of the material, always sharpen the skates before you put them away. Choose a place with low humidity if you don’t want to ruin the blades, and place the boots in a cloth bag where they can breathe.

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If you have any storage solutions that can make other readers’ lives easier, please share them in the comments below. We may add those truly interesting to the article itself. Citing you, of course.

Image source: Song_about_summer / Shutterstock.com