Services
The Ski Base offers a variety of services from the most basic grip waxing to tune-ups and repairs. Ski equipment requires maintenance so that it is safe and performing at its best. If your skis need servicing, call us today at 668-4477 to book one of our services.
We guarantee our grip waxing advice – if you’re not satisfied, we’ll fix it.
How do I know what my skis need?
Look at the ski bases.
Are they trashed? Gouged, scratched and dirty? Blue or white coloured plastic? If they are older, cheap skis and you’re not planning to enter a World Cup race – then clean them with wax remover, apply grip wax and GO.
Are they black bases that have a whitish, worn look and minor scratches and gouges? Even if they are old racing skis, it might be worth having them metal scraped and hot waxed. Major gouges can be refilled with p-tex, but it’s only worthwhile if the base is in good condition otherwise.
Services and Pricing
Base Tune Up
Most training, performance or racing skis should be tuned up at least once a year and hot waxed several times a year. If you’re skiing more than twice a week then skis should be hot waxed every few weeks. When the ski bases have a whitish coating, they should be prepped first and then hot waxed.
The tune up includes:
- Clean and sand wax pocket on classic skis
- old grip wax or klister will be cleaned off using wax remover
- the wax pocket will be sanded using a medium grit sandpaper – this will retain the grip wax
- Hot scrape glide zones if required
- Repair nicks and gouges
- Metal scrape or refresh bases with fibertex or brass brush
- Apply glide wax - The Ski Base uses Toko or Swix glide wax
- Scrape and brush the glide waxed base
Cost: $20-$25 depending on condition of base
Glide Wax Application
For skis that are regularly glide waxed and the bases are in good condition.
Apply appropriate glide wax for the current conditions. Scrape and brush. If there is some oxidation, the ski bases will be prepped with brass brushing or fibre-tex before applying glide wax.
Cost: $15
Clean and Sand Wax Pocket
Old grip wax or klister cleaned off using wax solvent.
Grip zone sanded with a medium grit sand paper to improve the holding power for grip waxes.
Cost: $5-10 depending on condition of base
Wood Ski Base Prep – Pine Tar
If bases are in good condition, pine tar will be applied using traditional methods of heating the tar and wiping off excess. If bases need to be cleaned, the old grip wax or klister will be removed using a heat gun and fiberlene.
Cost: $15-$20
Base Repairs
We will repair scratches, gouges and other base damage using metal scraping, edge filing or sanding and p-tex candles.
Shop Rate: $30/hr – minimum charge $5
Supply and Apply Grip Wax
Ski Base staff will select the grip wax for the day and apply it on your skis. We will explain why and how the grip wax is chosen and applied. If the grip zone is not clean we will offer the ‘Clean and Sand’ option.
Cost: $4
Supply and Apply Klister or Grip Tape
We will supply klister or grip tape and apply. As soon as you finish skiing we will remove and clean klister. The grip tape is intended to be used for several ski outings.
Cost: $6 Klister $10 Grip Tape
Mount Bindings
We will mount most types of bindings NNN, SNS profil, SNS pilot, 75mm bindings
Binding Repairs
We will repair most types of bindings and have many old binding parts
Pole Repairs
Replacement parts for baskets, straps, handles, shafts
Ski Repairs
We will try to fix most damage – bring your skis in for a free assessment
Glide Wax Punch Cards
The Ski Base offers a 5 punch Glide Wax Card. After 4 glide wax applications, the 5th one is free.
New customers will receive a custom made pair of ski sleeves to protect the wax job.
Ski Maintenance Tips
Old, low-end skis do not need much TLC. Keeping the grip zone free of old sticky wax and cleaning the glide zone occasionally will provide optimum performance for the garage sale specials.
Newer skis with a good p-tex base should be given a minimum of care, which includes base preparation and hot waxing. If you only hot wax your skis once a year – it’s best to do it in the spring to protect your bases over the dry summer.
No matter what type of skis you have, bring them to The Ski Base and we’ll evaluate them and let you know what you should be doing with them. We can help you do it yourself or you can leave your skis and we will give them the TLC that is appropriate. Give us a call at 668-4477 to book one of our services or to ask for advice.
A Few Definitions
Base Prep - Base prep refers to all of the processes that will prepare your ski bases to perform at their optimum level. There are two main types of ski base – sintered and extruded. A third type of ski base is wood. It’s nearly obsolete, but there are a number of skiers who like their wood skis.
Most of the cheaper skis, especially the touring skis have extruded polyethylene bases. This type of base is made from a solid sheet of p-tex that is extruded from a machine and then glued to the ski. It’s a non-porous plastic that is durable and inexpensive, but will not hold glide wax and cannot be shaped or structured.
Performance and racing skis and high end touring skis have sintered polyethylene bases. Sintered p-tex is made by producing tiny beads of p-tex and then compressing the beads into a flat layer which is glued to the ski. This layer of beads creates a porous base which will absorb and hold glide wax. The base can also be structured and tuned.
Hot Wax – refers to the method of applying glide wax to ski bases. Hot waxing requires an iron for melting the glide wax into an even layer and then heating it so it will penetrate the pores of the ski base. The glide wax is applied to the 'glide zone' on classic skis and to the whole ski base on skate skis.
Hot Scrape – a method for cleaning the glide zone of classic skis or the whole base on skate skis. Glide wax is applied, melted to an even layer and then scraped off while still in a liquid form or very soft. This process will clean the bases effectively.
Oxidation – when there is no glide wax on the ski base, the p-tex reacts with oxygen in the air to form a whitish layer. This oxidized layer will reduce the glide properties of the ski and also blocks the pores in the base so that additional glide wax will not penetrate the base.
