• repaired area....... ok until i hit that first rock

  • Knackered base

  • waxing skis

  • re-gluing skins

Winter Preparations

With the weather typically wet and windy I decided it was a good time to pull out some of our ski kit and get it ready for this winter. Hopefully I’m up for 3 ski trips this winter, with 2 touring trips, so I had a look at our climbing skins. Last time we used them the glue was just wearing out, causing the skins to flap off a bit and get some ice between the ski and skin. So it was time to re-glue…………….

This is a lot harder than you might think; the glue is thick and gloooopy, so I spread it on with a metal fiiling knife. I also took the precaution of masking up the nylon/mohair side.

re-gluing skins
re-gluing skins

Leaving them hanging up to dry, they looked liked 4 giant fly papers, although probably big and sticky enough to trap a small bird. They are of course stored folded, glue to glue. I hope I can get them apart somewhere on the Mont Blanc Massif.

Next came the skis. Mine are quite old, but only had one bad hole, close to the edge.

Knackered base
Knackered base

With a hole like this a thorough clean was neccessary and the wax has to be melted at a high temperature. Using a lighter or match isn’t really hot enough and causes too much carbon residue giving a weak bond, so it was out with the blowtorch……….

skis 006

repaired area....... ok until i hit that first rock
repaired area....... ok until i hit that first rock

Following an iron (you’re right; this is the only time you’ll see me with one of these), wax, scrape, polish and edge, I’m ready for the first snows of the season.

waxing skis
waxing skis

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