Base Maintenance
Thanks to its reliable performance and low-maintenance, our patented Unicoat (UC) base has been a big hit with Skinbased skiers since its introduction. Since the 2019/2020 season, we have incorporated the UC base into all of our skis. This article will focus primarily on those skis with UC bases.
With their factory wax, all Skinbased ski bases come ready-to-use, straight from the package. The care-free UC base will keep you gliding and smiling for many, many outings. Should your bases receive some scratches from those sneaky “sharks” that lurk beneath the snow’s surface, no need to worry. Most scratches are only cosmetic and will not impact your ski’s performance.
Eventually, with enough time and distance on your skis, you might begin to notice a small decrease in glide performance. If this is the case, we recommend applying one of our Skinbased ski waxes. These handy, rub-on ski waxes are made entirely out of biodegradable ingredients and are both petroleum and fluorocarbon-free. They are quick to apply, and thanks to their compact size, are easy to bring along and use anywhere, anytime.
Unlike liquid waxes, which must be applied indoors and allowed to dry before use, you can go skiing immediately after applying Skinbased ski waxes. In each ski wax tin you will find an applicator sponge. To use, rub the applicator sponge in the wax, then use it to apply a thin layer of wax to the UC base. Once you have covered the entire UC area, you are ready to go! Note: when applied indoors, the wax is naturally a little softer, and you may need a cloth to polish the base and remove any excess wax after application. This may not be necessary if wax is applied outdoors. Remember, only a thin layer of wax is needed to improve glide performance. After application, the next time you hit the snow, it will feel like you are on brand new skis!
Feel free to use these glide waxes at your discretion. You should not have to use them often, but only occasionally, when you notice that decrease in glide. If you cannot get a hold of Skinbased ski waxes in your area, we highly recommend mountainFLOW quick waxes as a substitute alternative. Do not use any hot waxes or a waxing iron on your skis, as this will damage the base.
Skin maintenance
Your ski’s built-in skins are even easier to maintain! Just as with the bases, the ski’s skins come factory-ready and are good to go straight out of the box or shop. After an extended amount of use, you may notice the skin material starting to absorb water. This can show itself either as a very wet skin at the end of a tour or, more likely, as snow and ice build-up on the skin material itself. If this is happening to your skin, you have two options.
First, we recommend reaching for our Skinbased Calming Skin Wax. Simple and easy to use, Skinbased Calming Skin Wax can be applied on the go. To start, prepare the skin by wiping away any snow and ice that might have accumulated on it. Next, rub the wax bar gently along the skin, being sure to go with the grain of the skin. A small amount will go a long way, so be sure not to overapply. All done, now you are ready to get back to skiing!
If Skinbased Calming Skin Wax - or alternatively, mountainFLOW’s Rub On Skin Wax - is not readily available, your second option is to use a water-based, ski skin-specific treatment, such as Nikwax Ski Skin Proof. Liquid waxes must always be applied inside, to a dry skin, and left to dry completely before hitting the snow. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for best results.
Storage of your Skinbased skis
Before skiing: Before you head out, it can be beneficial to let your skis stand outside in a sheltered area for 10-15 minutes before using. This will allow the base of the ski to cool off before coming into contact with the snow, preventing the warm base from melting snow, which could possibly refreeze to the ski. We do not recommend doing this if the outdoor temperature is near or below -20°C, as the adjustment straps can become more brittle and harder to operate in these low temperatures.
After skiing: Much like yourself, your Skinbased skis like to warm up indoors after winter’s day out. We recommend bringing your Skinbased skis into a room-temperature setting to allow them to dethaw and the snow to completely melt off. This is even more important if they have been in temperatures near or below -20°C. After they have thoroughly dried out, store them in a sheltered location, away from direct heat and out of extreme temperatures (store in temperatures roughly between +30°C to -10°C).
Long term storage: We recommend storing your skis in a sheltered area and away from any direct heat sources. Room temperature is best, and be sure to avoid extreme temperatures. We suggest you store your skis in temperatures roughly between +30°C to -10°C. When storing for a long period of time, be sure not to compress them from the center of the ski (the tips and tails are okay though), allowing the ski’s camber to remain open.
One of the joys of owning Skinbased skis is that their low maintenance allows you to spend less time preparing your equipment, and more time enjoying the great outdoors. By adhering to the above steps and investing a small amount of your time in occasional ski care, they will undoubtedly reward you with years of service and fun.
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