How to Store Your Ski Gear During The Off Season

There is a good chance you’ve been storing your ski gear… well, wrong.

We know no one likes being told they are doing something wrong and we aren’t calling you out with malintent. We just want to help! Ultimately, it’s in your hands how your skis are treated at the end of the season but if you'd like to optimize the life of your gear, we have some tips to share.

FIRST, WHY BOTHER?

Maintaining your gear is good for you and the world. (There we go being dramatic again - but it’s the truth).

By performing preventative maintenance, your gear will last a long time. This means that you get to save money by purchasing once, or by selling your pristine gear to another happy skier so you can invest in new technology. This cycle keeps skis on the slopes and out of the landfill. Winning all around.

Protecting and cleaning your gear during the ski season is essential - but so is during the off-season. If stored properly, you can prevent your ski base from drying out and the edges from rusting. While these are both things that can be fixed with a good tuning - they will ultimately shorten the life of the skis by wearing down the overall material. The more rust that has a chance to build up - the more your skis will have to be grinded.

ALL SKI GEAR

No matter the gear, this step is relevant across the board. After your final run: wipe them down, inspect for damage and ensure they are dry before they spend the summer in storage.

SKI BOOTS

The best feeling in the world is unclipping and taking your ski boots off after an epic day on the mountain. After you revel in that glorious feeling of the blood running smoothly through your feet again - buckle your boots. The best way for your ski boots to maintain their shape is to be stored with the latches done up. They don’t need to be tight but you want them buckled up before putting them in storage. And of course, ensure they are completely dry as well - including the liners.

Is there any better feeling than unbuckling your boots after a full day of skiing?

SKI ACCESSORIES

Ski helmets and goggles are best stored in a non-scratch bag and kept together for easy finding when the snow falls again.

And then the ski poles. The lowest maintenance of the bunch. Simply wipe them down and store them hanging, lying down or leaning. So long as they aren’t stored in such a way that their shape may be compromised, they are happy.

SKIS

Now, onto their higher maintenance cousin: the skis. Whether you are storing Nordic or Alpine skis, there are some general rules to follow.

They can be stored standing up or laying down, on their side. You need to ensure they aren’t going to be covered by other equipment or anything that may bend the skis and affect their shape. Using straps isn’t always necessary but strapping the tips and tails of the skis can help prevent the skis from shifting and putting pressure on their camber or rocker. This is all in an effort to protect the shape of the ski.

Perhaps most important is the storage location. The ideal spot is temperature and moisture controlled, inside. A bedroom, (perhaps under the bed), or coat closet are great options.

Here’s where many of us falter: garages, attics, sheds or unfinished basements are NOT the best option. Since they don’t protect from temperature fluctuations, they may rust from too much moisture or de-laminate from too much heat. Additionally, avoid storing directly on concrete floors as they can release moisture and risk rusting the ski edges.

For the extra serious, consider a summer ski tune-up before storage. Take your skis for tuning to your local shop. They can grind the base, sharpen the ski edges and apply a summer wax. The summer wax covers your ski base and edges - and is left on. Do not scrape it off until winter returns. For the DIYer, you can use an old candle or block of ski wax to rub it over your ski edges to help protect from corrosion.

Another great habit for storing skis is to ease off the tension of the binding springs. Take note of your DIN settings (writing them on a piece of tape and sticking them to your skis will keep them handy) and then loosen your ski bindings a bit.

With proper maintenance, you can keep utilizing your skis for a long time. The photo above is a slight exaggeration.

TL;DR

Relax, there isn't a monster under your bed - just your happy, well-protected skis.

When we give our gear the respect it deserves, it will return the favour season after season. Whenever possible, store your skis and gear in a cool, dry place to minimize unnecessary wear. It may not be realistic for all of us to keep our skis under our beds, but do try to avoid the temptation of putting your skis out in your shed. This will allow your skis, you and the environment to be in a better condition for many seasons to come.

Oh and the final step: enjoy summer time activities while you wait for winter to return.

REFERENCES
How to Store Ski Gear in the Off Season - Kulkea.com
How to Store Skis and Snowboards for Summer - Evo.com
How to Store Skis Off Season - Snowlink.com