h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just some extra ideas for keeping your skis in top condition:

It's normally a good idea to properly prepare the ski bases before sharpening and waxing. The wax will last longer and the skis will perform much better too. Use some wax remover or base cleaner (same stuff, just called different things by different manufacturers) on the base, which will bring all the old wax out of the base along with any dirt that's there.

Next, fill any holes/scratches in the base with P-Tex (that's the plastic the ski base is made of). This can be done with granules which are melted in with an iron, or the easiest method, a 'P-Tex candle', which burns and drips molten P-Tex onto the base. Over-fill the scratches, leave it to cool, and then use a metal straight-edge scraper to remove the top layer of the new plastic to give a flat base. Using a file, take a few sweeps over the whole length of the ski, to make sure the base is smooth and the edges are shiny and level with the base.

Then go on to the sharpening and waxing stages. You should hot-wax the skis at least once a week while you're using them, as it wears off quite fast. Also, it could be worth carrying some rub-on wax with you on the mountain in case it suddenly gets sticky, or for that final touch before a race!

Finally, I'd suggest that everyone scrape and brush the skis after waxing. It makes the ski glide better and helps stop it sticking to the snow. Also it's probably a good idea to make sure you scrape the wax off the edges, to stop you sliding halfway down the mountain on your first couple of turns before it wears off...

One exception to this is when you put the skis away for storage. Put on a good lot of wax, and make sure you cover all of the base and edges. This will stop the edges rusting over the summer, and when the next season starts you can scrape the wax off and your skis will be totally ready for use!

Happy skiing everyone!