If you enjoy winter sports, you’ve probably spent a lot of money on equipment. You must properly care for your investment in order for it to last for years. When the snow melts, simply storing your skis in the garage isn’t enough.
So, how do you keep your winter sports equipment in good condition? You should start by making a safe haven away from the elements. Then, for each sort of equipment you own, you must follow particular instructions.
Maintenance Tips For Winter Sports Equipment
Here are some tips to get you started.
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Clean After Use
Keeping your equipment clean isn’t only the first step toward having a better time on the slopes. It also contributes to your safety. In 2015 alone, 88,000 individuals were injured while snow skiing, while another 61,000 were injured while snowboarding. Dirt or salt between your boots and bindings can cause catastrophic falls.
After each outing, use a moist towel to wipe off your skis or snowboard. After removing all of the filth and grime, thoroughly dry them. The same is true for your snowshoes, however, the timing is slightly different. You should do it on the last day of the season because they don’t require as much attention.
Aside from that, never leave your equipment out in the snow, even if you’re only going inside for an hour to eat. Thieves will be drawn to your equipment. Furthermore, exposure to the outdoors enables rust on your baseball net by baseball net manufacturers to form.
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Wax Your Equipment
You’ll need to wax your snowboard or skis to keep them in good condition. The first step in this procedure is to properly clean your equipment since the wax will not adhere to a filthy board or set of skis. You can apply a tiny coating of wax with a hot scraping and then quickly remove it. Then, using a clean towel, wipe down the apparatus.
When is the best time to wax your skis or snowboard? It is governed by the frequency with which you utilize them as well as the slope conditions. Most experts advise waxing every three to eight days of use. However, if you realize that you’re going more slowly than you’d like, more frequent applications may be beneficial.
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Keep Everything Dry
When the off-season hits, as it undoubtedly will, you must safeguard your equipment from the weather. If you enjoy ice skating, for example, dampness can dull your blades and cause painful falls. Similarly, keeping skis and snowboards in a moist environment will cause warpage and other problems.
If you want to keep your equipment in a basement or garage, take precautions to avoid water damage. Installing a ceiling fan is one way to keep a dry environment without spending a lot of money. These devices function best when their blades are seven to nine feet above the floor and ten to twelve inches below the ceiling.
You should also safeguard your equipment from excessive temperatures. Install insulation in your garage if you store your equipment there to prevent damage from extreme heat or cold.
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Sharpen The Edges
No matter if you skate or ski, you must keep your blades sharp for optimal speed and safety. If you skate, you’ll probably take your equipment to a specialist.
However, knowing basic terminology is still helpful in identifying possible difficulties with the process. If you play hockey, for example, you’ll want to understand how hollows affect your game.
If you ski one to two weeks a year, having your gear polished once a year is OK. However, after every day or two on the slopes, use a portable file to remove burrs or nicks. If you’re skiing every week during the season, get your skis professionally polished once a month.
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Repair Minor Gouges
Taking your equipment to a pro shop is the best approach to fix serious damage. They have the essential equipment to accomplish the work correctly. However, there are occasions when you want to take advantage of a beautiful day but don’t have the time to go to the pros.
Minor gouges may be repaired yourself with a P-tex stick and a lighter. Scrape away any debris from the affected area first. If the damage has reached the core, your only choice is to go to the store.
Otherwise, melt the P-tex into the gouges one at a time with the lighter. Because this substance stinks, make careful to ventilate the area. Scrape the material until it is level with the foundation once it has been filled. If necessary, repeat.
Your snowshoes are also likely to sustain damage over the season, so look for holes or abrasions in the leather trim. Check that the different binding and pivot systems are operational, and if they aren’t, arrange a professional tune-up. As previously said, it is the most effective method of repairing substantial damage.
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Get The Right Storage Bag for Winter Sports
The correct storage bag keeps your snowboard in great shape for the next time you hit the slopes. Consider the amount of travel you conduct with your equipment when choosing a storage bag.
For example, if you fly to many places, you’ll need more padding than if you simply pack your belongings in your car for a weekend road vacation. You never know what luggage handlers are capable of!
If you ice skate or play hockey, be sure you have the proper blade guards for your journey from the locker room to the rink. These also keep your hands safe from severe wounds. Keeping this in mind, always cover your skate blades before placing them in your backpack.
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Upgrade Or Maintain Your Roof Rack
You may transport certain winter sports equipment in your vehicle. However, if you drive a tiny vehicle, you may require a roof rack for larger stuff.
Consider the weight of the goods you regularly tote with you when choosing a roof rack for your car. Keep security in consideration as well. If theft is a significant issue in your area or the areas where you travel, a locking version can help avoid loss.
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Adjust Your Bindings
The bindings on your skis, whether downhill or cross country, have heavy-duty springs that hold your boots in place while allowing you to release them at any time. Take the opportunity before storing your skis during the season to adjust the DIN windows to the lowest setting.
It’s a good idea to place a sticky note on your skis as a reminder to adjust these when you return to the slopes (so you don’t get expelled).
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Schedule Professional Maintenance
Even if you’re just a weekend warrior, you should arrange expert maintenance for your gear at least once a year. If you want to be a professional athlete, you’ll need to visit the shop more frequently.
Ask for advice from other individuals who engage in the sport before choosing a business. You can also seek assistance from an employee at your favorite recreation facility.
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Protect Your Investment for Winter Sports
Finally, you want to keep thieves out of your goods. Even the most knowledgeable homeowners can make thoughtless blunders that jeopardize their investment. For example, if you have an automated garage door and leave your remote in your car when parking on the street, you are putting out the welcome mat for intruders.
Similarly, a backyard shed with windows to the inside reveals your possessions for anybody to grab if a padlock is not used. It just takes a few seconds to secure everything, and it may save you a small amount in both money and sorrow. It’s the most effective way to keep your snowboard, skis, snowshoes, or Trampoline by Trampoline parts manufacturers safe.
But that isn’t all. When it comes to snowshoes, keep them out of reach of any hungry rodents. They enjoy chewing on rawhide, so keep your equipment elevated.
Conclusion
Of course, the best approach to safeguard your players’ gear from the weather is to teach your squad how to care for their own equipment. Show them how to remove the dirt from their cleats. Assist them in properly storing their soccer ball. They’ll learn to take care of their equipment with a little practice.
More significantly, kids will have a much deeper appreciation for the game than you could ever inculcate during practice.
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