Three clear signs that your skis need replacing
|
Are your skis trying to tell you something? From subtle signs of wear to major performance issues, knowing when to replace your trusty planks can mean the difference between an epic powder day and a frustrating experience on the slopes. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a midweek monster, understanding the telltale signs of ski deterioration is crucial for both safety and performance.
In this guide, we'll explore the key indicators that suggest it's time to retire your current skis and invest in a new pair. From examining edge damage and base condition to the differences between chipping and delamination, we'll help you know when its time for a new pair of skis.
Table of contents
1. Base Wear
Base hits are okay, they happen. You can get a base grind to flatten those bases again at a local shop. Core shots like this will require attention to prevent damage to core. Depending on the location of the core shot, it may not be repairable.
A base grind from a ski shop will flatten the base back out. This ski is totally fixable.
You can try to fill this deeper core-shot with P-tex, but it will not last that close to the edge of the ski.
2. Edge Wear
Just like tires on a car, your ski edges take a beating from rocks, ice, and rough snow conditions that gradually wear them down over time. Keeping an eye on your edges and taking care of them is super important since dull or damaged edges can make it way harder to turn and grip the snow, especially when conditions are firm.
The edge should still have enough mm to tune (remember the more you tune, the more you're taking away from the edge material). Try not to over-tune your skis.
Edges that don't have enough mm to tune or are pulling out show signs that the life of the ski is over. This ski can no longer be tuned.
3. Chipping vs. Delamination
When it comes to ski damage, it's important to know the difference between edge chipping and delamination since one's usually fixable while the other might mean retiring your skis. Topsheet chipping, where pieces of topsheet break off knocking your skis together, can often be repaired by a good ski tech. Delamination, however - where the layers of your ski start separating - is usually a death sentence for your skis since it's much harder to fix effectively.
Chipping occurs from sharp edges catching topsheets. To prevent this, do not scrape top sheets on lift with edges. Also, widening up your stance a touch if you see a significant amount on the inside helps.
This is separating the top sheet from the ski core. This requires immediate attention and shows that the life of the ski may be over.
Let's face it - knowing when to say goodbye to your favorite skis isn't always straightforward. Keep an eye on those edges - if they're affecting your grip and control, it's time for a pro to take a look. Base damage? That's messing with your glide and overall fun factor. And here's the big one: if you're seeing actual delamination (where your ski layers are coming apart), that's way different from normal chips and scratches that can probably be fixed.
Bottom line? Minor wear is part of the game, but don't push your luck with seriously damaged skis. When in doubt, swing by your local ski shop, or call us here at Renoun Skis - we'll give you the honest scoop on whether it's time for an upgrade. After all, there's nothing worse than questionable equipment getting in the way of an epic powder day.
Read more from Renoun Skis:
The author: Will Chaltas
Will has over a decade of ski industry experience. With PSIA ski instructor certifications, thousands of hours logged ski instructing, and a lifetime spent on-snow, Will is an expert in the sport. Will also spent time working in brand management, media, product journalism, marketing and customer service before joining the Renoun team full-time in 2023. His favorite trail snack is a bag of Haribo bears
Why Trust the Renoun Reviews Team?
Renoun Skis Reviews team has over a decade of ski design and manufacturing experience, and decades of combined ski-industry experience ranging from certified PSIA ski instructors to shop technicians, racers, and coaches. We also have a deep passion for and love of all things skiing. The team utilizes this experience to provide unparalleled reviews that dive deep to help guide your purchase for just about any ski-related item and help inform you of any ski-focused tips and tricks about maintenance, on-hill performance, and even the best places to enjoy your Après-Ski. Through written and video content, the Renoun Skis Reviews team is here to help inform you on all things ski-related.
Our team curates recommendations based on an intensive research and review process and leverages our unique expertise in the industry. A product must be exceptional in quality and have unique features to qualify for consideration in our review process. For all tips and tricks, all advice is based on on-hill and ski manufacturing knowledge, as well as intensive research to ensure accuracy and help skiers like you stay informed.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at info@renoun.com.