How to repair your skis and snowboards correctly - title

How do you repair skis and snowboards correctly?

Edges torn off, holes in the base, each year your equipment undergoes its small batch of damages. To understand better how to avoid them and repair them properly, Laurent Cardot from the Workshop explains the right actions to adopt.

Maintenance with laurent cardot

"I often see that skI and snowboard maintenance is not done regularly, which is a shame because good maintenance guarantees good glide, and equipment that lasts longer."

1. Hello, could you introduce yourself for us?
Hello, Laurent Cardot, in charge of the Mountain Store workshop in Passy and expert Decathlon ski Workshop since 1987.

2. Could you tell us more about your job as expert Workshop?
An expert is the technical reference on maintenance and ski and snowboard repair for all Decathlon Workshops, worldwide.Along with participating in ski technician trainings.

How to repair your skis and snowboards correctly

3. What is the most common damage that needs repair on skis and snows?
The main damage encountered are holes in the bases and blunt edges.

The ski and snowboard edges represent the metal angle between the edge of the base and its edge at right angles. They allow you to grip the snow when turning or to stand on snow when you position yourself across the slope when stopped.If they are dull, they are no longer sharp and no longer grip the snow.

4. How do you explain this?
It's the playground for skiers and snowboarders: on the slopes or off-piste, it is not uncommon to glide over a tree branch or small stones and this can damage the ski or snowboard bases and edges.

What diagnosis do you understand from this?

I often see that skI and snowboard maintenance is not done regularly, which is a shame because good maintenance guarantees good glide, and equipment that lasts longer.

repair your skis or snowboard properly - sharpening

5. When is it appropriate to sharpen the edges?
In general, we recommend sharpening them at the start or end of the season, ie once a year.

But you can also sharpen your edges when you can see irregularities by just looking at them: these are often caused by using the ski on bad snow (presence of stones or other obstacles).

The best technique in my opinion remains that of a ceramic finish, the most precise and the most effective.

repair your skis or snowboard properly - wax

6. And what about waxing?
If you feel like your skis or snowboard are gliding badly or your bases are whitening, this is a sign that your skis need to be waxed.Generally, once or twice a year is enough if you use your skis moderately.Waxing is carried out on a base that is already sanded or doesn't need to be sanded (new or recently sanded).A waxed base helps to repel the layer of water that forms when heated by the contact of the ski with snow. So this is what ensures a good glide and avoids the feeling of "sticking" to the snow.

Is there a particular method to remember?
All the techniques known as hot or iron are the most effective for good maintenance and guarantee a good glide.

7. Since you started this job, have you noticed an evolution in the way of equipment being damaged and the techniques used to repair them? We still damage our equipment in the same way.However, you should know that maintenance and repair techniques have greatly evolved in our Decathlon Workshops thanks to the new robotic machines and the quality of the consumables used, such as wax, fror example.

8. For all these interventions, what are the gestures not to do?It is essential not to embark on a repair without mastering the correct gestures and without having the right equipment.It is therefore preferable to go to a professional Workshop technician in order to have a complete repair process while taking advantage of the latest technologies.

Any other advice for us?

In addition to daily maintenance, I recommend that you sand and wax your skis or snowboard once or twice a year in one of our workshops to optimize the performance of your skis.Sanding optimizes the flat surface of the bases and eliminates any micro deformations of the tip.This is also an opportunity to check that there are no cracks which would affect the structure of the ski.

To be well-equipped:

"Now that you know how to maintain your skis or snowboard, you just have to go and enjoy the slopes with family or friends."

Laurent cardot

In charge of the Workshop

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