Preseason Servicing of User Owned Equipment

A good time to have a complete in-shop inspection of your equipment is before the start of each ski season. Highlighted in this article will be information on when to buy new boots, bindings, and skis, where to bring your gear for service, and what to expect form a complete equipment inspection. This information can be referenced on the Vermont Ski Safety website.

Servicing new and used equipment comes from standards that were developed in the U.S. and are governed by the ASTM International (formally the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the ISO (International Standards Organization). Equipment suppliers follow these standards and recommend a complete inspection before the start of every season and after every 15 to 30 days of use.

When choosing a competent shop make sure they are an authorized dealer or service center for your equipment brand and offer "repair" services. A qualified mechanic will classify your equipment, especially bindings, into one of four categories.

• Serviceable: with normal maintenance and recalibration, the equipment can continue to provide useful service.
• Repairable: with replacement of parts/components, maintenance, and recalibration the equipment can serve adequately.
• Incompatible: the boot and binding do not function together adequately. Replacement of one or both is recommended.
• Worn Out: the binding is no longer serviceable or repairable and replacement is recommended.

Your mechanic may also refer to your equipment as "obsolete" or "unsupported". "Some bindings still in use, regardless of their age or condition, are obsolete by design and should be retired. If the binding has been "orphaned," meaning the manufacturer is out of business, or if the supplier no longer provides parts, tools, and technical information for that model, it is classified as "unsupported." This classification limits the service shops can provide."

If your equipment does not pass inspection the shop will not offer service, but will suggest a replacement option. If your equipment passes, the bindings should be recalibrated.

Calibrating involves testing the binding with a special device and adjusting the release settings for your weight, height, age, and skier type. Skier type refers to the speed and steepness of the terrain you will be skiing. First-time skiers who do not express a preference are classified as type I.

Providing the boot is compatible with the binding and provides good support to the lower leg, you may want to consider customizing the fit with new foot beds or utilizing off-the-shelf fitting aids. An experienced boot fitter can offer suggestions to accommodate common foot anomalies. This topic will be discussed in greater detail in the next article.

After completely addressing the boot, binding and ski inspection/compatibility, skis should be tuned and waxed. Depending on your ability and personal preference, an experienced ski tuner can offer you a variety of services to prepare the base and side edges of your skis. If you notice the skis unpredictably (or undesirably) hooking, engaging, pulling, or the inability to skid or turn the ski as you have in the past, it may need to be returned to the shop. The ski tech will examine the base and side edges and may need to adjust the amount of de-tuning at the tip and tail.

If the mechanic is unfamiliar with the inspection process you can direct them to the trade site Check It Out for guidelines on inspecting user owned equipment. If you are a new skier or just getting back into the sport, renting modern equipment will help you get the most out of your first experience.

Maintaining the performance of your equipment throughout the season is just as important as preseason inspections. Developing a good working relationship with a competent shop will help to keep your equipment functioning safely and help you get the most out of what modern equipment has to offer.

Article by Heidi Ettlinger ©2004 All rights reserved