Keeping your skis and snowboards tuned is one of the two most important things* you can do to ensure you have a great time on the slopes every time you make a run.

Why?

Because without a tune, your gear does two things: it sticks to the snow, making it harder for you to move, and it reduces your maneuverability in turns, making it harder for you to go where you want to go.

Now, if this still sounds fun, proceed to your nearest slope without taking care of your ride. However, if you want to actually enjoy your time on the snow, read on.

There are two different ways to keep your skis and snowboards tuned: you can do it yourself, or you can bring them in to us at Alpine Shop and let us take care of it for you. Some repairs, though, are beyond the equipment you'll have in your basement. And some people would just rather have an experienced technician do the work.

Alpine Shop is proud to offer you one of the top ski and snowboard service centers in the country. Completely stocked with top-of-the-line Wintersteiger equipment and manned by certified techs, we'll make sure your gear is perfectly tuned for your particular style.

Here's some examples of what we do in the Ski Shop:

Example 1: See the white lines in the base? That's the base drying out.

This board needs a HOT WAX (to start).

Hot Wax: The difference between hot wax and machine wax is like deciding between a set of economy tires or performance tires. Both will have your car performing better, but there is a noticeable difference in the quality of the ride. The same holds true here.

A hot wax treatment will be customized to the type and temperature of the conditions you'll ski in. It will also protect your base better and be more durable than a machine wax. For this reason, if your gear's base appears to be drying out (see pic above), we will recommend a hot wax treatment.

A Machine Wax, meanwhile, is much better than nothing at all, but we can't give you the best ride possible with it. It is less durable than a Hot Wax, but still a great option to get back on the slopes as quickly as possible.
 

Example 2: An example of a ptex repair. If the gouge/scratch is down to the core it will need epoxy.

Ptex/Epoxy Base or Topsheet Repair: For those times when the snow isn't perfect and you smoke a rock or a rail (or, lord help us, a fellow skier), our certified techs will fill in the gouge to bring your base back to a smooth, even surface. As stated above, if the gouge goes all the way down to your equipment's core, it will need epoxy, not Ptex. This service starts at $14 and goes up depending on what is needed to completely repair your ski or snowboard.

Example 3: An example of a board needing a Summit Tune. If the customer does just a sharpen and wax, all those scratch lines will still be there, the edges won't be perfect and the base would be dry. 

SUMMIT Ski or Snowboard Tune: Our highest level of service. We're getting your skis or board as close to Brand New as we can get them. Stone grind, Base beveling/flattening, base and side edge beveling/sharpening, ptex/epoxy, hot wax and polish. And just what does all this mean?

• Stone grinding: This process flattens the ski base, removes damaged base material and gives skis and boards a better surface for wax to adhere to for a smoother, faster ride.
• Base beveling/flattening: This means we're shaping the bottom of your gear to work perfectly for your personal style on the slopes.
• Side edge beveling/sharpening: The most important thing for maneuverability is for your ski or snowboard edges to be smooth - like a fine knife - not the serrated kind. We make sure your edges are smooth, sharp and angled precisely to match your riding style.
• Ptex: We use ptex or epoxy to repair gouges or other damage done to the base of your gear. Without the repairs done, your skis or board can't perform the way they're meant to on the slopes.

The main difference between the Summit Tune and the Precision Tune comes down to whether or not your board needs to be rebuilt due to scratches or gouges. The Summit Tune includes up to 8 inches of Ptex/epoxy base and topsheet repair. The Precision Tune is your best value if no repairs are needed. And the biggest reason you would want to go with a Precision Tune over just a Sharpen and Wax option is the first thing we mentioned above: Stone grinding. The only way to take advantage of stone grinding through our service center is through either a Summit or a Precision Tune.   

Sharpen & Wax Package: A great value if your base is already in good shape and your equipment is handling the way you want it to, in general, on the slopes. All of our Sharpen & Wax Packages include base beveling/flattening, base and side edge beveling/sharpening, and a wax. This tune will cleanup and polish the base while flattening it and make those edges sharp, sharp, sharp. If the base looks dry (see pic above) we will recommend you upgrade to a Hot Wax treatment over the Machine Wax.

Have other questions? Give us a call at 314-962-7715. We'll be happy to help you out however we can.

*Oh, and the other most important thing you can do to ensure a good experience on the slopes: Get a good, professionally fit pair of boots.