Proper ski storage: how to store wooden and plastic skis

If you store your skis correctly, they will serve you for many years. And in winter it will be pleasant to glide along the mountain slopes for a long time without additional effort on your part.

The issue of storing ski equipment worries fans of this sport not only during the off-season. The problem is relevant when transporting equipment, as well as in the intervals between conquering mountain slopes. In addition, proper storage will allow you to quickly prepare your skis for the new season.

Excessive moisture, too high and too low temperatures, and direct sunlight are unfavorable for ski equipment.

How to store plastic skis

Plastic skis are very unpretentious to storage conditions. The rules for plastic ski equipment are quite simple:

• Stored both vertically and horizontally.
• The plastic holds its shape well, so the use of a spacer between the skis is not required.
• It is enough to tighten them with Velcro ties and put them in the case.
• Remove the lubricant after every ride.
• At the end of the season, thoroughly clean the sliding surface with a special remover. Then apply a layer of any paraffin to protect it from drying out.

Any place is suitable for storing your plastic ski set - a room, a balcony or a garage. You just need to protect them from impacts and scratches. A special case will help with this.

Thin material will not save you from damage. Choose a case with a thick lining.

Ensure proper transportation of skis

To carry skis correctly, they must be folded together, placing one against the other with their sliding sides. If you have a long trip ahead of you, then before packing your skis in the case, tie them at the toes and heels with an elastic band, Velcro or a special strap. When carrying skis in a case, they should be held vertically. Watch your sides when turning with skis in your hands, because you can easily hit someone passing by. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with it, but extra physical contact is unlikely to benefit your skis.

Transportation on an airplane is carried out only in a special compartment.

It’s probably better for you not to know how alpine skis are stored during air travel. Let’s put it this way: the spectacle of packing and transporting cargo is not for the faint of heart, so even if you don’t really like your skis, you will still have something to be horrified about. Before you hand over your skis to the baga at the airport, be sure to wrap them in something soft, preferably in several layers. This will not only avoid impacts and damage, but will also protect the surface of the skis from extremely low temperatures in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.

When traveling by car, it is not recommended to transport ski equipment on an open trunk. The surrounding dirt and reagents negatively affect the edges and sliding surface.

How to store wooden skis

Wooden skis should be stored according to special rules. Natural wood tends to dry out and lose shape. Such equipment should be stored in accordance with the following conditions:

• Store with the ends up, in a suspended position and without touching the floor.
• Do not pull the pair together in the center. Place a block in the central part between the panels and tighten them along the edges with ties.
• Avoid high air humidity in the room and moisture on the wooden surface. This leads to irreversible deformation.
• Ski kit made of wood should not be placed near the battery. Exposure to the sun's rays is also unacceptable - the tree may dry out.

Keep your wooden ski kit away from light, heat and moisture to help preserve the structure of the wood.

At the end of the season, be sure to preserve your wooden equipment. Sequencing:

1. Clean the surface with a damp, warm cloth and dry thoroughly.
2. Sand the surface until smooth.
3. Cover severe damage with three layers of varnish and dry.
4. Cover the sliding surface with a layer of heated resin and dry thoroughly.

Where to put your snowboard after winter skiing

The best option for storing a snowboard is one of the corners of the hallway. Since, due to the rounded shape of the nose, the snowboard is unstable and can fall, leaving dents on the floor and scratches on the wallpaper. In addition, it is easy to trip and hit yourself on a lying snowboard.

Plus, during the winter season, it is advisable to place a rubberized mat under the board that does not allow moisture to pass through. After all, after riding, snow accumulates in the snowboard bindings, which you will not be able to 100% clear outside. At home, it will melt and water will flow onto the floor, which can lead to damage to its covering - laminate, parquet, carpet, etc.

Storage conditions for different types of skis

The storage requirements for different types of skis vary. This is due to differences in size, design and materials from which the equipment is made.

• Cross-country skiing. This type of sports equipment is made from wood, a combination of wood and plastic, or only plastic. Above we described in detail how to store inventory made from these materials.
• Mountain. Storage of mining equipment is somewhat different. Treatment of both the sliding surface and fastenings is required. The metal parts of the fasteners are prone to rust, so they are treated with lubricant. Clean the sliding surface and apply paraffin. Ski boots also need to be prepared - take out and wash the inner boot, and wash the outer boot from dirt.
• Hunting. This type of ski is made from wood. The fastenings are not metal, but leather, rubber or fabric. Store only in low humidity and cool temperatures. Hang them vertically with the ends up. Preservation before storage is required.

Arrangement of storage space

Having determined a place for home storage of equipment, it is arranged for easier access. Optimal solutions:

1. A lifting lattice base or bracket, a shelf, mounted to the ceiling in a closet for outerwear. If there are a lot of skis, horizontal shelves below will do.
2. Special cabinet. This can be installed on a heated balcony. For its construction, a special system is used, the principle of its creation can be traced from the drawings. In such a closet you can simultaneously place equipment for the whole family. Horizontal positioning with 3 support points is also allowed.

Ski storage in summer

Before storing your ski kit for summer storage, be sure to carry out pre-preparation based on the type of surface material. Clean plastic ones from old grease and treat them with paraffin. Be sure to clean wooden ones, varnish any damage and resin them.

Heat and sun rays are detrimental to the wood used to make skis. In summer, do not leave ski equipment on the balcony. Use a cool room with low humidity for this.

How to properly apply paraffin to a sliding surface

Having ensured that the entire surface of the skis is clean and dry, the sliding part is melted with paraffin (for plastic skis, resin is used for wooden skis). For preservation it is allowed to use any type:

• Base wax;
• Service wax;
• CH or LF;
• HF.

Paraffin is applied to a warm surface, and the block itself is heated. You should work quickly while the paraffin is spreading. The required layer is about 1 mm. To facilitate the process and distribute the substance evenly, it is better to use a special iron. With its help, the mass is leveled, and the paraffin enters the smallest holes.

Where to store skis?

Ski equipment, especially mountain and hunting equipment, is quite large and takes up a lot of space. Therefore, it is important to properly organize the place for storing it. Let's look at the most popular places to store ski equipment.

At home

A storage room is perfect for storing skis at home—it’s dark and cool there at any time of the year. In an apartment without a storage room, it is also possible to allocate a small darkened corner for ski equipment. To prevent this storage method from taking up useful space in the room, use wall hooks and shelves.

On the balcony

You should not store skis on the balcony in the summer - there they will be exposed to aggressive sunlight and high temperatures. This will lead to drying out and delamination of the wood. But if the balcony is equipped with a locker for sports equipment, then this option is acceptable. It is also possible to mount the set on the wall by hanging it on hooks.

Storage during transportation

They transport skis by car to the nearest slope or by train or plane to ski resorts. There are special cases and boxes for this. For example, in a car it is convenient to transport skis and boots simply in the trunk, if its size allows. There is also a special plastic container that is attached to the roof of the car.

How to harmoniously fit a board into the interior

You can hang your snowboard horizontally on the wall. This option is also suitable if you have several boards. It looks impressive and saves space in the hallway. However, in this case it is necessary to provide a separate place for drying. Otherwise you will ruin the wall covering.

Another option is to use so-called slotted cabinets that fit perfectly, for example, into a corner. This way you can place the snowboard vertically. As with horizontal storage, you will need a separate drying area.

Plastic products

Storing plastic skis in an apartment is much easier. This material is moisture resistant and more durable. The storage conditions for this equipment are as follows:

• storage in different positions possible;
• It is not necessary to use a spacer to maintain the shape;
• Contact with sliding surfaces is undesirable. It is better to use a fabric layer, or choose a position in which the socks look at each other;
• at any time of the year you can use a special case for storage;
• Storage locations do not matter; it is important to protect equipment from mechanical damage.

Benefits of cooperation with

Mysafe offers every winter extreme sports enthusiast the service of renting an individual box. Here your skis and other equipment will be like new. You have the opportunity to rent a box from us for a long time or a season. It all depends on the item you want to store.

Advantages of saving things with us:

• 24-hour box security;
• affordable cost of the service;
• optimal conditions for saving things;
• delivery of inventory to the warehouse;
• service of unloading, packaging and placement of sports equipment;
• the ability to calculate the cost of services on the website;
• online tour of warehouses;
• 24/7 access to a rented box.

Use the services of MySafe and keep your sports equipment in working order for many years.

Factors affecting shelf life

Ski storage conditions affect their further safety and ride quality. Fans of winter sports and hunting know that the following environmental factors should be taken into account:

• Humidity . Excess moisture will cause metal fasteners to rust.
• Temperature . Changes will lead to cracks and deformation.
• Illumination . Direct sunlight can negatively affect the appearance.

Considering the detrimental nature of the above factors, check the condition of the equipment before putting it away until the next season. Clean the surface with a brush and inspect them carefully.

Features of storing ski equipment in the summer

At the end of the ski season, a number of processing measures must be carried out. To prepare your skis for storage for the summer, you need to do the following.

• Wipe the surfaces of the ski pair dry to remove any dirt and grease.
• Fine sandpaper will remove all roughness and unevenness.
• Wooden skis must be fastened on both sides, and a spacer must be placed inside.
• The surfaces of wooden skis must be coated with a layer of resin, and plastic ones with paraffin.
• Plastic equipment must be secured together and placed in a case.

Remember. Skis are stored away from heating devices, away from sunlight, in a dry, ventilated area.

Preparing your snowboard for storage

Winter. Light frost and sparkling snow, no dust or dirt. Because of this, many people believe that it is enough to simply wipe a snowboard dry after riding. But once you wash it in the bathroom under the shower, it becomes clear that a lot of dirt comes off of it. And dried mud negatively affects both shoes and the board.

Here are some basic rules for preparing equipment for long-term storage:

• it is necessary to thoroughly clean the board from dirt;
• wipe dry with a soft cloth and dry in a horizontal position;
• fastenings must be cleaned, wiped and fastened;
• It is recommended to use the services of a special service, which will remove any scratches, put the edges in order, restore the paraffin layer on the sole, and also cover the board with wax or special hot paraffin to preserve its sliding properties;
• Experts advise removing boots and fastenings from the board, unscrewing all the bolts and lubricating them with graphite lubricant. All removed elements must be carefully placed in a separate box.

Sometimes a snowboard is stored together with boots on bindings. But their tightened bolts can stretch the sockets during long-term storage, which can lead to the fastenings breaking at the most inopportune moment.