In the ski and snowboard world you'll see a bit of everything, from gearheads who wax their skis multiple times a week to laid-back people who don't seem to care at all about their equipment. While it's not necessary to freak out about caring for your gear, there are certain things you should avoid if you want to keep your beloved equipment in working condition.
After a long day of skiing, all we want to do is pull our boots off, toss them in a corner and forget about them. But if you want to keep them odour-free, it's important to let them dry out properly. The best way to do this is by removing the liner or putting them in a boot drying rack, which you'll often find in your hotel. If not, consider purchasing a boot dryer insert. For more ideas against stinky ski boots, read this article >
Try to get in the habit of closing your ski boots when you take them off. This helps the plastic keep its shape, ensuring a better fit for years to come. While ski boots will inevitably have a limited lifespan as the liner gets compressed over time, there's no sense speeding up the process!
It might sound crazy, but your skis also need some TLC after a day on the slopes. To prevent rust forming along the edges, you'll need to dry them thoroughly - a nice soft cloth will do the trick - and let them dry separately before putting them together again.
We all know what happens once we surrender our checked bags to the airport crew: it's thrown around with reckless abandon, tossed from great distances onto the tarmac and generally beaten and abused. So, if you're planning on bringing your skis or snowboard in the hold, take a moment to think about how you pack them. Padding your ski bag with clothing can help, as well as, of course, using a sturdy ski bag and boot bag.
Don't give salt, mud and dirty water the chance to attack your skis during a drive to the Scottish Highlands! Opt for a closed roof rack or protect your skis with a special ski cover during the drive.
Even if your nose has become immune to the stench, a week's worth of skiing will definitely take its toll on your clothes. Sweat, beer and other lovely substances will have infiltrated the material, which, in addition to causing nasty odours, can actually damage the breathable, waterproof membrane on certain ski clothing. Wash the clothing according to the care instructions (no fabric softeners or piping hot water!) after every ski holiday. If you're not sure how to wash a certain garment, you can always handwash it to be on the safe side.
During the process of tearing off all your sweaty, damp clothing, it's highly probably that you've chucked your goggles and helmet together into a jumble of clothing. These later get tossed around carelessly, virtually guaranteeing scratches on your goggle lenses. We're not saying you should be a control freak, but we do heavily recommend removing your goggles right away from your helmet and stowing them safely away in a protective case.
When your goggles get fogged up, it's tempting to polish the insides. Avoid doing so!! Your ski goggles come with a special coating to prevent condensation, which can get damaged when you polish it. Never touch the inner lens with your fingers, and use a soft cleaning cloth for cleaning the outer lens.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
