The top 5 Ski/snowboard problems and Solutions serving by hand.

The Top 5 Ski/Snowboard Problems and Solutions Serving by hand.

By Tara and Heidi - 12:48 on 15 July 2022

We at Snowboard Guru do all our ski/snowboard servicing by hand, and yes, there are some problems with that, but when this is done correctly, there are fewer than you Think.

Some workshops have base and edge grinding Machines, but the edge sharpening only does the side edge. Also, hot wax can be done by a wax Machine. So, it's all done by machine.

So, which one are they using in their workshop? You may ask yourself.

Let's start with a workshop that uses machines only.

First, the pros and cons of a Stone Grinding Machine are determined by the machine itself; most ski shops in resorts use this, as it is cheap, quick to use, and does not require much training.

Stone Grinding Machine

Pros

Smooth out the Scratches
put back structure into the base
will grind the base flat; great if you're skis/snowboard is a full camber
old wax is cleaned with wax remover (acetone)
Sharpens side edge only.
Yes, it is waxed with universal wax.

Cons

Suppose your kit has Multiple base Profiles, e.g., rocker, flat, camber. The combination will put too much pressure on those contact points, causing the base to be Patchy.
So, if the person servicing your skis or snowboard doesn't know, they are probably being paid a pittance.
Acetone dries out the base. It’s a porous plastic-like skin.
Only the side edge is sharpened, and there are two sides to your boundaries.
If you have multiple edges, contact points will be removed, e.g., Magne-traction all away check.
Wax is only a thin layer of universal waxes.
Big ski hire shops use machines as they are quick and easy to use.

Now the pros and cons of a Belt Grinding Machine (this uses a sandpaper belt instead of a Stone. It is a cheaper machine). Most ski hire shops in resorts and big retailers use this, as it is cheap, quick to use, and does not need much training.

Sand Belt Grinding Machine

Pros

Smooth out the Scratches
Great if you're ski/snowboard is a complete camber base
Sharpens side edge only.
Yes, it is waxed.

Cons

If your ski or snowboard has Multiple base Profiles, e.g., rocker, flat, or camber, the combination will put too much pressure on those contact points, causing the base to be Patchy.
So, if the person serving your ski or snowboard doesn't know, they are probably being paid a pittance.
Big ski hire shops use them as they are quick and easy.
Don't put structure.
Wax is a thin layer and not a Temperature wax for the snow conditions.

Snowboard Guru Servicing by Hand our Pros and Cons.

Pros

We can return the structure to the base with brushes and sanding blocks.
It doesn't matter what base Profile it is, as we work with the shape of the ground.
So, we can work with rocker, flat, or multiple camber.
Hot wax clean removes old wax and dirt from the base by melting new wax on and scraping it off.
Remove rust without removing the metal edge.
Sharpen both edges
We use lots of different files for edges
Hot wax to the temperature for your holiday
Hand iron pushes the wax into the base, and it will last longer.
You are the winner, putting it in our hands.

Cons

We can't get all the scratches out, but if that’s no problem, it probably has not been serviced for a long time. Check out our Summer Service.
Hot wax cleaning takes more time.
Sharpening edges by hand will take longer for us.
Hot wax by hand takes time, as melting the wax into the base is just more work.
It's not what you pay for; it's the experience and time.

So, if you get your ski/snowboard service in the resort, it will probably be serviced by someone working 48 hours on getting the ski hire ready for the new week of holidaymakers, as this is where the money is for them.

So, get your ski/snowboard serviced at your local workshop, but make sure you check how and who is doing the service. It’s like choosing a flat pack or a carpenter.

So now there are two things to think about

Let us put in the hard work and service it for you HERE
Book on to one of our Technician Programmes and discover how to do it yourself DIY. Check out programmes HERE