Aaargh, such a dumb question but here goes...

[Liz1281]

When you buy a brand-new pair of skis, do you have to get them sharpened, waxed, etc., or are they ready to go?

I've always bought my skis used to save $$$ so this never came up... I'd just assume they needed work done and take them in.

I'm waiting for my new babies to come in the mail, and can't wait to take them out this weekend...

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Hey---it's really not a dumb question at all! Yes, get them tuned. The tips and tails have to be "dulled" a tiny bit or they will be "hooky." Edges might be fine otherwise in terms of sharpness and only need a quick once-over. Waxing is a great idea. I always take mine in - in my case, to the basement to DH !

 

[Quiver Queen]

Generally skis come from the manufacturer tuned and ready to go, tho' some skiers may want the tips dulled a bit first, as MSL says. Personally, I love the feel of the factory tune, so never do anything to them except ski. If you're getting race stock, you'll want a custom tune before using them.
BTW, there's no such thing as a dumb question. If you were wondering about this, other Divas were wondering, too.

 

[Jilly]

They are race ready, just kidding. Go ski them.

 

[Robyn]

I'd go ahead and ski them but if you find your tips being too grabby take them in after that first day.

I recently got a tune where I noticed that on steeper stuff with some ice I couldn't ski worth a lick because my tips kept grabbing on. Honestly, I'd never had that happen so I couldn't figure out what was going on but finally this weekend I wasn't having the problem so I'm guessing they finally dulled enough to stop doing it. Guess those guys won't be tuning my skis again.

 

[Gloria]

Hey---it's really not a dumb question at all! Yes, get them tuned. The tips and tails have to be "dulled" a tiny bit or they will be "hooky." Edges might be fine otherwise in terms of sharpness and only need a quick once-over. Waxing is a great idea. I always take mine in - in my case, to the basement to DH !

Ditto, I always have the tips and tails detuned and get em waxed prior to skiing on them.

 

[num]

I just wax em and head to the hill.

 

[Liz1281]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I guess I'll just try them out for one run and see how they feel... and if I feel anything funny, I'll take them into the shop. I'll have to get the bindings adjusted to my boots in any case...

 

[MaineSkiLady]

And here, after all these years, I thought dulling tip and tail edges was de rigeur...DH says he dulls only to the point where the tips meet the snow. On the other hand, if something ain't broke, don't fix it??

 

[volklgirl]

Current wisdom is that the super-shapes do not need to be detuned at all. You're essentially negating the effect of the shape at the tip and tail by detuning. Needing to detune suggests that your skis are either too long or to stiff (or you're skidding rather than carving). We don't detune any of our skis, not even the Karmas.

"Hooky" skis are usually the result of burrs left on the edges from tuning, not from a lack of detuning the tips or tails. Removing the burr from the tip and tail are particularly difficult to do with a machine due to the upward bend, so if no one did a hand deburr, that would explain the hookiness.

Back to OP - your skis should come already tuned and waxed from the factory. Other than possibly throwing on an additional coat of wax, I wouldn't touch them......you'll never be able to get them tuned quite that way again. If, however, you find them acting strange in any way, then take them to the shop to get the factory tune checked over. The only real exception to this is race room (race stock) skis. They come with only a flat grind and are purchased with the understanding that they will be custom tuned to the racer's specifications and seasoned (many, many, many waxings) for sometimes months before seeing snow.