Question: Do new skis need to be tuned?

[SkiBilly]

I'm skiing on my new Black Pearls (that I bought on mountain) and they are very different to the rental demos I tried out. Do they need to be 'run in'? Or do they need to be tuned?

I haven't bought skies since 2008, so I'm a complete gumby. I assumed that when spending big money on skis the factory tune out of the wrapper would be the most perfect...is this the case with Blizzard? (And Atomic...my DH experienced a big difference too, but he's gone out and skied his new pair to death already and says that they are feeling better...though still not the same as the rental he demo'd.)

I'm so disappointed...I wish I was back on the rental BPs. Big White invested in a mega hi-tech tuning machine two years ago and all the rentals are tuned on it...so I'm thinking that's the difference. I'm going back to the store to complain as it's like I'm skiing on a different ski to the one I based my decision to purchase them on.

 

[Skier31]

Some skis are great out of the box and some are not.

 

[Obrules15]

My newly purchased skis had no base structure/grind and needed to be prepped.

 

[elemmac]

Could be the tune...it's not unheard of for some skis to have a crappy factory tune. Another possibility is that the demo was simply broken in. Skis ski differently after they're skied on for awhile. Could be a combination of the two.

 

[SkiBilly]

My newly purchased skis had no base structure/grind and needed to be prepped.

Did the store tell you this? Or did you ski them first before you discovered this?

 

[zoomamyd]

Hey there,
Most skis from bigger brands (like Blizzard) need not be tuned before skiing. Most likely, you're feeling a difference between your new skis and the rentals because your new ones are more tuned than the rentals. You can bring them in to have them slightly detuned, which might help. Or, just ski a few days and see what happens.

As a sidenote, boutique ski brands (i.e. Moment) should be tuned before skiing. If your shop is reputable, the staff there should know which brands require it and which don't.

 

[Obrules15]

Did the store tell you this? Or did you ski them first before you discovered this?

I skied them, they didn't ski right, took them in for a wax and was shown the base.

 

[lisamamot]

Oh, that is awful @SkiBilly ! What a disappointment to wait so long for new skis and then have such a downer of an experience. Sounds like it is a pretty dramatic difference from your demo Although there can be slight differences as a ski breaks in, it sounds like those skis need a look-see!

It is not the norm for a Blizzard ski to need a tune on a factory ski. Either yours is an anomaly and somehow came out of the factory with an issue, or perhaps there was some sort of issue with the binding mount. It is also possible the mountain where you demoed had altered the tune on their demo in a certain way, so definitely go back and discuss your experience with them. I am sure they will make it right!

 

[contesstant]

So, my new man friend has been the tune shop manager at our local shop for nearly 20 years. Per him, yes, all new skis really should have the edges done and a light base structure put on them. He even showed me the factory "structure" (there really isn't one) vs. the freshly tuned one. Big difference, which translates into a big difference in how the skis will feel and ski.

Contrary to what we have been led to believe, it takes a LOT of stone grinds on the bases to wear them down at all. Most of us will wear out our skis long before we'll have the structure ground off.

Get those puppies in for a nice light grind and edge work, and a nice hot wax. Then let us know!

 

[SkiBilly]

Get those puppies in for a nice light grind and edge work, and a nice hot wax. Then let us know!

It took about 45 mins to mount the bindings over in the repair/tune shop and I assumed that they would do whatever needed to be done to prep the skis for a perfect presentation. It looks like they just had a waiting line and drilled the bindings on. I will definitely drop in tomorrow and get the low down on what's going on with them.

(P.S. Good to hear about your new man friend :-))

 

[KatyPerrey]

I ski new skis right out of the wrapper/box on the factory tune. I will ski them 4-5 days then have them tuned.

IMO- The biggest difference you will notice skiing "new skis" from "Demo skis" is the weight. Demo skis have a "demo track binding" while your new skis do not. This DOES make a difference in how the skis preform or how you think the skis preform. The new skis will take a few days for you to get used to the new set up. Give them a few days and you will be back in love with your Black Pearls!!

As always - this is just my opinion!!

 

[SallyCat]

I had a similar experience with a pair of new Nordica Soul Riders. The bases were a bit concave, which I could plainly see with my true bar. The shop owner insisted that "the factory tune is the best tune skis will ever have" and discouraged the base grind I'd requested. Then he insisted that because I have lady parts, something about my center of gravity made it imperative that he mount the bindings several cms forward to "compensate" So I hit the slopes and my new Soul Riders skied like a giant, stinking pile of absolute garbage.


I no longer go to that shop, obvi. I had the resort shop at my local grind and re-mount them, and now they ski like a dream. Cost me $90 to fix the damage a know-it-all, condescending shop owner inflicted on them. More fool me for not being assertive about what I wanted.

So, yes: big-name skis can sometimes benefit from a tune.

Good luck!

 

[mojo]

I had exactly the same experience with Blizzard Sambas. Loved the demo, bought them from the Lift House in SLC, not the same ski I demoed to the point that I was catching edges and did not trust what they would do. Had them retuned and remounted by the Lift House similar to the demo binding in case that was the problem, but still not the same. The Lift House has excellent customer service, ended up returning them for credit, they shipped them back to the manufacturer as defective. Ended up buying Volkl Auras as a a replacement.

 

[SkiBilly]

I ski new skis right out of the wrapper/box on the factory tune. I will ski them 4-5 days then have them tuned.

IMO- The biggest difference you will notice skiing "new skis" from "Demo skis" is the weight. Demo skis have a "demo track binding" while your new skis do not.

Thanks Katyperrey for this info. I have skied on them for a few days but only a few hours each time as I am catching edges and skiing like a gimp...so different to how I was on the demos, which instantly made me into a better skier.

The thing is I bought the same bindings as the rentals...I have Tyrolia Attack 13 and the rental was either an 11 or 13.

Whatever the shop needs to do so it skis better, I will ask them to do for free.

 

[veronicarella]

Hug to you for finding yourself in such situation.

I went to a ski tuning workshop a few weeks ago. The shop owner is like a legend around here. Every racers, instructors and locals rave about his service, so I trust what he said when he said that almost all new skis don't need a tune EXCEPT for Blizzard and another brand which I can't remember.

Also, when I just got my bindings mounted by another shop that I also trust highly, it was recommended that I have "new ski prep" done. This includes de-tuning the tip and tail and some waxing. I don't know if it made any difference if I didn't opted for it, but so far I'm super happy with the skis.

I hope whatever the shop can do for you, it would resolve the problem. Fingers crossed for you!

 

[contesstant]

It took about 45 mins to mount the bindings over in the repair/tune shop and I assumed that they would do whatever needed to be done to prep the skis for a perfect presentation. It looks like they just had a waiting line and drilled the bindings on. I will definitely drop in tomorrow and get the low down on what's going on with them.

(P.S. Good to hear about your new man friend :-))

Unless you specify a tune, or ASK if that's part of a new ski purchase, then a binding mount is a binding mount, and nothing more. And thanks! He continues to spoil me rotten!

Thanks Katyperrey for this info. I have skied on them for a few days but only a few hours each time as I am catching edges and skiing like a gimp...so different to how I was on the demos, which instantly made me into a better skier.

The thing is I bought the same bindings as the rentals...I have Tyrolia Attack 13 and the rental was either an 11 or 13.

Whatever the shop needs to do so it skis better, I will ask them to do for free.

Catching edges is a pretty sure sign that they need some work. If they have the same bindings, even more of a red flag. One thing I will say is that the Attack 11s have a much higher heel piece than the Attack 13s. Also, a demo binding is higher on the ski. But if it's the ramp angle that is different, then you should be able to adapt fairly quickly even if it doesn't feel great. A tune issue, however, you won't adapt to.

 

[SkiBilly]

Update: I went to the store and spoke with them and they said my skis have a super tune, while the rentals are very much dampened down for the entry level performance skier (which is me...). I think you were on the money @zoomamyd about the de-tuning theory.

They de-tuned my BPs for me gratis so my edges won't catch. (They also de-tuned DH's Atomic Vantage 90...he was also catching edges).

I don't need a wax just yet as they ski really fast, faster than the demo for sure. They do feel better now but I will still need to take it easy.

When I rented the demos they said to take it gently and build up to the feel of the ski but it was a breeze and I was feeling my mojo and I was instantly a better skier...so I think what they were saying about the tune of the rentals is correct. However, this new model just out of the wrapper is a lot of ski and I will have to finesse it and concentrate on my technique...and they should de-tune the more I ski them. Though if it takes more than a few days of skiing like a Nervous Nelly I will get them tuned to match the cruisier rental, haha.

 

[contesstant]

Update: I went to the store and spoke with them and they said my skis have a super tune, while the rentals are very much dampened down for the entry level performance skier (which is me...). I think you were on the money @zoomamyd about the de-tuning theory.

They de-tuned my BPs for me gratis so my edges won't catch. (They also de-tuned DH's Atomic Vantage 90...he was also catching edges).

I don't need a wax just yet as they ski really fast, faster than the demo for sure. They do feel better now but I will still need to take it easy.

When I rented the demos they said to take it gently and build up to the feel of the ski but it was a breeze and I was feeling my mojo and I was instantly a better skier...so I think what they were saying about the tune of the rentals is correct. However, this new model just out of the wrapper is a lot of ski and I will have to finesse it and concentrate on my technique...and they should de-tune the more I ski them. Though if it takes more than a few days of skiing like a Nervous Nelly I will get them tuned to match the cruisier rental, haha.

Did they actually closely check the bases to confirm this? The tune doesn't just encompass the edges, it includes the base structure, which is a very important aspect of tuning and performance, and also whether or not the ski base is flat. A concave or convex base will make it ski like crapola.

SkiBilly, I'm skeptical. A detuned ski, or one that is way overdue for a tune, will not hold an edge or perform very well, either. Is there another shop you can take them to, to have the bases checked, REALLY checked, to see if they are flat? What reputable shop sends their skis out with a poor tune on purpose? The new skis should NOT ski that differently, if at all. And the new pair should ski beautifully, if they are tuned properly.

 

[Christy]

the rentals are very much dampened down for the entry level performance skier

What does this mean exactly? How do they dampen them?

He even showed me the factory "structure" (there really isn't one)

Wouldn't they be unskiable without any structure? Is this just Blizzards he is talking about?

 

[lisamamot]

he said that almost all new skis don't need a tune EXCEPT for Blizzard and another brand which I can't remember.

Interesting - I believe Blizzard are made in the same factory as Nordica; I own both and have never needed a tune on the new skis.

In the shop we use, I heard certain brands (such as K2 and Line which are made in China) are having such inconsistent edges that the shop is likely dropping the manufacturers for next year.