....These are my first skis since the 80’s and I was told by the owner of the local shop that I would not have to do any maintenance. Hmmmmm should I get them tuned? Or just clean them up? I am a newbie and do not know. Thanks!
Oh they were dried for a few days, wiped and stored in an open bag....don’t hate me, in the dry basement.
All skis need maintenance. I am surprised the shop owner said that.
Rust is not a problem unless it's deep pits. Hard snow will even brush it off after a few runs. I never worry about the rust on my edges. But I store them in a dry place to avoid those deep pits.
If you ski on New England hard snow, you'll need to get the side edges sharpened somewhat regularly so the skis will grip properly. Our ice (referred to as "frozen granular" on the snow reports), that loud snow underfoot, will dull the edges on any ski. That hard snow will also scrape the wax off the bases of the skis, leaving a visible gray look to the bottoms.
Both of these snow-created changes will impact how the skis interact with the snow. You'll come to feel the difference between a newly-tuned ski and one that hasn't seen a tune in a while.
So your new skis, at some point, will need a tune that involves two things: waxing and sharpening. All skis will need this but the snow and how you ski makes a difference in when.
How often you'll need to tune them is something you will determine on your own. Ski them when this season starts for a few days, then get them tuned (waxed and edges sharpened), then ski them again. Feel how different they ski. If you can perceive a difference and like it, then get them tuned again when those new sensations diminish. It may take you a while to get sensitive to the changes resulting from a new tune since you are a beginner. But know this: sharp edges are especially nice on hard New England snow.
There are other things that a shop might need to do to your skis over time to bring them back to optimal performance. But a simple tune, with side edges sharpened and bases waxed, is the standard thing.
When you take them to a shop for this first tune, tell them you want edges sharpened and bases waxed. Then ask them to look at them to see if this is all they need. Wait while the shop technician looks at them. If they say a "base grind" is also needed, trust them and ask why so you'll know what this is all about, them pay them and get it done. Shops don't usually do this while you wait, so be aware you'll be without your skis for a bit, maybe over a weekend, when you leave them. Base grinds are sometimes needed, but not usually more than once a season, and not always that often. It depends on how you ski and what the snow underfoot is like.
Also, when you get this first tune, ask them what the two bevels are on the edges. There's a base bevel and a side bevel. You need to know what the base bevel is (they won't be changing that unless the do a base grind). It's usually 1. And you'll need to know what the side bevel is. It may be 2. (Sometimes skiers change the two bevels to get a sharper edge. Beginners don't usually do this, though.)
Once you know these two bevels, you will need to tell every shop in the future to keep the bevels the same. You will get used to the 1-2 profile (or whatever it is) of your edges and won't want a shop worker to simply change them for who-knows-what-reason without ever telling you. This sometimes happens, and you'll feel the difference and think it's your skiing that has changed if you are not in control of the bevels.
Enjoy those new skis!
