Ski lockers?

[Consuela]

Slightly related...

I'm curious what you gals think about the year-round ski lockers. We have use of one in the parking garage at our home mountain. If we try to dry the skis off as best we can, you think it will be okay to keep them in there for the ski season, so we don't have to lug them up each trip? And if so, it's all metal, so would you put anything in the bottom of the locker, like a rubber mat or pad?

 

[sibhusky]

I leave my skis in my seasonal locker when I'm not taking them home to tune them. Beyond that, I'd be assessing the degree of humidity in the locker you're talking about since it sounds like maybe you're talking about leaving them over the summer or something. I wouldn't leave my skis in my own garage, for instance, but my basement storage, propped on a mat and not on the concrete is fine because the climate here is pretty dry. The garage is humid for some reason.

 

[volklgirl]

If you dry them off (bases and edges especially), then rub a bar of wax over the edges, and periodically have the bases waxed as well, they should be fine.

 

[Consuela]

Thanks! We'd just leave them in there for the winter. Take 'em up with the first ski trip of the season and bring 'em home at the end. And, maybe bring home in between for waxing, tuning, etc..

 

[sibhusky]

As long as you're using them really regularly, but if it's a humid area and they're being left for weeks between visits then I'd be concerned. Certainly even if you are going to the trouble of waxing the edges every time you leave for a week or so, I'd be checking for rust. Mine are generally only left there for two to three days at most before being used again and it's nice and warm in our locker room. Some folks even leave their boots there overnight to dry, but I don't trust them to not have a power outage (or a pipe break...it happened). Wet boots would ruin my ski day.

 

[Consuela]

Hmmm... Yeah, they could be in there for a couple few weeks in between usage... (I know, you are all shocked!)

I don't really think of Tahoe as humid. Maybe compared to Denver, but not really compared to the rest of the country. However, that parking garage is not heated.

 

[dloveski]

Rusty edges

Many lockers do not have a drain. Drippy skis sit on the metal bottom and rust happens on the ski edges. Use a mat to get the skis out of the pooled water (or drill a small hole in the middle with a small bit drill to drain the water).

Another issue with lockers is security. They are easy to bust into.

 

[Robyn]

I agree that it could be convenient but you might want to take note of this thread from last season. https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2427&highlight=stolen

 

[sibhusky]

I think any can be broken into, but ours are being reinforced this year. My daughter figured out how to get the locker to SHOW HER it's combination within about 15 minutes the first year. I think it became a bigger issue so that they increased the number of security cameras, are reinforcing the doors and giving you a padlock set up. Also putting up signs, of course, saying it's not their problem.

 

[Jilly]

We have an outside locker (skis only no boots) with our condo rental at Tremblant. We only use it when we're there. If we're gone then we move the skis into the condo and hide them. I leave my ski boots in the closet, but it doesn't have a door, so they dry out.
Now since I sell security items like locks and lockers for a living, I would suggest you do the same thing. Remove the items when you're not in residence. If thieves want to get in, they will. The idea is to make it difficult for them so they will go elswhere. So reinforced doors and frames, camera's, even fake ones help. Making it hard to get into the garage would be the first thing, then make it harder to get into the lockers. Metal lockers, like high school, are better than wood. And a better lock isn't always the best thing, a better reinforced frame is usually what is needed.
As for the water in the bottom of the locker, I would elevate the skis somehow, either a perforated mat or hanger hooks on the wall of the locker. (We have the hooks in our locker.) Everything drips away.

 

[Daria]

At my home mountain we have a locker and are very lucky with the set up. It includes boot/glove dryers and intensive security. Before they upgraded the system, we had fairly standard metal lockers for our gear (no boot dryers). In California, if there is a West Marine near by you, you can by these grid pads, don't know what they are called but are generally found in the galley supply area. You can cut them to size and place it on the bottom of your locker. Keeps the tips/tails of your skis from sitting in moisture. Also, make sure there are some drain holes in the bottom of you locker. If not drill some.

 

[Daria]

Forgot to add that we really love our locker! We can store the critical skis in our quiver and can switch out mid day when the conditions or our skiing interests change. That locks you into one mountain and I am ok with that

 

[Consuela]

Thanks!

Thanks all for the wonderful advice and warnings! We have a pretty good lock on the locker (metal) and this particular area is fairly secure. I guess if they really want them, they will find a way in.

Our only other option is to bring them up and down everytime. We have use of a nice indoor, heated locker room when we are there. So, skis will transfer from our garage locker to random locker in locker room upon arrival. HOA rules state no skis/snowboards allowed inside the actual condos and we're kind of rule followers, so... I don't think I'll leave my boots there. I don't think they will dry out well if we are skiing the last day before leaving.

I'm going to do the following:

1. Write down serial numbers from skis. Where is this on the ski?
2. Check locker for drainage hole and drill one if needed
3. Get rubber mat to help prevent rust
4. Dry skis well and wax edges when putting them away

We don't mind being "locked" into the one moutain with our skis being there since that is where our season passes are. Plus, we'll probably keep the shorties at home, just in case...

Thanks again!

 

[Jilly]

Serial numbers depending on ski company - edge of skis near binding, or on the tail of the ski. Make sure they match/pair.
We're not suppose to have skis in the condo either. But I'm not leaving them in the locker when we're not in residence. It about damage to walls and stuff that they are concerned about.