Scraper Therapy

Scrapers, those inexpensive acrylic or polycarbonate rectangular pieces of plastic, are often overlooked in the importance of proper ski tuning / maintenance. When in fact, scrapers play an integral role in achieving maximum glide and performance from your skis. Like everything else in ski prep - progressive steps & attention to details will lead to a positive outcome. This also applies to scraper sharpening.

Additionally, I find that sharpening my scrapers before each tuning session creates the proper feng shui to get my tuning mojo flowing.

There are as many methods to sharpen scrapers, as there are scrapers in the universe - however one constant is the end result - a clean, burr free, 90' edge. Why - any nicks or burrs on your scraper will lead to damage to the skis’ base structure.

Regardless of the sharpening device or tools utilized (Edgr, TOKO, Swix, SVST Holmenkol, Beast, Maplus electric planer, pansar and so on) - there are basically 2 steps -

Step 1
coarse / rough work
(see list of sharpening devices above)

Step 2
clean up / smoothing / polishing
using 220 emery paper or 400 mesh sheetrock sanding screens; flat surface, 90 degree, aided w/ block of wood, angle iron leaving a smooth, burr-free surface.

The scraping process should take about 5 - 7 passes with a clean, sharp scraper to remove all the wax before you begin brushing and the scraper should last about 3 - 4 pairs of skis before needing to be re-sharpened. Always check the edge of the scraper after each pass to be sure that you haven’t picked up any nicks or burrs. It is also a good idea to scrape lightly after you brush, as each brush will bring more wax to the top of the structure.

Using and maintaining a clean, sharp, and burr free scraper is paramount to success in removing wax from your skis for maximum glide and performance!

So before your next tuning session, let some scraper sharpening therapy do you some good.

Building momentum toward World Cup and Winter Olympic success

With just 2 months to the first Alpine World Cup races in Solden, Austria and less than 6 months to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver /Whistler – National Alpine Teams from around the world are stepping up their training sessions in preparation for the upcoming season. Home glaciers, snowfields and southern hemisphere training are being utilized to find improvements in techniques and equipment. For some athletes it’s a return to snow after recovering from last winter’s injuries.

Most of the European teams are wrapping up their summer glacier training and getting ready to head to the Southern Hemisphere for some winter conditions. The U.S. team has recently wrapped up a training session in New Zealand and will be in South America soon.

Typically teams head to New Zealand and Australia for technical (SL & GS) training, and to Chile and Argentina for the speed discipline (SGS & DH) training.

The worldwide economic downturn has greatly affected all National teams and equipment suppliers. Many National team members must now pay out of their own pocket for a portion of their training. Some ski companies are forced to cut their service staff and have had mandatory racer salary cuts in order to manage through this financial crisis that has hit the ski world hard. With these changes look for several athletes to switch equipment this year (can you say Lindsey Vonn to Head?)

Sad news in the ski world this week as one of the greatest heroes of modern ski racing Toni Sailer, the first competitor to win all three alpine ski events at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics, has died at the age of 73 after a long illness. Auf Geht’s Toni!