WHY YOU SHOULD TUNE YOUR SKIS
Beyond just sharp edges
Have you ever felt like your skis have a mind of their own? Shuddering when trying to steer them, or feeling catchy and grabby in the tails, making them less fun to ski on? This is not uncommon, even with brand-new skis. Yes, that’s right—even skis straight out of the wrapper can misbehave.
There’s a simple fix for your unruly skis that takes just a couple of minutes with the right tools. I’ll help you learn to do this yourself later, but first, I want to emphasize just how important your ski tune is, no matter what level skier you are.
A couple of seasons ago, I wanted to get my partner into skiing, so I ordered her some skis, and they showed up the day we were leaving Whistler to visit friends in Sun Peaks, BC. Personally, I rarely, if ever, ski on brand-new skis without tuning them first.
However, sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise, and tuning her new pair of 153cm Atomic Vantages wasn’t an option after a long drive, a late-night catch-up with friends, and an early rise the next morning to hit the mountain. “Anyway, they’re brand-new skis and she’s brand-new to skiing, so all should be fine, right? Wrong!”
We started out on the Poma and set out to learn the fundamentals. Almost immediately, I could see the skis were not making it easy for her to learn the so-called fun-da-men-tals, and from my perspective, it certainly didn’t look fun. We continued to work on the basics for a short time, but I could see her frustration quickly rising. I suggested we take an early break. While she had a tea and a snack, I grabbed her skis from the rack and ran back to the room where I remembered I had a 400-grit diamond stone and a 1.0 base bevel guide. My other tools were out in the van—too far away to seize this short window of opportunity to turn the day around. I knew I could do the full tune later that evening.
A Quick Base Bevel Tune
Time was ticking, and I desperately wanted her first experience on snow to be a positive one. So, I literally threw a towel on the hotel room floor, strapped up the brakes with a ski strap, inserted the 400-grit diamond stone into the base bevel guide, and focused on applying a base-edge bevel to the tips and tails of the skis, where the ‘resistance’ on the stone was greatest. Once these two sections stopped ‘sounding,’ I did a few full-length passes to blend it together and give the skis a 1.0-degree base-edge bevel throughout their entire length.
The skis were “railed” or overly edge-high at the tips and tails. I confirmed this with a quick check on the hotel room floor, though I’d already suspected it just by watching her on the snow. It was obvious she struggled to steer—the skis were simply too grabby for her skill level.
When you see this in other skiers, common signs include:
Trouble pivoting the skis
Chattery, inconsistent turns
Shaky knees
Skis that seem to want to go straight on their own
A defensive stance, with the skier’s center of mass dropping behind the feet
All of this chips away at confidence. Tasks that should be simple become frustrating if the skis won’t steer or release properly.
If you’ve ever skied with too aggressive a base-edge bevel, you’ll know the feeling—your skis grabbing so hard they slap flat onto the snow instead of tipping cleanly onto edge. Even a smooth hockey stop can feel nearly impossible.
Of course, you’ll need to rule out other potential causes, such as technical, tactical, physical, or psychological issues, or environmental concerns (e.g., the snow and terrain may be too difficult for the skill level). However, in this case, those factors were quickly ruled out, making it simple to diagnose the issue as equipment-related—more specifically, the tuning! Even though I couldn’t do the full tune I wanted, I was confident that my simple adjustment to the base edges would help in the short window I had. I raced back to the chalet, put the skis back on the rack, and didn’t mention anything. After lunch, we went back on snow, and to her amazement, she could turn with ease, without frustration, and with far less intervention from me. This allowed her more time to practice and ‘learn by doing,’ which is a key aspect of learning.
Tuning Saves The Day
The smile was back on her face, and she said she didn’t need to think as much and felt far more confident. That little adjustment worked. This goes to show that all levels of skiers can perceive and feel when a ski grabs and isn’t easy to steer—given a point of reference. Even after 27 years of coaching, it still amazes me how such a simple adjustment can literally change someone’s day for the better. It’s a great reminder that tuning is truly an essential part of skiing. So, next time you or a friend are struggling on snow, remember that your ski tune may be the reason for your lack of confidence or your difficulty in improving your skills.
Get Your Own Kit
The Travellers Kit
If you are new to tuning your own skis a simple kit to start out with is the Travellers Kit. It includes all you need to get started with polishing your edges and ensuring the base bevel is set to the right angle. Plus it’s a small set easy to take with you on ski trips.
Sidecut Travellers Kit
Sidecut was founded in 1992 by Chris Hillier, who began designing ski tuning tools in his family’s machine shop. After moving to Whistler, BC, Sidecut grew into a trusted brand among competitive skiers. While coaching athletes worldwide, Chris continued to refine his products. In 2013, he shifted focus to Sidecut full-time, launching popular tuning workshops. Today, Sidecut has expanded globally, staying true to its mission of providing high-quality ski tools and expert knowledge. You can listen to a value packed podcast between Tom Gellie and Christian all about the importance of ski tuning
Listen To The Podcast
Take your coach with you
The Big Picture Skiing App lets you take your learning anywhere you go. Check a video in your coffee break. Ask a question to Tom in the community. Join one of our regular live webinars. Immerse yourself and join the thousands of skiers improving their skiing.
