Opening day is coming, and you don't want to be the person who discovers a cracked boot buckle or a rusted edge while standing in the lodge parking lot. September and October are the months to get everything inspected, serviced, and ready. Here's the checklist.
Skis and Snowboard: Base and Edge Inspection
Pull your skis or board out of storage and give them a thorough look. Start with the base. Run your hand along it (carefully). You're looking for:
- Gouges and scratches. Surface scratches are cosmetic. Deep gouges that expose the core material need a P-Tex repair before you ride.
- Base oxidation. If your base looks chalky, white, or dry, the pores have dried out over summer. A hot wax will bring it back to life. Severe oxidation may need a base grind.
- Flatness. Set a true bar or straight edge across the base. If the base is concave or convex, it needs a stone grind to get it flat again.
Next, check the edges. Run your fingernail across the edge at a 90-degree angle. A sharp edge will scrape a thin curl of nail. A dull edge will slide without biting. If your edges are dull, they need sharpening. If they're rusty, they need deburring and sharpening.
For more detail on when and how to maintain your edges, read when to wax your skis or snowboard.
Schedule Your Tune-Up Now
This is the most important piece of timing advice in this entire article:schedule your tune-up in September or October.
Every year, the same thing happens. People wait until the week before Thanksgiving, then flood the shop with gear that needs work. Turnaround times go from 2–3 days to 7–10 days. Some shops stop taking tune-ups entirely during peak season because they're buried.
If you bring your gear in during September or early October, you'll get it back fast, and your tech won't be rushing. Better service, faster turnaround, less stress. Check our ski tuning in Portland guide and tuning price guide for what to expect.
Boot Check
Ski boots sit in a closet for six months. Things change. Here's what to look at:
Liner Condition
Pull the liners out and inspect them. Compressed foam in the heel and ankle areas means the liner has packed out — it's lost its ability to hold your foot snugly. If your boots felt loose by the end of last season, the liner is probably the culprit. Replacement liners are available for most boot models, or you can get the existing liners heat-remolded if there's enough foam left.
Buckles and Power Strap
Open and close every buckle. Make sure the teeth engage cleanly and the rivets are tight. Check the power strap (the velcro strap at the top of the cuff) — if the velcro is worn out, it won't hold tension. Replacement buckles and straps are inexpensive and easy to swap.
Sole Condition
The rubber sole on your boot wears down over time, especially at the toe and heel. Excessive sole wear affects how the boot sits in the binding and can compromise the release mechanism. If the toe or heel lugs are worn flat, the boot needs new sole plates or it's time for new boots.
Did Your Feet Change?
This sounds odd, but feet change. Weight gain or loss, pregnancy, aging, injuries — all of these can alter your foot shape and size. If your boots felt different at the end of last season, or if your body has changed over the summer, it's worth getting re-assessed. Even if you don't need new boots, you might need new footbeds or a shell punch.
Binding Check
Bindings are a safety device. They need to work correctly. Here's what to verify:
DIN Setting
Your DIN (release value) should match your current weight, ability level, and boot sole length. If you've gained or lost significant weight, improved your skiing, or changed boots, your DIN may need adjustment. A shop can recalculate this for you in a few minutes.
Forward Pressure
Step into the binding and check the forward pressure indicator on the heel piece. Most bindings have a visual indicator — an arrow or a window — that shows whether the heel piece is correctly positioned. If it's out of range, the binding won't release properly.
Boot-Binding Compatibility
If you changed boots, make sure the new boot sole is compatible with your bindings. Alpine soles, GripWalk soles, touring soles — they're not all interchangeable. Read our binding compatibility guideif you're unsure.
Visual Inspection
Look at the binding housing for cracks, corrosion, or damaged plastic. Check that the brakes spring back freely and sit flat against the ski when stepped in. Stiff or sticky brakes indicate internal spring issues.
Helmet Inspection
Helmets degrade over time, even without impacts. Here's what to check:
- Impact history.If you hit your head last season — even a minor bump — replace the helmet. The foam is designed to absorb one significant impact. After that, it's compromised.
- Foam condition.Squeeze the EPS liner. It should be firm and resilient. If it's crumbly, soft, or has visible cracks, the helmet has aged out.
- Shell integrity. Look for cracks, dents, or delamination in the outer shell. Any structural damage means replacement.
- Vent mechanisms. Open and close the vents. Make sure the sliders move freely and actually open and close the vent ports.
- Fit pads and straps.Check that the ear pads and chin strap are intact. Replace worn fit pads — most brands sell replacement pad kits.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every 3–5 years, even without an impact. For a more detailed breakdown, see our helmet fit guide.
Clothing Audit
Pull out your ski jacket, pants, gloves, and base layers. Try everything on. Here's what to look for:
Waterproofing
The DWR (durable water repellent) coating on your outerwear degrades over time. Spray some water on your jacket. If it beads up and rolls off, you're good. If it soaks in, you need to reapply DWR. Products like Nikwax TX.Direct or Grangers Performance Repel work well. Wash the jacket first, then apply the DWR treatment per the product instructions.
Seam Tape
Turn your jacket inside out and check the seam tape. If it's peeling, bubbling, or cracking, water will get through the seams even if the face fabric is still waterproof. Minor peeling can be re-ironed. Extensive tape failure means it's time for a new jacket.
Zippers
Zip and unzip every zipper — main zip, pit zips, pockets. Stuck or separating zippers can sometimes be fixed with a zipper lubricant. If the teeth are damaged, a tailor can replace the zipper for much less than a new jacket.
Base Layers and Socks
Check your merino wool base layers for thinning fabric and stretched-out elasticity. Inspect your ski socks for worn heels and compressed cushioning. Good socks are cheap insurance against cold, painful feet.
Season Passes
If you haven't bought your season pass yet, do it now. Early-purchase pricing on most passes expires well before the season starts. The main options for Portland-area skiers:
- Ikon Pass: Includes days at multiple resorts. Various tiers are available depending on how many days and which mountains you want access to.
- Mt. Hood Meadows: Direct passes available through the Meadows website. Multiple pass tiers for different budgets and visit frequencies.
- Timberline:Passes available directly from Timberline. Known for their extended season — if you want to ski into spring and summer, Timberline is the ticket.
Buy early. The savings are significant — early-bird pricing is typically the lowest you'll see all year.
Lesson Booking
If you're looking to sharpen your skills before the mountain opens, PTO offers indoor sessions on our ski training machines. These let you work on fundamentals — balance, edging, pressure control — in a controlled environment before you're dealing with variable snow and crowded runs. It's a great way to shake off the rust from summer.
The Full Checklist
Here's the summary. Print this, tape it to your gear closet, and work through it before November:
- Inspect ski/board bases for gouges, oxidation, flatness
- Check edge sharpness and rust
- Schedule tune-up (September–October, not November)
- Inspect boot liners, buckles, soles, and power strap
- Verify DIN setting and forward pressure on bindings
- Confirm boot-binding compatibility
- Inspect helmet for impacts, foam integrity, and vent function
- Test outerwear waterproofing and reapply DWR if needed
- Check seam tape and zippers
- Evaluate base layers and socks for wear
- Buy season pass at early-bird pricing
- Book preseason lessons or indoor training
Get it done early, and opening day is just about skiing. That's how it should be.