Your skis are tools. Like any tool, they need maintenance. A freshly tuned ski feels completely different from one that's been neglected — it grips better on ice, glides faster on groomers, and turns with less effort. If you've never had your skis tuned, you're not skiing as well as you could be.

Hot Wax

Wax is what makes your ski base glide. Factory wax wears off after a few days on snow. Once it's gone, your bases dry out, slow down, and start oxidizing — that chalky white look on the base means the material is literally deteriorating.

A hot wax involves melting temperature-specific wax onto the base, letting it soak in, then scraping and brushing off the excess. The result is a smooth, hydrophobic surface that repels water and reduces friction.

How often?For most recreational skiers, every 3 to 5 days on snow. If the base looks dry or white, it's overdue. Pacific Northwest slush wears wax faster than dry Colorado snow.

Edge Sharpening

Edges are what let you carve turns and hold on ice. They dull over time — rocks, hard pack, and normal use all take their toll. A dull edge slides instead of gripping, which means you're working harder in every turn and losing control on steep terrain.

The Two Angles

  • Side edge (1-3 degrees): Determines how aggressively the ski bites into snow. Steeper = more grip on ice, but can feel catchy on soft snow.
  • Base edge (0.5-1 degree): Affects how easily the ski transitions from edge to edge.

For Mt. Hood, where you can hit ice in the morning and slush by afternoon, we usually recommend a 1-degree base / 2-degree side edge for all-mountain skiing.

P-tex Base Repair

Hit a rock? It happens. Mt. Hood's early and late season can be thin-coverage minefields. A gouge in your base isn't just cosmetic — it disrupts the flat surface your ski needs to glide and can expose the core to moisture.

We handle minor scratches and gouges with P-tex— a polyethylene material that's dripped into the damage and scraped flat. For deeper damage that needs machine work like base welding or stone grinding, we'll refer you to a shop with the right equipment.

What We Offer

We keep it simple — hand tools, careful work, no big machines. Everything is done by people who actually ride.

Hot Wax — $20

Temperature-specific wax application, scrape, and brush. Keeps your bases fast and protected.

Edge Sharpening — $25

Hand-sharpened side and base edges using precision guides. Restores grip on ice and hardpack.

Wax + Edge Combo — $40

Hot wax and edge sharpening together. The go-to mid-season refresh.

P-tex Base Repair — from $15

P-tex fill for minor scratches and gouges. Keeps moisture out and your base smooth.

Binding Check & Adjust

DIN setting, forward pressure check, and release test. Bring your boots. Call for quote.

Visit our tuning page for full details or to request an appointment.

When to Get a Tune

  • Start of season: Wax + edge combo. Your skis sat in a garage for 6 months. They need love.
  • Every 3-5 days on snow: At minimum, a wax. If you're slipping on hard pack, add an edge sharpen.
  • After hitting rocks: Bring them in for a P-tex fill. Even minor damage can spread.
  • End of season: A hot wax (don't scrape it) to seal the bases for summer storage.

Walk-Ins Welcome

Drop by our Beaverton shop anytime. If you're not sure what your skis need, bring them in and we'll take a look. No charge for the diagnosis.