Ski Tuning: How Often Should You Do It?
Short answer: plan on sharpening and waxing about every 10 to 15 days on snow. That number moves with conditions: the more ice, the faster your edges dull. And here, man-made snow wears skis down much faster than natural snow.
Wax, sharpening, structure: what's the difference?
- Wax feeds the base and makes it glide. A dry base is slow and wears faster.
- Sharpening brings the bite back to your edges. That's what holds you on ice.
- Structure is the pattern ground into the base. It moves water away and breaks suction with the snow.
At Genetik LAB, structure and sharpening are done on our automated Montana machine. The result: a flat base, the same angles from one ski to the next, and perfectly calibrated skis.
Why our snow wears skis faster
Most slopes in Quebec are covered with man-made snow. Its grains are harder and more angular than natural snow, which makes it far more abrasive. It strips your wax faster and dulls your edges faster too. Conditions here are often icy because of heavy traffic and deep cold.
The result: skis that see a lot of man-made or icy snow will need a shop visit about every 10 days. A season of natural snow, on the other hand, gives you a bit more room.
Signs your skis need us
- White or grey patches on the base: it's dry and needs wax.
- Your skis skid in turns on hard snow: the edges are dull.
- You feel burrs along the edges after hitting a rock.
- The ski hooks or pulls to one side: the base may no longer be flat.
- A deep gouge in the base: get a P-Tex repair before it grows.
What it costs
| Service | What we do | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wax | Infrared wax matched to temperature | $24.95 |
| Sharpening | Edge angle from 87° to 89°, your choice | $24.95 |
| Belt service | Surfacing, sharpening and wax | $39.95 |
| Full tune-up | Sharpening, structure and wax | $59.95 |
| Custom tune-up | Sharpening, custom structure and wax | $74.95 |
| Individual season pass | Sharpening and wax all season | $399.95 |
Prices in Canadian dollars, taxes extra. See every service on our Ski Tuning page.
Our honest advice
If you ski more than 60 days a season, the season pass pays for itself quickly, and your skis will always be matched to current conditions. If you ski five times a winter, a full tune in December and a wax in February is enough. No need to overdo it.
FAQ
How long does it take? Plan on 24 to 48 hours. In a hurry? Express service takes 30 minutes ($69.95).
Which edge angle should I pick? For most skiers: 88° or 89° side edge and 1° base edge. For racers: 87° side edge and 0.5° base edge, for more bite on ice.
Where? Genetik LAB, Centre de ski Le Relais, 1084 boul. du Lac, Lac-Beauport. Open Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 418-849-2323 ext. 1.
