Make sure your skis are in top order
Touring skis are purpose-built to be lightweight, and are subjected to some pretty extreme stresses as we use them to move through the mountains. Skis are constructed of layers of different materials laminated together vertically and horizontally to give the skis their on-snow performance characteristics. If any of these layers begin to separate, you have a dreaded delamination, or "de-lam".
Closely inspect the entire length of the seam between the skis' edge and sidewall for any separation. If you find any gaps, this is an area where water can penetrate the core of the ski and eventually damage and weaken the core materials. If a de-lam is found, repair using a dab of two-part waterproof epoxy and clamp tightly until the epoxy is fully cured. The 5-minute quick-set epoxy found at many hardware stores is usually fine for this repair. If that makes you nervous - bring them into us at Cripple Creek.
As you're inspecting your sidewalls, keep an eye on your edges and note any major burrs, compressions or cracks. A compressed edge may or may not accompany a delamination. If an edge is badly compressed or damaged, a professional ski technician may be able to cut the damaged portion away and lay in a new section of edge. If the damage is minor, consider keeping the damaged edge on the outside, where it will be subjected to less force than the inside edge. Designating a left or right ski can make this easy to pull off at-a-glance. Be sure to keep an eye on this problem because a compromised edge is a serious hazard when in variable snow.
Don't forget about your ski bases! Base repairs should be addressed as soon as possible. They are easy spots for moisture to enter into your ski and permanently damage them. Minor core shots should be filled with P-Tex, and bases should be waxed. Waxing your skis regularly helps to keep them slippery, but also helps prevent the buildup of skin glue residue.
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