Member of the Month

theabortionator
April, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Stone grind the base of skis

profile picture
guniteboss
Posts: 8 - Karma: 12

this will prevent the skis from sticking in in the warm weather it gives the bases proper structure,this will allow the ski to create airflow between the bases and the snowcreating a non friction action allowing skis to move fast threw the wet snow .

15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9937 - Karma: 9,479
or use some warm temp wax, works like a charm
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
I thought this was understood by anyone who knows how to take care of their skis?
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
minibus4
Posts: 517 - Karma: 13
It shouldnt make that much of a difference.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
iggyskier
Posts: 10456 - Karma: 10,253
Click for larger image

Sorry but wow.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
guniteboss
Posts: 8 - Karma: 12
love the polar bear.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Bloc_chain
Posts: 26051 - Karma: 4,433
go away newb
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
This, a stone grind is not going to make your skis work better on spring snow. What a stone grind does is strip everything off your bases, you then should put several layers of wax on after the stone grind.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,340
do it.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
to be honest it really does make a difference in wetter snow, it helps push the moisture away from the base, thats if u have a nice structured pattern on the bottom of ur skis. And obviously use wax after the stone grind as well. I noticed a huge difference when my shop stone grinded my skis for me when i used them for st pattys day break. The higher end all mountain volkl skis come with a different pattern on the bases, tigershark series, and the ac30/ac50 and the grizzly come with it as well.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
False.  A stone grind does remove old base material, but it does put a special pattern into the base of your ski to literally keep the ski from sticking to the snow.  There are special stone grinds for super cold snow (close/tight pattern), average conditions, and warm snow (spaced out pattern).  Having the proper wax is the second step.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
True. I have helped with the base grind of those very models of skis at Volkl's U.S. headquarters.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
iggyskier
Posts: 10456 - Karma: 10,253
Really people?

No one has gotten it right yet. Structure isn't about air movement, or keeping the skis from literally sticking from the snow.

It is about water movement. When you ski, the friction between your ski bases and the snow melts the snow, creating water. Structure provides the water with channels to pass along the ski, creating a faster glide.

Make sense?


15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
it's because water is created by that friction that structure keeps the bases from literally sticking to the snow- this is surface tension and suction.  If you took two plates of glass and put a bit of water between them, they would be stuck together and hard to pull apart.  Base structure breaks up that surface tension between the friction-created-water and your base. 

Does structure also move a bit of water, a bit yes.  Your ski isn't on one area of snow/water long enough to truly channel it.  It's the same with a road bike tire on wet pavement- the tire tread doesn't actually move water because the contact patch passes over the wet pavement too quickly.
15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
here's some more quick info on it:

http://raceleague-tuning.blogspot.com/2009/02/importance-of-base-structure.html

Swix and Toko also have a lot written on it on their websites with PDF manuals anyone can download to really know how to prep and wax their skis if interested...




15 years ago
0 0
profile picture
JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
isnt that what i said?
15 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 7:41PM