Which way? Loading Ski's onto Roof Ski Rack?

I was curious, which way I should load skis onto the rack. With the picture below the left side is the front of the car. Which way do the skis go? Tips facing front, up or down? Or facing down? Im a little lost on the best way to mount it.

Its my first time with a rack.

[uphillklimber]

I'm not so sure it matters. I would think that they should be facing forward, just like on the slopes. Less stuff getting rammed into the rear of the bindings. But, truthfully, I don't know that it matters.

[teachski]

I've always been told to mount them with the tips to the rear so that wind does not catch under them and push them either up or down(more aerodynamic). I always keep the skis together. I only mount them on top without using a bag or at the minimum a binding cover when I am going a short distance. In the bag you don't have to worry which way they are facing or about road dirt getting into the bindings or at the edges.

[tirolerpeter]

The rack in the picture looks to be the type that allows the skis to be mated base to base. I would definitely mount them tails forward to cut aerodynamic forces looking to lift them or push them down. Think of the tips as tail-feathers on an arrow. Of course, I don't know that it would matter with double ended skis. Of course, you should use a binding cover. Unfortunately, in years of using them I found that unless I duct taped them on the windward lip, a lot of crap still got into the skis. I now use my Thule box if there are more than two of us traveling. It protects the skis, keeps the dirt and water out of the car, and actually provides extra cargo space for "soft packed" gear which we toss on top of the skis in the box. There is a fuel mileage penalty of 3 - 4 mpg with the box, but when we share the cost of the trip it becomes insignificant.

[teachski]

Just found this tidbit of advice on another site:

Never put your skis on the roof rack with the tips facing forward. They should be facing the rear to protect your tips from flying rocks or beer cans.

[riverc0il]

good call teachski, i never would have thought of the rocks!!!

[sledhaulingmedic]

Originally Posted by riverc0il

good call teachski, i never would have thought of the rocks!!!

True. I always worried about the beer cans.

ore advantages to my WTRT (White Trash Rapid Transit): (i.e: pick up truck) Keeps the skis out of the crap stream

[uphillklimber]

Good info here. We used a ski rack one season, and never thought about all these issues. Nowadays, we use a pickup with a cap, or the car with a Thule box, so they are never transported out in the weather.

[sledhaulingmedic]

Whatever you can do to keep the salt, sand, rocks, beer cans, etc. off the skis is worth it. For me, it's been pick-ups for the last 10+ years.

A box would be well worth it, although I'm sure they're not cheap and a bit of a pain to put on the roof. I would guess it would outlast a couple of cars though.

Hrmm, well I read that first post & went to go install everything. Right now they are facing forward. It snowed tonight here, so I guess I could get to the skis, but is it that bad to drive (meaning dangerous) 5 hours with ski tips facing the front of the car (same way as skiing down a hill)?

I would rather leave them as is, but if the skis are going to break or the rack fall apart on the road, I can turn them around.

Also, when staying at the resort, do people bring their skis inside or do they leave them mounted to the car (do people steal skis?). MIne are about 4 years old (when parabalic skis were new

Thanks,
Rich