Do you ski to your own tune?

[Trekchick]

Greg posted this in the bump skier's unite thread,........

I do. I like the edges worn in a predictable way. I hate when I decide to tune my bumpers.

....... and it got me thinking(dangerous, I know )
There have been times when I've skied on a favourite pair of skis, loving how they ski/feel and don't want to risk changing the feel with a fresh tune. Even with a good shop, or self tune job, the tune can change the feel of the ski drastically.
Sometimes that change is good but some times that change is disappointing, eh?

I recall one time when I was skiing my Karmas and a friend tried them out. She immediately told me that I needed to let her put a good tune on them.
I skied them before and after her and thought they were amazing just the way they were..........is she stoooopid?:smash:


Do you march to a different drummer, or do you ski with a different tune?

Normally I don't but sometimes, with a specific ski, I do.

 

[Mildcat]

With all of my skiing being in the Northeast I like my edges sharp and a fresh coat of wax. I like the way the shop I use tunes my skis so I use them all of the time. I'll also touch up the edges and wax between tunes.

 

[Greg]

I had my Cabrawlers tuned one night while up at Sugarbush. The edges were like razors the next morning. We skied at Mount Ellen that morning and the snow was a mix of wet snow and sleet, about 3 or 4" worth. I could not get the edges to release for the life of me and was wrecking all over the place. So on my bumps skis, I like the edges dull. On my Legends, a fresh tune is nice for hard pack since they're not a particularly good ski on that.

 

[cbcbd]

I think that's normal... I relate it to my hair - I don't get regular haircuts (or shave daily), so when I do get a haircut or shave it's a dramatic difference. Some people get frequent haircuts and shaves, so their look doesn't dramatically change from one day to the next.

There are a few people I know who constantly have their skis tuned... the reason I hear is just like yours - they want to have predictable performance.
I bet if you made a point to keep your skis tuned you would just get used to skiing a tuned ski. Wear is a slow process too, so you just adapt to it slower and just get used to it.

I skied some new skis yesterday with a greater sidecut than my regular skis and being new, had a great tune and sharp edges... they caught me off guard for the first few turns, but after I caught myself, made a quick analysis of the difference, I just adapted my turning for the skis and had no issues the rest of the way down.

..nothing wrong with a tuned ski... I just ain't paying for regular ones and am lazy to do them regularly myself

So yeah, my own "tune" is called "Lazy and Cheap"

 

[wa-loaf]

I like to keep my edges sharp as much as possible. I hate it if I can't set and edge.

 

[Warp Daddy]

do my own tuning and waxing since i ski mostly northeastern US and Canada i love SHARP 3/1 edges and a well waxed ski

 

[bvibert]

I typically like my skis custom tuned to my exact specifications, or as close as I can get using dirt, rocks, and roots/tree trunks.

 

[mondeo]

I had my Cabrawlers tuned one night while up at Sugarbush. The edges were like razors the next morning. We skied at Mount Ellen that morning and the snow was a mix of wet snow and sleet, about 3 or 4" worth. I could not get the edges to release for the life of me and was wrecking all over the place. So on my bumps skis, I like the edges dull. On my Legends, a fresh tune is nice for hard pack since they're not a particularly good ski on that.

Gotta detune the tips and tails on bump skis, and they're tuned differently than most to start with. Just tuned mine over the weekend. 2° base, 0° side bevels, about the first foot of the tip detuned, and the tails are detuned for about half a foot.

It's the fresh wax that scares me. If I have enough trouble with speed control on dry skis, I'm not sure wax is actually a good idea.

 

[Trekchick]

I typically like my skis custom tuned to my exact specifications, or as close as I can get using dirt, rocks, and roots/tree trunks.

You use the same tuning method as Mr TC!

 

[Beetlenut]

It's the fresh wax that scares me. If I have enough trouble with speed control on dry skis, I'm not sure wax is actually a good idea.

+1 It's usually fast enough the first part of the ski season with the cold and ice. I only wax in the spring to keep from sticking in the slush. Sharp edges are my only real concern.

 

[deadheadskier]

I don't pay too much attention. Usually get them tuned at the start of the year and take it from there. As long as I feel like I have decent edge grip is all I really care.

 

[ripzillia]

Razor sharp from tip to tail so I can ride the edge without fail.;-)

 

[BeanoNYC]

I'll tune them super sharp myself and bring a diamond stone to detune if I overdid it. I can never have enough wax on them though as I tend to be a slow skiier to begin with.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've never tuned my own skis..I usually ski with dull edges and no wax..AtomicSkier sometimes tunes my skis up and sometimes I take it to the shop..I'm usually to lazy to bring my skis in from my car..

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Tune my own and all my friends....

8" mill file
Coarse and Fine Diamond Stones
1 and 3 degree side bevel guides (clamp on)
1 degree base edge file guide
Toko wax iron
Toko Universal wax
Scraper
SkiVisions Base Flattener and Structure Tool
True Bar
Sandvik Steel Scraper
Clear and Black Ptex
Repair Ribbon (against metal edges)
Base Repair Iron
Versaplane

and enough red wine/beer

 

[bigbog]

..Self-Tune....

do my own tuning and waxing since i ski mostly northeastern US and Canada i love SHARP 3/1 edges and a well waxed ski

Yes..I'm my own enemy!;-) 3deg is nice. My 99'/00'?? Vertigo G3s are fun with tips & tails @2deg.

 

[skibum9995]

I wax after every day out, and touch up edges as necessary to keep them razor sharp. After a few days without waxing the skis just feels too sluggish.

 

[Mildcat]

do my own tuning and waxing since i ski mostly northeastern US and Canada i love SHARP 3/1 edges and a well waxed ski

Last year was the first time I went with a three degree side bevel and I loved it. If I lose an edge I sure as hell can't blame the ski. ;-)

 

[bvibert]

You use the same tuning method as Mr TC!

It's a good method, but it takes a lot of practice and a skilled 'tuner' to get it right.

 

[snowmonster]

I ski my own tune -- 1 deg. base, 2 deg. side. Wax every 3 ski days or every time I'm out in the spring. Diamond stone after every day out there. I like taking care of my skis.