First Time Skiing:
What First Timers Need to Know

Here's something we see every season: a skier or snowboarder comes in frustrated that their riding has plateaued. They can't figure out why turns feel sticky, why they're sliding out on hardpack, why their equipment just feels slow and unresponsive. Nine times out of ten, the answer is simple: their skis or board haven't been tuned in two years.

A well-tuned ski or snowboard performs dramatically better than a neglected one. It's one of the most overlooked ways to improve your time on the mountain — and one of the most affordable.

What a ski tune actually does

A full tune-up at Alpine covers three things: base grinding, edge sharpening, and hot wax. Each one addresses a different aspect of how your skis or snowboard interact with the snow.

Base grinding

Ski bases develop small gouges, scratches, and oxidation over time. A stone grind flattens and smooths the base, removing surface damage and creating a fresh, consistent surface that glides efficiently. Without it, your base creates friction that slows you down and makes your skis feel sticky and heavy.

Edge sharpening

Ski and snowboard edges are what allow you to carve and control your turns. Dull edges slip out on hardpack. Sharp edges bite into the snow and give you the traction to hold a turn where dull equipment would slide. If you've ever felt your skis or board wash out on a groomed run, dull edges are almost certainly part of the problem.

Edge sharpening sets both the base edge and side edge angles. The side edge angle is particularly important for performance — steeper angles cut more aggressively, which is what advanced skiers want on hard snow. Our technicians set the edge angles appropriate for your skiing.

Hot wax

Wax fills the micro-pores of the ski base and creates a hydrophobic barrier between the ski and snow. Without wax, bases become dry, oxidized, and slow. A freshly waxed ski glides noticeably faster and feels more responsive because friction is reduced across the full length of the base.

Different waxes are formulated for different temperature ranges — cold-snow wax is different from warm-snow wax. Our technicians select the appropriate wax based on typical conditions.

How often should you tune?

The general rule of thumb is a full tune every 8-10 days on the mountain, with a hot wax every 3-4 days. That varies based on conditions — abrasive snow dulls edges faster than soft powder. If you're riding hardpack regularly, tune more frequently.

For most Southeast skiers and snowboarders who get out 10-15 days a season, we recommend a full tune at the start of the season and a side edge touch-up and wax at the midpoint. That keeps your equipment performing consistently through the season.

Signs your skis or board need a tune

• You slide out on groomed runs even when you're not on ice
• Your skis feel slow and drag in flat sections
• Turns feel mushy or imprecise
• The base looks white or grayish rather than black (oxidation)
• You can feel rough edges when you run a fingernail across the base

Base repair: when tuning isn't enough

Sometimes the damage goes beyond what a grind can fix. Deep gouges, core shots (damage that reaches the ski's core), and delamination all require base repair before a standard tune will hold. Alpine handles P-Tex repairs, epoxy welds, base patches, and delamination repair. Bring your skis in and we'll assess what's needed.

The most important thing: don't ski on a damaged base. Core shots in particular can worsen quickly if they get wet, and what might have been a $25 repair can turn into a $100 one if left unaddressed.

Rental skis are always tuned — your personal skis might not be

One of the underappreciated advantages of rental equipment is that it's tuned regularly as part of our fleet maintenance. If your rental skis or board feel good and your own equipment feels sluggish, the tune is usually why. It's a useful comparison point.

Drop your skis or snowboard off at any Alpine location and we'll assess what they need. If they just need a wax, we'll tell you that. If they need a full tune, we'll explain why. We'd rather give you an honest answer than sell you a service you don't need.