The Sundance Summer Wax Program: Why Your Gear Needs Professional Storage
Ski season might be over, but your gear still needs some attention before it goes into storage. Months of sitting untreated in the wrong conditions can quietly cause real damage to your skis or snowboard, and the effects often don't show up until you're standing at the top of a run in the middle of winter. A little care now can save a lot of hassle later, and that's exactly what our Summer Wax Program is designed to do.
Preventing Base Dry-Out: The Importance of a Thick Summer Storage Wax
The base of your ski or snowboard is a porous material built to absorb wax. That wax reduces friction, improves glide, and keeps the base from drying out during use. But when your gear sits exposed to air over the off-season, the base can oxidize and lose moisture, becoming dry and chalky in a way that slows performance and makes it harder to take on wax when you need it.
The solution is a thick layer of storage wax applied directly to the base and left on throughout the off-season. Rather than being buffed out like a normal wax, it stays in place and acts as a protective barrier, sealing out dust, dirt, and air exposure for the months your gear isn't being used. Without it, you may find yourself needing a base repair before the season has even begun.
When you bring your gear to Sundance for a professional wax application, we make sure the coverage is thorough and the thickness is right, so your bases are properly protected for however long they're sitting in storage.
Stopping Edge Corrosion: Cleaning and Protecting Your Skis From Humidity
Steel edges are more vulnerable to rust than most people realize. Even a small amount of moisture left on the metal after your last run of the season can lead to corrosion over time, and dirt, salt, and debris can trap that moisture against the edges and accelerate the process.
Before storage, your gear needs to be thoroughly cleaned and dried. A light protective layer of wax over the edges helps guard against oxidation during the off-season. Surface rust might seem minor, but left unchecked, it can pit the edges and compromise their sharpness, which affects your ability to hold an edge on hardpack or icy conditions when it counts. As part of our storage program, we treat and protect the edges properly so they're in good shape when you're ready to get back on the mountain.
Tension Release: Should You Dial Back Your Binding DIN Settings?
There's an ongoing conversation among technicians and manufacturers about whether DIN settings — which control the release force of your ski bindings — should be reduced during long-term storage. The thinking is that backing off the tension slightly takes some load off the springs inside the binding, potentially extending their lifespan. Modern bindings are built to handle sustained tension, so this isn't urgent in every case, but it's worth considering for storage periods of several months or more.
Our team can take care of this as part of the service, and we'll make sure your bindings are properly reset and thoroughly inspected before next season, so everything is dialled in before you head out.
Climate-Controlled Storage: Why Your Garage Might Not Be the Best Option
A garage might seem like the obvious place to store your skis or snowboard over summer, but fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels can cause more damage than you'd expect. Heat causes materials to expand and contract repeatedly, while moisture creates the conditions for rust and degradation. Climate-controlled storage maintains consistent temperature and low humidity throughout, significantly reducing those risks.
This is particularly valuable for high-performance or high-cost equipment where the margin for damage is smaller, and the cost of repairs is higher. Professional storage conditions are genuinely difficult to replicate at home, and for a lot of people, the peace of mind alone is worth it.
Start Next Season the Right Way
Taking care of your gear in the off-season isn't just about making it last longer — it's about making sure it performs the way it should when you want to use it. With our Summer Wax Program, your skis or snowboard will be properly waxed, cleaned, and stored so that when the snow arrives, you're ready to go from day one.
Get in touch with the team at Sundance Ski & Snowboard Shop to find out more about the program and what's included.