End-of-Season Checklist: Waxing, Tuning & Storing Your Ski and Snowboard Gear
It’s been a long winter here in Banff National Park. From early November opening days to sunny spring laps in May, another unforgettable ski season has officially come to a close. Whether you spent the winter chasing storms or managed to sneak in a few ski trips, it’s important to give your gear a little attention before summer.
Properly cleaning, tuning, and storing your skis or snowboard now can help extend the life of your gear and make those first days back on snow next season even better.
Here’s a simple end-of-season checklist to help keep your skis or snowboard in great shape until winter returns.
Taking care of your gear can help it last longer | Photo credit: Jill Tester
Give Everything a Good Clean
Spring skiing can be hard on gear. Slush, dirt, road salt, and moisture build up fast, especially during those warmer days in the Rockies. Before storing anything away:
- Wipe down your skis or snowboard
- Dry your bindings and boots completely
- Wash jackets, bibs, gloves, and base layers
- Clean your goggles and helmet
- Empty pockets and remove old snacks, lift tickets, and hand warmers
It sounds simple, but storing damp gear can lead to rust, mildew, and damage over the summer months.
Book an End-of-Season Tune
If your bases are looking scratched up after a full winter, now is the perfect time for a tune. A proper ski or snowboard tune usually includes:
- Edge sharpening
- Base repair
- Waxing
- Minor maintenance work
Getting this done before summer helps protect your equipment and means less work when the snow starts falling again next season.
An end of season tune and summer wax can increase the lifespan of your skis | Photo credit: Jill Tester
Don’t Skip Storage Wax
Where you store your gear matters! Try to avoid leaving skis or snowboards in:
- Hot garages
- Damp basements
- Outdoor sheds
- Direct sunlight
Instead, keep everything indoors somewhere cool and dry. Store skis upright or flat and avoid piling heavy items on top of them. For ski boots, loosely buckle them before storing so they keep their shape.
Take Note of Any Gear Upgrades
The end of the season is also a good time to think about what worked and what didn’t this winter.
Maybe your boots are packed out, your goggles have seen better days, or you've spent the entire season wishing for a wider powder ski.
Spring and summer are often the best times to find deals on new gear before next season starts!
Make sure to take care of your ski gear during the offseason | Photo credit: Jill Tester
Already Counting Down to Next Winter?
There’s nothing quite like ski season in Banff National Park, and even though the lifts have stopped spinning for now, next winter will be here before we know it. And early bird savings, mean now is the best time to book that ski trip too.
Taking care of your gear now means one less thing to worry about when it’s time to head back to the slopes for another season of powder days, mountain views, and après sessions in the Canadian Rockies.
