How long do skis last?

Question
Hi Lisa

What sort of life should I expect to get from a pair of all mountain shaped (carve) skis.  I am an advanced/expert skier who predominantly skis on piste but I also venture into the moguls.  I have never really experienced true powder snow.  

My current skis are Rossignol Z5 which have seen approximately 35 days of skiing and are currently receiving this first full tune up.  How long can I expect them to last and how can I tell when  they have reached their use by date?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Simon & thanks for the questions.

Ski life expectancy? SO many variables im afraid.

TUNE UP: like a car, skis will run better with a tune up. This should include filing/deburring the edges, a coat of wax and a binding check-up to ensure they actually work.

WAXING: Run your fingernail along the base - if no wax lifts off you should have them waxed NOW. Dry bases are not good for the ski- in storage or on snow. And if you want to be really fussy, spring wax is different from winter wax as they have varying temperature ranges for optimum use [caused by snow, air and friction temps].

FLEX: this is how the ski bends and moves underfoot. It wains with use of the ski, but at only 35days use your skis should have a long way to go if they have been looked after. Ski flex is a bit like a good pair of runners - they feel fine until you try a new pair then realise the lugness of your own. Instructors get 1-2 seasons out of a pair of skis [100+ days/season].
Lots of bump skiing on a non-bump specific ski will also reduce the flex, but you should still get about 100days out of them. The core of a ski will also vary the longevity of a ski [foam core dampen sooner than wood core]. [To check flex - iv written about it many tmes before, just have a look back through the info.]

STORE your skis with a "summer wax" which is a thick layer of wax that covers edges and bases, and have the bindings turned down to release the tension on the springs.
LAY them on their side if horizontal under the bed or in the shed [better] or on their tails, but rotate them each month to change which ski is taking the weight to reduce tip flattening.

When its all added up - if you like newer skis it does work out cheaper over time to rent high-end skis each time than it does to buy new ones every second year. By the time you add in tune ups, storage etc, you really do need to get 100+ days out of a ski to get your moneys worth.

Hope that helps, any other questions, just ask

lisa