Photo: TOKO
Doing Race Day Like a World Cup Ski Tech
On race day, your ski technician is your most important partner—at least, that’s how it is for me. While much of the preparation happens the day before, including tuning, waxing and brushing skis, race day involves precise choreography.
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Preparing Backup Skis
I always have one or two pairs of skis tuned identically to my race skis. This ensures that when I ski the warm-up course, I experience the same feel I’ll have on the race course. My technician, Zane, can quickly adjust the skis if something feels off. A single swipe with a diamond file, Arkansas stone, or edge-grinding rubber can dramatically change a ski’s performance.
Course Inspection Adjustments
Having backup skis tuned the same way also helps during course inspection. Feeling how the edges interact with the snow during inspection is critical, especially if the warm-up course has different snow conditions than the race hill. Technicians like Marcel Hirscher’s often bring additional, differently-tuned skis for inspection, allowing athletes to test which pair feels best.
Between Runs
Between runs, technicians work tirelessly to maintain the skis. This includes brushing, retuning, and sometimes applying another layer of high-performance liquid paraffin if needed. Every detail counts to ensure the skis perform perfectly.
Pre-Start Rituals
The pre-start routine is just as critical. Boots must be cleaned, forward pressure and DIN binding settings checked, and skis wiped down. Never forget to wipe your skis! If they’ve been in a warm area before reaching the cold start, snow can crust on the top sheets, or ice can form on the edges, which can ruin your performance.
Final Moments at the Start
At the start gate, technicians for World Cup athletes often handle unglamorous tasks, like finding a discreet spot for nervous racers to throw up. In my case, I skip the drama. All I need is a solid double fist bump and loud encouragement as I push out the gate.
– Jimmy K
About the Author: Jimmy Krupka
