As the winter season quickly approaches, and many athletes are starting to get excited for the season ahead, there is no better time to ensure that your equipment is as ready for the season as you are. In this article, we will discuss when you need a fresh stone grind.

One of the most important aspects of having a successful season of training and racing is to ensure that your equipment is in excellent shape and that your skis have had a stone grind if needed. A stone grind ensures that your ski bases are flat and true, that your base and side edge bevels are set correctly, and that your skis have the correct structure to match the type of skis you are using (SL, GS, SG, DH) as well as to match the conditions that you plan to be training and racing in.

The four signs that indicate a stone grind is needed

Before each season, it’s a good idea to inspect your skis for the following four signs, which may indicate you could use a stone grind.

• Check for significant rock damage to your bases and edges. Rock damage to your edges can cause case hardening, leaving you unable to sharpen that section of the ski. This will undoubtedly cause you to lose grip while skiing and should be addressed with a stone grind immediately. Similarly, significant rock damage to your bases may cause excess drag, slowing you down and holding you back.

Base has become convex or concave

• Even if your skis still look like they are in excellent condition, but it has been a season or more since you last had a stone grind, there may be hard-to-see wear to the ski that will drastically affect the ski’s performance. Ski bases are made from polyethylene plastic; over time, this material slowly wears down due to the friction caused by snow when skiing. Additionally, skis will warp and bend slightly due to the forces of skiing and the heat of an iron. To check for wear and deformation to the bases, use a Toko Prisma Straight Edge held against a ski base that is scraped and brushed. Next, hold the skis up to a light and look along the base. While moving the Toko Prisma Straight Edge down the base, look for light to escape either in the middle or on the sides of the skis. If you see the light in the middle, it means that your bases are concave. If you see the light on the sides, it means that your bases are convex. In either case, your skis need to be stone ground.

Abrasion damage from slipping salted courses

• Look for salt damage on your bases that may have been caused by skiing in salted courses during the summer and spring. Salt damage can also occur simply from side slipping a freshly salted course. A good indicator that your bases have salt damage is minor scratches roughly 1-2 inches long that run widthwise across the base of your skis. Salt damage can drastically reduce the top speed of your skis and should be addressed with a stone grind.

Variability in bevels and edge angle can accumulate with use

• Another sign that your skis must be stone ground is if they behave unpredictably. If anything is off with the geometry of your base and side edge bevels, the ski may act unpredictably and reduce your ability to train with consistency and predictability. When getting a stone grind, request the specific angles you need from your favorite ski shop. For example, you may ask for a 0.5º base edge angle and a 3º side edge angle. Be sure to have a conversation with your coaches so that you can choose the best side and base edge angles that suit your skills. Too much base bevel and your skis will take longer to engage in the new turn; too little, and your skis may feel too twitchy in the snow.

Start the season properly prepared, you won’t regret it

Identifying damage during the pre-season allows you to address potential issues and ensures that your equipment will not get in your way. Keep an eye on the Wax Room this season, as we at Toko will be bringing you tips and tricks that will help bring out the most speed and reliability from your equipment. 

Next up: How to shape and prepare sidewalls on new skis.

Pro Tip

**Pro Tip: Having all of your skis ground, whether new or old, at the same ski shop will add a level of consistency and reliability throughout all of your skis. This will result in better and more predictable training, where your skills can develop without your equipment getting in the way.