I’m Mia Hunt, a sophomore athlete representing the University of Denver Pioneers in alpine skiing. As a proud alpine Toko athlete, I’m excited to share insights on one of my favorite tools: the World Cup Sidewall Planer. For all levels of skiing, this tool is essential for keeping your skis in optimal shape throughout the season. I wish I had realized the importance of a sidewall and second edge tool when I started tuning my skis. I aim to give you all my tips and tricks for using it, especially if you’re only beginning to tune skis.

Why is the World Cup Sidewall Planer essential for ski tuning? When skis come from the factory, the sidewall and ‘second edge’ are machined, but the sidewall will likely need to be pulled back and smoothed, and undoubtedly, the second edge will need to be pulled back. The sidewall is the plastic material that protects the sides of your ski. The second edge is usually Titanal, an aluminum alloy layer between the sidewall and the ski edge. However, some skis do not have this layer, the second edge.

Pulling back the sidewall and second edge before you file is critical. It makes it possible for the file to cut the edge cleanly and precisely at your desired angle. If you take your skis to an expert tuning shop for preparation, they will handle the initial side profiling. However, I have been in situations where I have to ski on my brand-new skis before taking them into the shop. Luckily, I always have my trusty World Cup Sidewall Planer and can prepare them to ski. Pulling back your sidewall and second edge makes filing more manageable and precise. Also, it helps the skis perform better because there is less material dragging in the snow when skiing with big angles.

The sidewalls and second edge require regular attention

Regularly cutting back your second edge and sidewall throughout the season is essential. This is because as you file and stone your edges, they eventually become even with the second edge again and will interfere with your file’s ability to cut at the desired angle. I pull back the second edge (and sidewall, if necessary) every three or four times I file my skis. If you have ever had trouble getting your file to bite, it likely means that your second edge and/or sidewall are getting in the way of the file and you need to pull it/them back a bit!

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Learn to use the tool

I have encountered many skiers who know they need to pull the second edge or sidewall but do not feel comfortable using the tool or need to learn how. This is likely because tools like the sidewall planer can sometimes skip and cause your sidewall to become rippled or wavy.

For those uncomfortable using this tool, I recommend practicing on an old pair of skis first. The critical thing you initially need to do is adjust the circular blade to cut only the second edge and sidewall. Notably the second edge should be your focus. You do not want it to cut any of your actual edge. Then, apply even pressure to the base and top of the tool and pull slowly towards you. The force that you use should be firm but not too hard. To minimize ripples, I suggest doing full ski-length pulls and keeping the tool moving at a consistent rate.

To mitigate base damage during repetitive pulls, I apply masking tape to my base before starting, providing additional protection against the tool rubbing on the bases. Lastly, I usually decide I have pulled enough second edge when little to no material comes off anymore. Then, you are ready to file!

Now is the perfect time to start getting your skis ready for ski season, and the World Cup Sidewall Planer is a must-have tool for that process! I hope my insight on one of my favorite Toko tools was helpful, especially for skiers who may be just learning how to tune their skis. It is one of the first things I pack on every ski trip. I hope my tips and tricks can assist you in getting started!