Ski racing community is invited to have skis shipped to Vail or drop them off in person for mount, prep

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s Technical Services department, once private, is now open to the general ski racing community. The Vail tune shop, located in the new SSCV clubhouse at the base of Golden Peak, is an internationally recognized race room and an official partner of Wintersteiger and Swix.

Starting this season, the tune shop is prepared to accept skis and bindings via shipment and in-person delivery for complete mount and prep.

According to Wintersteiger product manager Todd Carroll, the SSCV Technical Services department, led by shop manager Paul Suomi, has distinguished itself as an industry leader and an invaluable resource to both Wintersteiger and elite technicians who frequent the shop in the early part of the season. 

“The operators that are driving our equipment at the highest level every day, they are the most picky and discerning and hardest to please,” said Carroll. “And we know if we can get it right with them, then we know it’s going to work as we move down the chain with the rest of our customers.

“Paul Suomi represents the top 1% (of our operators) globally. He’s doing things at a level that I would say is certainly similar to that of a European ski federation and on par with the race room production facilities for a ski company,” Carroll said.

Carroll went on to say that Suomi’s team, which includes technicians Branden Berg and Connor O’Brien, has been a huge asset in Wintersteiger’s development process, providing critical feedback that has helped improve the Wintersteiger product for operators around the world. 

“He’s very aware of what’s working well, what needs improvement and everything in between,” Carroll said. “He provides really fantastic feedback to us to be able to work through the development process, update software, update hardware. … But technicians know, if they are in Colorado during that typical prep period — late October, November, even coming into Beaver Creek in early December — they have a resource in Paul and the crew he oversees to be able to get the caliber of work that they need.”

What’s available?

SSCV Tech Services is now opening its doors to anyone who may be passing through Colorado in the early part of the ski season — or they can fulfill orders entirely by mail. The easiest (and perhaps most cost-effective) way to get it done is to have equipment — skis and bindings — shipped directly to the tune shop from the suppliers. Customers based in Colorado can also drop their gear off in person. There’s an approximately two-week turnaround, but skis can be stored at the tune shop and will be primed and ready to go upon the athlete’s arrival for fall training in Colorado, be it at Vail, Copper, Loveland, or any of the surrounding areas.

“Order your skis from the race rep, the factory or your local shop and have them shipped here,” said Suomi. “We’ll have ‘em ready for you by the time you’re training in October or November. Bring your empty ski bag with you, and take them home or wherever your next stop may be.”

Included in the full prep package is all of the following:

• Mount
• Sidewall shaping
• Stone grind with appropriate structure
• Base prep wax
• Accurate edge angles
• Ramp angle evaluation
• Radius measurements (to identify left and right skis)

Grinds developed in-house have been proven at all levels of alpine ski racing up to World Cup and can be customized by region in consultation with the athlete.

“We develop these grinds by region, snow temperature, hardness of the surface, and moisture content,” said Suomi. “What also sets us aside, is we make sure the skis are absolutely flat and the base bevels are absolutely accurate. A flat base ensures an accurate base bevel. This provides critical steering for the ski and accomplishes a sharper edge.”

For more information about SSCV Technical Services and the new ship-in service, visit their website here, or contact Paul Suomi directly at psuomi@skiclubvail.org.

“Relative to Paul specifically, there’s so much ego in the ski world, especially the ski racing world, and Paul is one of those rare guys who doesn’t care about anything other than helping the athletes,” said Carroll. “He is so selfless and does his job with a complete lack of ego.”