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It’s that time of year again! Opening day is this week, and we’re all starting to dust o: the gear and get ready to hit the hill. For those of us, me included, who ride ‘til the bitter end and quickly transition into bike season, count this as your reminder to check your kit. This has been learned the hard way; so please learn from my mistakes. Rule number 1: check your kit!
I like to start head to toe, and always do it in the same order. This way, I don’t forget anything. I do this at the start of each season (super in depth) and before each trip. Doing a good check now will save you time before a trip when you’re already scrambling and issues when you’re in the mountains.
Helmet
How old is it? Helmets only last a certain number of years before they lose their integrity. The main culprits hear are sun and sweat, so a year spent in a cool, dry storage cupboard won't take life out of your helmet. Unfortunately for my helmet and my head, I land on it a lot and require a new one every season. Check that it still fits comfortably and isn’t damaged. As much as we like to say that helmets are "multi impact", that's never really true. If you've taken a big spill, it's time for a new helmet. Even without a wipeout in your memories, check for any major dents or cracks in your helmet as that also means it's time for a new helmet.
Goggles
Super easy, make sure the strap isn’t all stretched out and that you can see through them. Try to reflect on if you were having fogging issues last season – if so, it may be time for new goggles or lenses if you have interchangeable ones.
Jacket/Pants
I do a quick check to see if I have any rips that need a patch (or duct tape) and that all of my zippers work well. I then wash them with the waterproofing solution that was recommended by the manufacturer or the experts at Gearhub. Follow the instructions on the bottle!
Gloves
I check for seem rips and wear spots that I can fix with tape or other McGiver ways. I then use a wax and give them a nice lather and massage it in to keep the leather in good shape. Again, check what the manufacturer or the experts at Gearhub recommend for wax.
Boots
The most important! Do yourselves a favour and try your boots on before you go out! Maybe give yourself enough time to remedy any issues you discover. After a summer of running a lot and riding, my feet changed and so did how my boots feel. After some quick adjustments with sock choice and moving the buckles, they are ready to go. If the issues are more significant, you can bring them into Gearhub for a punch out and maybe even a reheat. They’ll know what to do so you aren’t cutting your opening day short due to foot pain. Nothing can ruin a good ski day like unhappy feet.
Skis
Here’s the second most important. Take your skis in or tune them yourself. After skiing glorious spring corn, you probably didn’t notice your bad edges, and your wax would have been for warmer temp. I like to start the season with a fresh wax and edge sharpen at a minimum. Check the forecast and pick your wax based on what you’re seeing. It’ll be close enough (I hope). If you see some damage to the bases, take them in and get a base grind and a tune from the team at Gearhub. They’ll have your skis feeling new gain.
Check you bindings too. Maybe you’ve shed some lb’s over the summer and your din was set to your mid-winter weight…don’t end your season early with a knee injury. Turn the DIN’s down accordingly (or up if you’ve been training all summer to ski and put on some muscle). If you are not confident doing the bindings, please don’t! Take them in. It can be dangerous to tinker with them if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If you need new gear, come by the shop and the team will help you get set for opening day! Sometimes gear can't be repaired or you just want to treat yourself.
Have a great opening weekend! See you out there!
