*** The Trail Care of Ski Skins ***

From: David.Hallquist@InternetMCI.com (David C. Hallquist)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing.backcountry
Subject: Re: skin recommendations
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 07:36:28 GMT

Coll-tex is for me. I finally replaced my ten year olds.
They went over rocks. I skiied down an active logging roads.
I put them to severe use. With good care they last a long time:

Re glue them annually.

Pay close attention when you are in rough conditions (ice, rocks,
crust especially) for the skins to start coming loose. Stop, take
your skis off, and re-attach. There may be dirt on your skis, wipe
the dirt off with your hand (be careful to not get cut by the edges),
before re-applying.

When you walk through water (inevitable, but avoid if possible),
stop immediately, and use your other ski edge to scrape off the crust,
before it turns to ice. Run your edge with the grain of the hair. If
you get ice, you need to thaw it (with palm of your hand, or the careful
use of a torch or cook stove). If you try to scrape off the ice, you will
pull some of the mohair out.

As long as you immediately remove crust after crossing water, you
should not get any ice. You should also "wring" the water out of your
skin by appying firm pressure and running your palm from the tip to
the heel of the ski.

When you apply the skin, make sure the wire band is secure, and not
flopping loose. If it is too loose, just the vibration will work the
skin loose at the tip of the ski. Snow will then get underneath, and
work it's way down.

The bands spread over time. Use duck-bill pliers, and get them back
together - part of your annual check.

Skins really do work well, once you learn the tricks. I simply do a
check every time I take a break or cross water, and they never let me
down.

Good Luck.

Dave Hallquisst.

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