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:
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.
