Happy Skins Means Happy Skiing

It’s heating up out there quickly these days, and we now face some new challenges on the up track that can lead us toward the infamous TSK (otherwise known as Total Skin Failure). With added moisture in the upper snowpack comes added problems, and you may have already found yourself unwillingly carrying chunks of the skin track up to the summit with you. 

A quick tip or two for spring:

Wax your skins. Rubbing a skin wax down in the direction of the fibres will help keep the wetness out and stop snow clumps from accumulating underneath.

Carry a small scraper. At changeover, if you notice your skins are getting wet, run the scraper down the length of them to squeeze out excess water. Ideally, reapply skin wax after the scrape. The scraper also makes a great tool to quickly clear your bases of any snow before your ride.

Looking for more tips? Read up on general skin maintenance or emergency field treatments ideas from WildSnow writers to keep your climbing stickers happy.