Sharpening edges on touring skis
Ex-ski racer and freeride professional Matthias “Hauni” Haunholder shares insightful tips and tricks on grinding edges for touring skis in this video. The edge tuning of a touring ski is basically very similar to that of a freeride ski, a racing ski or children’s ski.
Matthias Haunholder recommends an edge angle of 88 degrees for a touring ski, as touring skiing is more about gliding properties in soft snow. Likewise, an 88 degree edge offers a higher durability.
But more about good edges on touring skis can be found here in this video!
When should you sharpen the edges of a touring ski?
For backcountry skiers and their touring skis, well-sharpened ski edges are not as crucial as they are on hard slopes or for racing. In touring skiing, glide properties, weight, and the durability of the edges are more important.
However, grinding the edges is also necessary to ensure control during ascent and descent in alpine terrain. It is advisable to grind the ski edges at an angle of 88 degrees before the start of the touring season to ensure that they are in optimal shape.
If the edges have been damaged by contact with stones or hard surfaces and have thereby lost grip and sliding ability, grinding is necessary. You should also check the edges if the snow conditions change, for example if the snow becomes harder or softer.
In summary, tourers should grind their ski edges:
- Before the start of the touring season to ensure that the edges are in optimal condition, ideally free of rust.
- If the ski edges are worn or dull and the skis lose grip.
- After challenging tours or several days in alpine terrain to restore the edges.
- If you are traveling in different snow conditions and want to adjust the edges.
- After riding over rocks or hard objects to repair damage.
- If you notice changes in driving behavior or in the corners.
- If you want to change the edge angle to suit the specific conditions of your tours.
- Before important alpine tours, to ensure your ski edges are in optimal condition.
Grinding ski edges – an edge tuning guide in 7 steps
Whether you are a professional racer or an avid recreational winter sports enthusiast, sharp ski edges are critical to a fun, safe and successful on-piste experience. We’ll explain how it works!
Tyrolit Life’s edge tuning set for touring skis in detail
The Tyrolit Life Edge Tuning Set offers a perfect combination of tools to ensure sharp edges. It contains two stainless steel, three ceramic, and two elastic files, which, when used in conjunction with the provided stainless steel guide, deliver optimal results. Tyrolit Life provides three different filing angles: 86 degrees, 87 degrees, and 88 degrees. Experts recommend an edge angle of 88 degrees for touring skis.
The ceramic combination file, which can be used without an angle, is ideal for on-the-go, as well as the handheld edge eraser, which is excellent for removing rust, deburring, and cleaning.
Various files are available for precise edge preparation. Stainless steel files are used for preparing the edges of skis and snowboards. They enable efficient removal of material and accurate adjustment of the edge angle. The coarse-toothed stainless steel file is ideal for heavily damaged edges, while the 2nd-cut file “fine” is used for smoothing worn edges
The fine tuning is accomplished with the three Tyrolit Life ceramic files. These files progressively deburr, smooth, and sharpen the edges. With “coarse,” “medium,” and “fine” grain sizes available, you can tailor the sharpening to suit the snow conditions and guarantee high surface quality. The coarse and fine elastic files are perfect for polishing and refining the edges, offering an excellent alternative to traditional diamond files. Their elasticity ensures an even contact area across all ski radii.
The stainless steel angle included in the set allows precise application of the files and offers different edge angle options from 86, 87 to 88 degrees, depending on the selected set. All parts of the set can also be purchased individually. The Tyrolit Life edge tuning set, made in Tyrol, ensures a perfect grip thanks to an exact edge preparation.
New in the edge tuning assortment: The sidewall planer
The Tyrolit Life Sidewall Planer or Sidewall Cutter for ski and snowboard is an essential tool for DIY edge tuners. It enables precise removal of the sidewall, crucial for accurate filing work on the steel edge. This high-quality product integrates seamlessly with the edge tuning sets and features the following attributes:
- Depth limitation through a brass set screw.
- Two cutting blades with different radii for versatile applications.
- Premium quality for reliable results.
- The sidewall puller is not part of the 10-piece edge tuning set, but sold separately!
Have fun grinding the ski edges - and of course even more fun with the result on the next ski tour!
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