Be adventure ready anytime! Here are some tips for storing your ski and snowboard equipment, to ensure you’ll have peace of mind knowing your gear is good to go next winter.

Fernie, BC, renowned for its epic powder, celebrates the 80’s & 90’s like no other mountain town as the tunes belt out from the quaint village at the base of the lifts. Ski bums share tales on the deck of the infamous Griz Bar, as closing time is a bittersweet mix of emotions and wacky coloured outfits.

Kicking back, nestled into a classic style log cabin, you can easily ski to your door through a tall cedar forest to Snow Creek Cabin 506 – the perfect place to celebrate last turns, admire goggle tans and dream up summer adventures. What about your sliding buddies? Like most of us, you probably throw your skis and or snowboard in a locker or on a rack, encrusted with a bit of mud and rust, not touching them until your first turns next winter. Hey, that’s no way to treat your powder partners! Follow these 5 tips to make sure your gear stays in great shape and is ready to make those first deep pow turns with you when the snow racks up next winter.

Soak those boards for more fun in the future

Storing dirty anything is never good. A real simple fix is to take a bucket of water or standard garden hose to wash away the salt, mud and grime on your skis or snowboard. Same goes for your outerwear, it’s time to get that hot dog mustard and après beers washed out. Make sure to pay attention to the tag directions before throwing these in your washing machine, as it’s ok to wash waterproof jackets and pants. Don’t forget to add some specialty fabric or down treatments in the process, as you’ll want to re-waterproof your outerwear and protect those little fluffy down feathers.

We all need a tune-up now and then

Visit Sporting Life to get that end-of-season tune and wax for your skis and snowboard. This is the perfect time to do so, as the snowy season will hit hard next winter and you’ll thank yourself for being prepared. Plus, giving your boards some love now will add years to their life… and your buddies won’t make fun of all the rust on your skis anymore.

powder daze, Fernie, BC

Don’t feel the tension

Have questions? Don’t worry. When you are in for the tune-up, ask the Sporting Life team to dial down the release tension of the DIN scale on your bindings. No one likes being tight all the time. This will lessen the load and enhance the life of springs in the bindings. Put a note on the bindings with your correct DIN settings to remind you to reset them before next ski season begins, though.

Wet feet

Moisture degrades boot liners. So make sure to remove your boot liners so they will dry out completely. While you’re at it, buckle or lace the boots up lightly so they will retain their solid skiing and riding shape.

Touring gear

There is good reason why ski touring and splitboarding is on the rise – freedom and fitness! Don’t forget to take the batteries out of your avalanche transceiver and also make sure your skins are completely dried out and folded properly.

Go here

Lastly don’t wait for the snow to fly to visit the outdoors or your local Sporting Life. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready to get you out enjoying summer time in the mountains, hitting the trails on the latest Cannondale mountain bikes or stomping through trails in your favourite runners.
Embrace the wild side of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, in Golden, BC, by testing yourself on the new Via Ferrata, noted by Men’s Journal as the toughest in North America.

take steps to keep your gear ready in the off season for next winter

You can also ride the Timber Chairlift high up the Canadian Rockies and hike a long ridge at Fernie Alpine Resort in Fernie, BC. Stay the night in the only lift-accessed camping in Canada and wake up early to traverse the Lizard Range to the summit of Polar Peak. Epic days begin here. Nestle into your own private cabin in the woods with Snow Creek Lodge 506 or stay in and enjoy poolside afternoons at Lizard Creek Lodge.

Discover Kimberley, BC, a hidden gem, tucked away in the Purcell Mountains. Find yourself loving this place. Here, you can make impulse decisions on what you’d like to do that day, with activities such as hiking, mountain biking and trail running all accessible from your front door.