Snow Skills

As the snow melts away in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to put the gear away for the summer. Your boots are an important part of your skiing and riding skills and require some extra attention to allow you to slide into them next year with comfort. Here are some tips for storing downhill, telemark, and snowboarding boots for the summer:

• Store boots in a closed position to preserve their shape. Latch buckles and tie laces as if your foot was enclosed in the boot.
• Clean your boots with a mild soap and warm water. Wipe them dry.
• Take the foot beds out of the boot and dry out the boots for 24 hours. Replace the foot beds for storage.
• Apply waterproofing to leather or suede telemark and snowboard boots. A favorite product that works extremely well is Sno-Seal.
• If desired, apply a plastic restoration product like Armor All to bring back the shine on hard boots.
• Store your boots in a boot bag or duffle to keep them clean and dust-free.
• Store boots in dry, warm locations such as upstairs closets and cabinets.
• Do not store boots in wet, cold locations such as garages, basements, and sheds.