delaminated x-country skis

[bmccasland]

I had aspirations of taking advantage of a snow day and going cross country skiing, only to discover that the bottom layer on one of my skis has completely delaminated. I suppose this is to punish me for storing them in the garage in Louisiana for 8 years.

Do you think they can be repaired? Maybe at REI? I bought them there 20+ years ago.

What does one do with old skis anyway? How about wooden ones? I have a pair of those too (c 1975).

[shootingstar]

Are the wooden skis still usable?

Or use them as a hook rack, the ski will serve as a decorate wall backing. Just an idea.

[Irulan]

If they are delaminating they probably aren't wood.
There might be info on how to fix it somewhere on line. I would thing that with the right kind of glue and some clamps....

[bmccasland]

Two pair of skis -
c1975 Splintkein Bass wooden skis (made in Norway) - needs wax
c1985 (?) Trak skis (made in Austria) - delaminated

Discovered my boots are in iffy shape too. Let's just say they didn't like the heat in the Louisiana garage.

[Irulan]

sell them at the ski swap next fall.

[ridebikeme]

I'm sorry that you didn't get to use your ski's today, but at least now you have some options.

Aside from working in the bike industry for 20 years; I've also worked in ski world for over 15 years. That isn't to say that I know everything, but I can tell you that I have worked on lots of delaminated ski's. Generally what happens is by the time it is starting to pull apart, water/snow has really done a number on all of the layers of the ski's. Even after drying them out for several days, and starting with new sections of base... it didn't last long before it pulled part again.

If it's happening in a small section(like the tails of the ski's) then you could always try it.... but of course that decision is up to you.

My suggestion is to look for another pair of ski's, hope this info has helped you. Good luck in whatever yuo decide to do!

If your wood ski's are entirely wood, then you will need some pine tar... that is generally what is used on the base to protect it.

[bmccasland]

Took both pairs of skis, boots, poles to a local ski shop - recommened by the skiers in my office, yesterday. Delaminated skis were pronounced dead, non-repairable. My "boots" (more like shoes) were pronounced useable, but in sad shape. I had pretty much decided that I wanted new boots - so helpful sales person, Dave, brought out multiple pairs of boots in my size, including hunting through the on-sale stash and I worked my way through finding the most comfortable ones. Things have changed in 25 years!

My wooden skis were pronounced collector's items. I noticed that Dave made a trip to the back for rubberbands to pair them up for "proper" storage. He also told me how to take care of them, should I want to keep them for use.

Bamboo poles (c1975) were still in good shape - leather straps were good, baskets good. No need to replace them - but I was still shown options, and how the technology has changed.

So I walked out of there with new skis, boots, bindings, and gloves. Well, the skis and bindings are still there, waiting on the tech to attach them. Shop will give the delaminated skis a decent burial. Wooden skis came home. Credit card didn't cry too much, but I do have to go back to the shop next week to retrieve my skis.

Next problem - getting to snow country in a PT Cruiser. Last time I commuted to ski country I had a 4X4.

[Irulan]

Took both pairs of skis, boots, poles to a local ski shop - recommened by the skiers in my office, yesterday. Delaminated skis were pronounced dead, non-repairable. My "boots" (more like shoes) were pronounced useable, but in sad shape. I had pretty much decided that I wanted new boots - so helpful sales person, Dave, brought out multiple pairs of boots in my size, including hunting through the on-sale stash and I worked my way through finding the most comfortable ones. Things have changed in 25 years!

My wooden skis were pronounced collector's items. I noticed that Dave made a trip to the back for rubberbands to pair them up for "proper" storage. He also told me how to take care of them, should I want to keep them for use.

Bamboo poles (c1975) were still in good shape - leather straps were good, baskets good. No need to replace them - but I was still shown options, and how the technology has changed.

So I walked out of there with new skis, boots, bindings, and gloves. Well, the skis and bindings are still there, waiting on the tech to attach them. Shop will give the delaminated skis a decent burial. Wooden skis came home. Credit card didn't cry too much, but I do have to go back to the shop next week to retrieve my skis.

Next problem - getting to snow country in a PT Cruiser. Last time I commuted to ski country I had a 4X4.

Just put good snow tires (Blizzak, etc) on it. One our our ski patrollers on our crew has been driving a PT Cruiser up to the mountain for years.