Keeping your K2 Apache Recon skis and boots in tip top condition

Buy a Dakine ski tuning kit

 Bases and Waxing

Waxing your gear and tuning your edges  is one of the easiest things that you can do to increase the performance of your board or skis. Waxing makes your equipment easier to control, it’ll glide much better, increasing both your speed and the ease of turning. If you buy a new set of skis, they should come ready for use with a good layer of wax. This will be ample for a few weeks of use, depending on conditions (icy conditions require more frequent re-waxing) and how often you go out, after which you should think about getting your skis serviced To keep the bases from drying out give them a storage wax at the end of the season. Apply a thick layer of hot wax, iron it in, let it dry and don’t scrape them. It’ll prevent the bases from drying out and won’t allow rust to form on the edges. Dakine do a great mini tuning kit. Check it out.

Edges

In summer, a layer of rust can easily build up on the edges of your skis. If the edges are corroded, the bases will probably need a grind and a good layer of wax applied. It’s a good idea to take them to your local retailer to get this done professionally. At the end of the season, drying off your skis with an old towel before you put them back in the bag, should stop this from happening. Then, when you pull your skis out of your bag next winter, you’ll just need to give your skis a sound scraping and you’re all set. When you take them in to the shop of your choice, ask about tuning products and how to use them. Swix make industry standard ski tuning products.

Boots

Ski and Snowboard boots need to be dried out thoroughly at the end each trip before they are stored until next season. Most boots enable you to take the in-souls and the liners out to allow them to dry out totally. To make this easier you could invest in the luxury of a ski boot dryer that will have your ski or snowboard boots dry over lunch, just in time for your afternoon session – bliss! DryGuy seem to dominate this market. Buy a DryGuy dryer

When storing ski boots away it’s a good idea to do the buckles and straps up, round about the same position they would be in when you’re skiing. This will help stop the buckles from bending outwards, away from the shell, making them easier to put on next season. Once fully dry, it’s best to store your boots, in a decent boot bag to stop any dust or other debris getting into the boot when in storage. 

You should also check the soles of your ski boots on fairly regularly for too much wear. Walking with them on tarmac, concrete or other hard surfaces can quickly wear down the heel and toe pieces, which can radically influence the boot’s safety and function when in the binding. On some boots heel and toe pieces are replaceable. To prevent unnecessary wear, consider buying some Cat Tracks, which slip on the bottoms of your boots easily and protect those heels and toes.

K2 Apache Recon Skis Named “Gear of the Year”

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Buy K2 Apache Recon skis

The December issue of Ski Magazine hit the newsstands and announced the winners of the coveted “Gear of the Year” awards for 2007/08. Ski Magazine named for an unprecedented second time the 2007/08 K2 Apache Recon “Gear of the Year”. The Recon was recognized by Ski Magazine testers and editors for its versatility and unmatched performance in a variety of conditions. The test results once again validated K2’s claim that the Apache Recon is the most versatile all mountain high performance ski for both hard and soft snow performance.Aaron Ambuske, K2 Ski’s product development director affirmed, “When we test skis, we do not allow people to talk about the skis during the testing, but it is great to see testers come down on the Recon with uncontrollable smiles on their faces. It will remain a benchmark in our testing for many years to come.” The Recon is an all-mountain performer that features the top technologies that K2 has to offer. The ski includes a Mod Monic and Mod technology for vibration damping and control, Titan Metal Laminate for added power, Titan technology for better swing weight and the K2/M1 Marker binding system for precision control.K2 is an athlete inspired company. The brand has a history of reinventing itself year after year to push the sport out of its comfort zone. The K2 Ski division is a part of Seattle-based K2 Sports family, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of K2 branded adrenalin-inspired products for winter and summer. Started 45 years ago, the K2 brand and businesses are world renowned as leaders in design, production, marketing and sales.

K2 Apache Recon skis – one ski does it all

Buy K2 Apache Recon skis

The Recon is amongst the very best all-condition skis ever made. Perfect for advanced skiers but not beyond confident intermediates. Unlike many other multi-terrain skis letting themselves down on certain aspects, the Recon is strong everywhere: piste, powder, crud, corn and slush, all dispatched with minimum fuss. The Metal Laminate construction gives the ski power and edge hold, helping it blast through heavy snow and grip well on packed ice. The shape and sidecut suit a variety of speeds and conditions, meaning it’s easy turning when cruising, quick on piste, and supremely stable away from groomed terrain. Excellent dampening from the Mod system helps smooth the ride and the M1 binding integration increases power further. It’s beautifully balanced and very capable all over the whole mountain. We love the way it skis and the fact that it comfortably handles any situation. It’s the one-ski-does-it-all option to beat.

K2 Apache Crossfire skis – Test Winner

Buy K2 Apache Crossfire skis

The Crossfire is an amazing piste ski, full of life and energy, with outstanding edge grip and acceleration. Its ability doesn’t stop with groomed conditions either, it’s versatile enough to take on bumps, trees and whatever fresh snow is lying about. It’s also been improved from last season, it’s now a useful 2mm’s wider all over and features sidewalls. The 16m radius remains, meaning it’ll turn quickly when you push it on piste, yet still track smoothly in difficult snow. The extra base area of the new shape gives increased floatation and better stability through soft stuff, but doesn’t hinder the exciting performance on hard-pack. Sidewalls increase precision, working perfectly with the power of the Metal Laminate construction. The M1 binding system allows a complete and full flex, Titan Technology helps reduce weight, and the Mod systems dampen vibrations for a smoother ride. Good skiers definitely won’t be disappointed in this special ski!