BY JARED WILLIAMS, SB BERKELEY MANAGER
 

 
Fall, the season of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and early season ski stoke. In just a few weeks temperatures will cool, resorts will start up the snowmakers, and nature might even provide some early storms. This is the perfect time to inspect your snow gear and make sure you’re set for long days of fun turns on the snow.
 

SKIS, BOOTS & BINDINGS

 
Skis sitting in a closet for the summer may need a quick tune as simple as an edge and wax to get ready for the new season but if the bases have a lot of wear Sports Basement offers a Premium Tune service with a brand new Wintersteiger Jupiter X machine to have the skis better than new. While you’re at it, consider a DPS Phantom base treatment to give your skis a permanent wax! All that said, if you're looking over your skis and you do notice significant damage, know that most ski companies offer at least a 1-year warranty. If you think you'll need to take advantage of that, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to assist you! It could be minor enough that it can be fixed with the Premium Tune mentioned above, and if not we're happy to help you get that warranty started. Now's the time!

Now let's talk boots. Making sure your boots are in good shape is critical for a safe ski season. The sole plates on the bottom of the boot wear down over time and often need replacing. If too much material wears away the boot and binding no longer have a safe and secure interface. A couple key indicators are if the screws attaching to plates to the boot are exposed or if the boot wobbles when on a flat surface. The good news is that you can likely find replacement plates from your boot manufacturer. However with supply chain issues it’s highly recommended to order these parts sooner than later.
 

An extremely worn ski boot toe plate:
 

 
It might also be time to replace some well loved ski boots that are at the end of their life cycle. The shell plastics wear out over time and eventually lose their integrity. A disintegrating ski boot leaving a trail of plastic bits will ruin a ski trip. Sports Basement has a wide selection of boots for all skier types and foot shapes to get you into a well fit boot for many more seasons of happy skiing.
 

Don’t walk through a ski resort parking lot like this:
 

 
Finally the bindings on your skis are critical to attach your boot to the ski and provide a safe release in the event of a fall. Sports Basement shop technicians are certified to inspect and test your bindings to ensure they still operate within industry defined safety limits. Any time you change boots, or replace worn sole plates, it’s highly recommended to have a certified technician test bindings for proper performance.
 

SNOWBOARDS, BOOTS & BINDINGS

 
Now maybe you're saying, "But Jared, I'm not a skier! My boots are made for snowboarding and they're not made of molded plastic. What about me!?" I got your back. Or your boots. For snowboarders, the first thing you'll want to do is take a close look at your board. Look for dents and scratches, and run a gloved finger along your edges to see if they feel smooth and sharp, or if they feel jagged and rough. Scratches and some dents can be fixed with a new coat of wax, and your edges can be sharpened at any of our stores. If you see something more problematic (cracks, big dents), know that most snowboards have around a 3-year warranty. Reach out to us for help getting in touch with your vendor if you need it.
 

HERE'S JOSH, ONE OF OUR SNOW SHOP EXPERTS, SHARPENING THE EDGES ON A BOARD:
 

 
Next, you'll want to check your bindings - make sure your baseplate screws are fully tightened and your straps are in good shape - not ragged or loose. Also take a look at the backplate of your bindings - look for scratches and gouges. Small ones are fine, but if they're too deep they might impact the integrity of the whole binding. Remember that you're putting a lot of pressure on those bindings as you carve down the mountain, so a small gouge that feels minor here might lead to a crack on the slopes.
 

APPAREL

 
But wait, there's more! This is the perfect time of year to dig your snow jacket and pants out of your closet and give them a wash. No, we're not saying that you're a weirdo who doesn't wash their clothes enough - rather, we're saying that after a year or more of protecting you and then lying in wait in your closet, your apparel could probably use a new application of DWR (Durable Water Repellent). Just like changing the oil in your car (is that going to be an antiquated comparison soon?!), your DWR coating needs regular maintenance to keep your apparel performing well. This is way easier than it looks! Let's walk through it together:

First, take a close look at your jacket's cuffs, collar and shoulders. Notice any fading or roughening of the fabric in those areas? Your body oils (everyone has 'em, again, you're not weird) and the straps of your pack will break down those areas first.

Second, take a shower in your jacket! Just kidding, you don't have to do that, but definitely do run water over those areas of your jacket, or the whole thing all at once. Higher quality jackets will still keep you dry underneath due to the materials being used, but the upper layers of your apparel might get soaked and heavy. That's because your DWR coating needs some revitalization.
 

IF WATER IS STILL "BEADING" WHEN IT HITS YOUR APPAREL THEN YOU'RE ALL GOOD:
 

 
Third step is the easiest - just wash your gear with a techwash like Nikwax. This is the easiest way to get your gear back up to snuff.

Take a close look at your goggles as well - those same body oils that break down DWR also break down the foam that keep your goggles' anti-fog coating going strong. If you notice some fogging or your foam looks rough, you can try something like Cat Crap to revivify your anti-fog coating, but a lot of higher-end goggles have a built-in coating that shouldn't really need that treatment. Either way, if your foam isn't sealing against your face, no anti-fog coating in the world will work perfectly.

Last item is helmets. We can't say this enough: if you've crashed once in your helmet, you need a new helmet. Helmets are designed to protect your head one time - after that, the tech inside that keeps you safe is no longer viable. If you've gone more than 4 or 5 years without a crash, you should probably get a new helmet anyway - you've only got one brain and helmets don't last forever.