 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone used anything to alleviate the expected and eventual lift que / gondola rack scratches to brand new ski top sheets?
New BC skis are quite centrally mounted meaning more space behind bindings for inconsiderate que jumpers to attack . . . .might also alleviate my OCD with new skis and make me a nicer person in lift ques. Assuming some kind of clear 3M self adhesive is the way forward; does anyone do this / have experience with a particular product?
PS - Please refrain from 'skis are meant to be scratched / battered' type responses; I'm fully aware of this but don't actually care as I like to keep my kit as fresh as poss and also retain some of their value in the event I don't get on with them! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Also, any advice for "bottom-sheet" protection in case of scratches from inconsiderate rocks as well 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Shurely as a BC specialist, you won't need to encounter lift lines, gondolas, bronzed drunken french snowboarders, etc etc?
...oh well... unmount your bindings and use a clear vinyl wrap over the top sheet. Apply with gentle heat and soapy water. The self healing stuff will be better if you're willing to pay the extra as it reseals if it gets light damage. You can get it for about £15 for a 30cm x 200cm so 2 of those. Obviously if you're not sure about doing it yourself, consult a local vehicle wrapping specialist, they'll probably do it for you.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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There’s something called Heli tape which cyclists use to protect their bike frames also. However, any sort of tape will just get scratched instead of your top sheet and will still look rubbish in fairly quick time .
The wider question is are you trying to prevent damage at all to the top sheet? I could imagine that bedding, some mini cones or pyramid type studs (a les punk rockers) onto the front and back of the skis would be fairly effective deterrence as they have to scar the base of their own skis to damage the top of yours. That said it might cause you to get into fights in lift queues or indeed be quite painful if you fell on them yourself.
It’s an interesting concept to give some thought to however. My new skis will arrive in a few days and I’m getting a 40% discount on them because they are b-grade due to a graphics printer on the top sheet. I think we must have different priorities.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Richard_Sideways, Can you remove it do you think or will heat application make it nigh on impossible? This is just as an initial precaution as some top sheets fair better than others - first pair of BC skis so no idea how they'll perform however they were also expensive so anything to retain in as 'box fresh' mode as poss will keep me sane . . .lol
@rickboden, Will check out heli tape - not bothered about the tape scratching but get your point in terms of aesthetics (counter productive!) - will get perverse desire from removing after a season and reapplying as necessary! These were unfortunately full RRP . . .however BC did supply half price Griffons and fitted them so not quite B grade but close!
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New Land Rover Defender have a factory option of film covering, scratch/abrasion etc resistant from new.
I'd read about it, don't have one, but was looking at it on another "tentist's" vehicle at a campsite this summer.
Quite an impressive quality and tough finish, also designed to peel off after 1st ownership to leave new paint finish ready for sale, should they want to.
I couldn't do a peel test  but it does look very competent and extremely secured in that application across the various body architecture.
Would seem ideal for considering, as noted above, a car wrap supplier may advise.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@ski3, Car wrapping a common practice these days (matt black / green etc) and does make sense - didn't realise JLR were so practical; negates the fact that most Range Rovers are likely to break down anyway but at least they can now do so in style!
Not sure why wrapping skis should be scorned upon - makes sense in my head and surprised its not a service of sorts. Think I'm going to have a go with the Heli tape and apply on the tails 'up to' the back of the bindings as an experiment . . .
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Surely just delaying the inevitable, and when it happens it will be all the more tragic let alone traumatic. Like that first scratch on a new car.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Belch, you *should* be OK. Tricky bit will depend on the surface of the ski. If it's matt it'll be tricky to get a good finish, if it's a shiny gloss surface then I don't see an issue. Heat allows the vinyl to stretch and form to the surface - the ski itself wouldn't be any hotter than - say - being left in the sunshine for a while. As for removing it later, again dependsmon the surface but it's unlikely to cause delamination or anything like that. If a wrap is left on for years it can cause issues with clearcoat, but the new products are much more neutral and if its applied professionally it's unlikely to cause a problem. Find someone local to you and talk to them.
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@Belch, I coated my last pair of skis with Heli tape, specifically 3M 8671HS. It was mainly to protect from further damage as the top sheets were in poor shape when I bought them second hand. The heli tape has a 'soft' quality and so takes a knock really well. I'll be doing the same with my recently purchased skis too. You can't really even tell it's there once it's applied. I had it overhanging the skis and then trimmed flush with a brand new stanley blade.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just get a snowboard. Most snowboarders will be respectful in the queue for the lift then.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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many years ago (30 or more) there used to be a tape called ski saver for just that purpose, it fell away form use when capped construction skis became more prevalent
it was a thick clear vinyl tape (you could get all sorts of weird patterns as well, remember this was in the 80's), you cleaned the ski, applied the tape and used the supplied razor blade to trim the excess along the edge of the top sheet
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Poster: A snowHead
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Try buying some strips of car paint protection film (PPF), it's clear and will protect from a lot of things.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ster wrote: |
| Surely just delaying the inevitable, and when it happens it will be all the more tragic let alone traumatic. Like that first scratch on a new car. |
This is 100% true and tbf something I've considered . . . if I deem skis are 'keepers' then more likely I'll eventually not bother / remove eventually . . .!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| george_1 wrote: |
| @Belch, I coated my last pair of skis with Heli tape, specifically 3M 8671HS. It was mainly to protect from further damage as the top sheets were in poor shape when I bought them second hand. The heli tape has a 'soft' quality and so takes a knock really well. I'll be doing the same with my recently purchased skis too. You can't really even tell it's there once it's applied. I had it overhanging the skis and then trimmed flush with a brand new stanley blade. |
Thanks for making me feel more sane on this matter - you are not alone brother! Nobody wants to drive a motor that's covered in dinks, unless its a vintage landrover perhaps (or maybe they don't care!) Skis are an investment and should surely be treated the same lol 
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@CEM, Do you get punters still asking for this on new skis / is it a service or now defunct?
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