It’s that time of year… time to take your last couple runs then pack your favorite gear away for the summer. Before you do, be sure to give your bases a little love with a hot wax. Our summer storage wax starts the same way as an ordinary hot wax, but instead of scraping the wax, we’ll leave it on for the summer so you can be sure your bases are protected. In the fall, we’ll take it off and you’ll be set to ride!
This special offer is good through the month of April, so bring ’em down as soon as you can.
A big Thank You to the readers of the Wausau Daily Herald who voted us Wausau’s favorite Outdoor Shop.
We’ve worked hard to earn your trust since 1949, and we remain committed to making our founders proud of our community involvement, customer service, product selection, and shopping environment in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin and online.
Some call us a “Ski Shop”, others a “Bike Shop”, and there are a few who still say “Sporting Goods.” We’re all that and a whole lot more. And it’s a blast changing our product mix to suit our region’s ever changing tastes along with the demand for our expert product selection and service online. So stay tuned!
“We would like to thank our mothers, our fathers, the big guy upstairs and all of those who didn’t believe that a little shop in northern Wisconsin could hold it’s own next to the big shops in the big cities for so long. It made us try harder to believe in ourselves. We’re going to Disney World!” – The Sheps Crew
Sad as it may make you, the snow will eventually melt here in Wausau (Wisconsin’s winter wonderland) and it will be time to put your technical outerwear and ski equipment into storage. Prepare your gear properly and you’ll reap the benefits of long life and premium performance.
Washing your jacket, pants or other outdoor apparel is important to the long life of your garment and is just as easy as washing your other laundry. Just follow the care label on your outerwear which is specific to your garment (and related to any warranty that may be in
Care labels are fun to read. No, really!
place), avoiding common detergents like Tide, Cheer, Gain, All, etc. which are too harsh for your technical outerwear. They’re great at getting stains out, but just as ruthless in their treatment of waterproofing materials.
You can get your favorite clothing clean at home without disturbing the DWR (durable water repellent) coating or clogging the waterproof/breathable membrane (commonly referred to as Goretex), which can be destroyed by dry cleaning, by using non-detergent soaps made specifically for technical gear. And you can do it with confidence that the environment won’t be a casualty of your spring cleaning efforts. Pick a liquid, free-rinsing soap to use on your garment. Do not use powder detergents which will clog the pores of your waterproof breathable membrane in your jacket or pant, and steer clear of products with surfactants, detergents, bleaches, softeners, conditioners, or perfumes which can contain waxes or oils or can be hydrophilic, or water-absorbing, which is the opposite of what you paid for when you bought your outerwear.
Our favorite is Tech Wash, which maintains the breathability and original water repellency of your outdoor clothing and can be used in your washing machine or sink. ( Another great choice is Granger’s G-Wash Cleaner.)
Nikwax, the maker of Tech Wash, also makes waterproofing products for any garments that have lost their water repellency or never had it in the first place.
Nikwax TX-Direct restores waterproof/breathable coatings on clothing and gear.Nikwax Tech Wash can be used in your machine or when washing by hand.
You’ll find spray-on or wash-in waterproofing solutions, treatments for fabric, leather and shoes, and more. Shep’s carries Nikwax year round for your snow clothing, fleece garments, bags, raingear, tents, and more. Remember to read the label on your gear!
Now, what to do with your skis or snowboard when the chairlifts stop turning? Proper storage is easy and will make a difference in the performance you see and feel next season.
It starts with a professional tune-up, like the 10-step stone grind and storage hand-wax we offer at Shep’s. But if you tune your own equipment or can’t get to a local shop consider doing the following:
Make sure all rust is removed from the edges of your skis or board. (This can be avoided if you wipe the edges off when you come off the hill each day.)
Once your edges are clean, remove the wax from your bases. Shep’s stocks Swix base cleaner for this purpose.
With a clean base and smooth edges, and using a hot iron made especially for this purpose, generously apply storage wax, covering the edges. When the wax is cool and set, leave it alone. It will protect your edges and bases during the off-season. The storage wax should be scraped off and removed again when your next ski season begins.
Visually inspect your bindings. Snowboard bindings are full of parts that like to work loose over time and are notorious for causing missed runs during the season due to missing straps. Check that you are not missing any screws, washers, nuts or straps and replace them. (Hint: check these before or after each outing during the season too!) For their safety skiers are urged to leave all binding work to a certified technician who is trained and tested by the binding manufacturer each season.
Store your board and skis in a well-ventilated space, away from direct light. Avoid the garage.
If you must keep your skis or board in a garage, hand them on a wall or place a carpet square or even cardboard underneath to reduce the growth of rust due to moisture moving up from the cement.
You may not have drool-worthy storage like this, but try to keep your gear in a well ventilated space and take care to avoid rust and damage from UV light.
Shepherd & Schaller Sporting Goods offers free summer ski and board storage when you purchase a complete tune-up. We will treat your edges and bases to a new finish, store them in “winter wax” which to them is like a month at the spa, and have them freshly waxed, scraped and ready for you come fall. In addition, we can set your bindings for the new season, all while leaving you room in your closet for your water skis and wakeboard! It is good practice to have your ski and snowboard bindings inspected by a certified tech at the beginning of each season. Any time your equipment is not used for a stretch of time there is risk that moving parts become unhealthy. You also need your ski bindings adjusted each season because even if your height, weight, ability and boot sole length stay the same, your age changes, and all are calculated together to arrive at the proper setting formula.
We’d love to help you select brand new equipment each season, but a little TLC and proper cleaning and storage will keep your gear healthy and money in your pocket for that special purchase when the time is right, instead of replacing gear you ruined accidentally.
Call us if you’re not sure how to care for any of your sporting equipment. We’re here to help! 715-845-5432
So what is involved in the “Tune” that makes such a difference in how your skis look, feel and perform? Read on:
1. Inspection: The top, base and edges are wiped clean of any dirt, solvents, and excess wax. Then the ski / board is inspected for any damage.
2. Base Repair: Any nicks, gouges, or core shots are repaired and filled with base repair material. (This service is an extra charge- not everyone needs it.)
3. Base Grinding: The ski/board is then run across the stone grinder to remove any minor damage and make the base flat and true. In doing so, tiny cuts are ground off and the base becomes true and flat. The base becomes able to absorb wax and the structures created aid in gliding. This new structure also helps prevent suction and friction between base and snow. Your ski / board glides better and accomplishes the transition from edge to edge more easily. In addition, different temperatures and snow conditions require different structures – only the technician knows the right formula.
4. Edge Grinding: Most ski and board edges are “bevelled” between 0 and 2 degrees and a continuous smooth surface is created. The WINTERSTEIGER machine is able to reproduce this exact edge for ultimate carving performance on the hill.
5. Waxing: The last step in tuning is hot waxing. Hot wax impregnates the base, protects against damage and improves the gliding and turning properties of skis and boards. Professional level waxing is a 4-step process in itself. Shep’s offers a full line of Swix waxes from rub-on Universal F4 to Cera F (which World Cup racers know is not actually a wax, but 100% fluorinated carbons) as well as brushes, files, stones, vices, tables and everything you need for at-home touch-ups in between your professional services.
6. Hot Box: Shep’s Swix Hot Box is used by top level competitors and serious recreational skiers and riders to prepare equipment for top level performance. Warm air at a constant temperature allows wax to penetrate and saturate base material for the ultimate in base protection and glide capabilities. Hot Box wax service can be added to any Tune purchase for an additional fee. Visit our Repair page for current pricing.
Ski or board tuning should only be carried out by a WINTERSTEIGER trained technician who understands your requirements. Unprofessional tuning can have negative effects and spoil your fun in skiing or snowboarding. Although manual tuning is possible, WINTERSTEIGER guarantees perfect bases and exact edges.
Regular ski / board tuning keeps your equipment in top shape and guarantees each run you take down the hill brings more enjoyment for you!
