How to Store Phantom Glide-Treated Skis for Summer
Put Your Treated Skis Away Right
Part of the appeal of Phantom Glide is how little it asks of you between seasons: it goes on once and lasts the life of the base.
That doesn't mean you can toss your skis in a corner, though. For the full rundown on closets, racks, basements and garages, see our guide on how to store your ski gear. This piece sticks to what's different once your base has Phantom Glide, and what isn't.
What Stays the Same
Spring snow is dirty, so start with a rinse: spray your skis off with a hose, especially after slushy spring days. Then let everything air dry overnight.
Rinse, then dry everything before it goes away.
Phantom Glide doesn't take care of your edges, so give them a pass with a gummy stone to clear any burrs or rust. Then store your skis somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. In a garage, keep them in a case that protects them from humidity. In an unfinished basement, use a dehumidifier or careful packing (nobody has time for rusting edges!).
Storage Wax on a Treated Base
We recommend a thick coat of wax over the summer that you don't scrape off, to protect your skis from the heat. Run it over the edges too: a thick coat that covers the edges keeps air and moisture off so they won't rust. Our snowboard tuning guide shows it on a board, but skis have the same steel edges.
Wax can go on top of Phantom Glide, so if a storage coat is part of your routine, keep it. The coat still covers your edges, and in the fall you just give your skis a quick scrape and they're ready to rip again.
Check the Base Before It Goes Away
Phantom Glide doesn't prevent base abrasion. That's the dry, white look a base picks up with use, and the end of the season is a good time to look for it. The Base Care Kit's three pads, Clean, Prime and Polish, are made for this. The Prime pad removes base abrasion. The At Home Kit box says about 30 seconds with each pad restores glide.
Found a gouge? A P-Tex repair works the same way on a treated base as on an untreated one. If it's an exceptionally deep gash, or it's next to the edge, take it to a ski shop.
Gearhead Tip: Phantom Glide doesn't replace a tune. Every ski and snowboard still needs a periodic stone grind and tune, so if your skis are due, book it before the snow flies.
Got a Kit Left Over?
Store a Single Application Kit somewhere cool and dry, away from sunshine, and don't open the packets until you're ready to treat a base. The kit has a shelf life of 2 years.
Keeping a treated base in shape? The Base Care Kit ($49.95) handles upkeep. Treating a second pair? Grab a Single Application Kit ($99.99) or the At Home Kit ($199.95), or see which kit does what. Questions about storing your setup? Chat with a Gearhead.