In China, ice and snow sports are gaining in popularity, with many people rushing to resorts for fun during the season. Thus, maintenance of skis and snowboards have become a common profession. A professional from Yunding Snow Park in Hebei Province gave CGTN's Zheng Yibing some tips on keeping the gear in top shape.
Waxing and sharpening are the core of winter gear maintenance. They not only ensure optimal performance but also safety and longevity.
After cleaning the base, the maintainer melts wax using a special iron.
YANG XIAOLONG Winter gear maintainer "Waxing helps skis and snowboard move faster and gives them better protection. There are five types of wax for different temperature ranges. The lowest temperature the wax can endure is minus 32 degrees Celsius. And every eight degrees Celsius are a unit. Like the wax we chose today is for minus 18 to minus 6 degrees Celsius."
After it cools down, the maintainer scrapes off excess wax and then brushes the base to remove remaining wax particles.
YANG XIAOLONG Winter gear maintainer "Then we polish it and after that, the 'base texture' shows up and it is crucial for maintaining speed and performance."
Yang stresses the importance of the edge maintenance, saying that sharp edges are crucial for control and grip on hard snow or ice.
YANG XIAOLONG Winter gear maintainer "Then, the ski can glide steadily over the snow, and it doesn't deviate from the path, and it makes it easier to brake."
Yang says that some skis and snowboards that have been often used, require base repair. And after this, the gear will be ready to use again or storage.
YANG XIAOLONG Winter gear maintainer "You feel a great sense of accomplishment when you see the whole process of a board with scratches and gouges becoming like a brand new one. This is joy. But the necessary skills are acquired over a long time. I began training on our own boards and five or six years later, I can begin offering the service to guests."
Yang has seven teammates. They maintain gear that has been rented out more than 100,000 times, plus many others, per year. And as ice and snow sports become more popular, such winter gear maintenance work is becoming more important.
Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.