FREE Ski Tuning Clinic Series is Back for the 2026/27 Winter Season!
Free Ski Tuning Clinics Are Back at Start Haus
Winter is coming, which means it’s time to get your gear ready. We’re bringing back our free ski tuning clinic series this season, with seven sessions running from November through February. Whether you’ve never touched a wax iron or have been tuning for years, this clinic series has something for you!
Our lead ski technician, Brandon Sims, will guide each session - bringing years of World Cup-level experience to his instruction. Each clinic covers one topic: tuning basics, edging, waxing, advanced tuning, and spring storage. Come to the ones that touch on what you want to learn, or hit all seven for the full workshop. Waxing and edging are our most popular, so we’ve given you a couple of chances to catch those sessions.
All clinics are held at the shop, 11351 Hwy 89 in Truckee. No registration needed, and no cost. Skiers and snowboarders welcome! Check out the schedule below and mark your calendar - we'll see you in the shop!
Intro to Ski & Board Tuning Basics
Saturday, November 7
6 to 7pm at the Shop
An overview of ski construction and an introduction to tuning techniques. A great starting point for those who are new to ski tuning, or a refresher course for those with more experience. This session will cover:
- Why tuning is important
- Basic vs. advanced tune kit setup
- Waxing (types and different applications)
- Basic care, handling and storage
Wax Clinic
**Two Dates**
Saturday, November 28
Saturday, January 16
6 to 7pm at the Shop
In this session, we'll focus on the wide world of waxing, with discussion about different types of waxes and techniques for applying them. We'll go over:
- Types of wax applications (iron, liquid, spray, paste, overlay)
- How to iron wax
- How to apply quick applications (liquid, spray, paste)
- Infrared wax - hotbox - phantom (discussion only)
Edge Clinic
**Two Dates**
Saturday, December 12
Saturday, February 13
6 to 7pm at the Shop
Well-maintained edges vastly improve performance on the hill. This session gives an overview of ski edge anatomy and demonstrates proper tuning of the edges using the appropriate tool: files, diamonds and even some power tools will be covered. We'll discuss:
- Edge angle selection (competition or recreational)
- Edge check and bevel inspection
- Edge maintenance tools
- Detuning and debur
World Cup/Advanced Tuning
Saturday, January 2
6 to 8pm at the Shop **2 hr clinic**
For those who want to up their tuning game, the Advanced Clinic will cover the full World Cup prep of a ski, from the initial sidewall prep and edge sharpening to advanced race wax applications. This is a 2hr clinic, so bring a snack and prepare to go deep! A few highlights of this session include:
- Advanced tool kit setup
- Sidewall pulling and shaping
- Edge sharpening (base and side bevels)
- Advanced waxing techniques (race wax and overlay)
Spring Tuning
Saturday, February 20
6 to 7pm at the Shop
The final installment in the series covers the unique tuning needs as winter shifts to spring. We’ll touch on waxing for spring conditions, inspecting for damage, making simple repairs, and preparing for summer storage. A few of the highlights:
- Ski inspection for damage (edges, base, core delam, bindings)
- Minor p-Tex repair
- Waxing for spring conditions and summer ski camps
- End of season storage (storage wax and location)