Mono Cera Professional Ski and Snowboard Tuning

“Tune” your equipment for the off season

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:34:11 +0000

This is just a quick one, as it’s April 25th and most of us are done with the our seasons. Always a tough time of year… putting the gear away for ”next year”. Believe it or not, there is one more reason to tune your equipment. Summer. Yeah, it would be too easy to stash the board(s) in the closet and say, “goodbye”, ’til next autumn when you wake ‘em up again. Truth be told, you’ll be doing your gear and yourself a huge favor by getting one more tune on them, before “hybernation”!

The end of the season tune, or “storage tune” can be pretty important, and make next season’s start that much easier on you. First, assess your base: is there any significant damage that needs to be addressed-? Now may be the time. Get them dialed now, so that they’re ready out of the gate! Second, get those edges set and ready. Have them de-burred or sharpened, so when they do go on the new snow next season, they’ll actually perform for you. Third, and most important ( and really the most easiest step,) invest a layer of storage wax on your equiptment. It will help prevent oxidation, or “drying”, of your base. What’s better, you don’t even have to scrape it off! Leave it on, and do yourself a favor and use a medium temperature range wax. This way if “old man winter” comes knocking early and you’re in a pinch, at least you’ll have something on your base that will perform… After you scrape it! You can even take it a step further and “crayon’ some wax onto your edges to prevent oxidation (, in this case “rusting,”) in them as well .

So do yourself and your equipment a favor and take a little time now, and save a whole lot of time later on when it may be a bit more valuable to you. It may save your equipment as well!

Final in “recap”

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:09:19 +0000

March saw us leave for Vancouver and the Paralympics.

The Creekside at Whistler would be home for two weeks.

Rick "Pup" Ascher, of "Pup's Glide Shop" in Breck., CO, takes a break in one of the five stalls in the US Wax Cabin.

First day on hill was a "lay day" and a chance for all teams to check out each course and it's start. "Sasquatch...", no Head US Tech Jared Hawn towering over Blackcomb Mt. from Whistler.

Jared Hawn sets race specific bevel.

US Tech, Luke Byers, applies race and temp. specific wax.

Early Risers... Jared and "Pup" move race skis to the mountain at 6 o'clock am. All race ski's were brought to course starts, and all "trainers" were brought to the top of the gondola and ready for the athletes.

Start area: Head US Tech. Jared Hawn and Head Physio Kevin Pillifant ready for the race ahead.

Tricky weather patterns led to the old race saying, "Hurry up and wait". Due to snow, fog, and some rain(!), athletes like Alana Nichols, Tyler Walker, and Chris Devlin Young sort cover where ever they could.

Yeah, i did say "rain". Ralph Lauren outerwear!

Torch burning in Ceremony Plaza.

"Trainers" set out at dawn. The Athletes wouldn't be too far behind.

Another day, another early start. Kevin says, "Yeah" to no rain!

Chris Devlin Young ("CDY") receives the course report from the coaching staff via Jared.

... Another start. Kevin looks on.

Jared applies an overlay. Due to varying conditions of the course, overlays became a necessity on certain race days. The Canadian Tech Team and Physio celebrate after two very successful weeks! Big shout out to Tim, the Forerunner from Ontario, hiding behind the Flag. ”Timmy!”

US Tech, Luke Byers carries the Flag down course to the medal ceremony, after the final racer is off course. Team USofA took Gold and Silver in Women's Super Combine!

Canada was a incredible host to the World for over a month!

The Tech Team shares a moment with Alana Nichols. Congrats to Alana for winning two Golds, a Silver and Bronze... And congrats to the Techs for looking like bozos!

Two incredible weeks of competition in the books. Time to head home and sleep for a week!

Next in “recap”

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:44:05 +0000

Out of Mammoth and onto Snow Basin in Ogden Utah, for the second stop in the Dew Tour. Andres Wiig and Chas Guildemond sit for a bit before men's slopestyle with Ninja!

Torstein Horgmo discusses the course with Andres and Chas.

Another town, another wax room! Welcomed by the Marriot in Ogden Utah!

After Snow Basin, just about everyone moved onto Park City to wrap the Grand Prix's and find out who would be heading to Vancouver to represent the USofA! For Mono Cera it was a quick stop back in Summit County and then on to the X-Games in Aspen, CO.

Nick Baumgartner, who would be named to the USofA Boardercross team, does some "damage" that not even the tech's can repair. Nick kills it, but the course bit back this time.

Sammy Carlson gets some work in at practice. The kid is a machine, always working hard.

Sammy takes a look at the top of the Slopestyle Course. Sammy owned it and walked with a silver.

Kjersti Ostgaard Buass sets to drop and slay the Slopestyle Course at Buttermilk!

Kjersti on Course...

Women's Slopestyle Contenders, Chanelle Sladics and Jamie Anderson, stop by the Swix Speed Shack to get their gear prepped. Kenny Nault and BJ Mazzolla take care of them.

After X-Games '10, it was back to Mono Cera in Dillon, CO, to structure boards for Olympians Torah Bright and Kjersti Buass. USofA Adaptive Team Head Tech., Jared Hawn dresses the stone to produce the proper structure for conditions the riders will encounter at Cypress Mountain, where the Halfpipe Contest was held. After traveling the world over with the USofA Team for World Cup events and Championships, Jared is one of the few who can address the conditions skiers and riders will encounter anywhere on the Globe!

Torah's boards get the grind and structure at Mono Cera.

Luke Byers sets wax on just one of the four boards prepped for Torah. Torah killed it! Taking gold with what may be considered her "safety run". Congrats Torah!

The day after "prepping" boards for the Olympics, it was off to Mt. Snow, VT, for the final stop the Dew Tour. Apologies, this was the only shot i got from VT. Super busy at this one, and not only did the athletes kill (-Jamie Anderson taking the overall Championship for Women at the Dew Tour, Torstein Horgmo winning Men's Slopestyle, and JJ Thomas continuing his onslaught and winning Mens Halfpipe!), but everyone involved and working on the Dew Tour did a great job! Seems to get better each season!

2010 Northern Hemisphere Season… recap

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:44:59 +0000

Well, i hope that everyone out there had a good season! It was tricky finding snow at times in North America, not necessarily the best snow season on record for some parts of the US… sitting here after riding a foot of fresh at Arapahoe Basin in Summit County, reflecting on the past seven months, it all seems really good. Crazy how one great day on snow will change your perceptions so quickly! Anyways, i’ve been really slack and away from the site, so i figured that i should really take a quick look back on the season and post a recap. Here we go…

The New Year passed and brought us to the second and third Qualifiers for the Olympic Team, at the Chevy Grand Prix in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Olympic Year.

Another town, another wax cabin! Kenny Nault of Swix "decorates".

Jamie Anderson and Shaun White's boards set for some work.

Danny Kass' new board gets set with temp. specific wax.

Kenny Nault works on Kelly Clark's board amidst another chaotic start.

The Pipe gets "tuned".

Shaun White waits to "drop in".

Coach Bud Keane and Shaun discuss some new tricks as the Grand Prix wraps up in Mammoth, and prepares to move on to Park City, Utah.

Deciembre!

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:05:38 +0000

It’s been an insanely busy December. As many of us are aware, it is an Olympic year. Viva the ‘Couver! That means many of this years events are either qualifying events, or an opportunity for winter athletes from all over the globe to get competition “ready” versus world class competition. That being said, every thing is a go, and has been since last Northern Hemisphere’s summer! Everything this season has had a little more of a feel of urgency or importance to it. First, athletes want on to their respective country’s team. Second, they want the grand prize, to be atop the podium after “battling” the rest of the world’s best! This being stated, you can imagine that the responsibilities that weigh on the Technicians, who will be responsible for bringing these athletes equipment up to world class standards, are massive. Skis and boards were being “prepped” as early as September, in some cases as early as August! So in rolled December, and so rolled the dice. It’s go time! Here are some photos to peak into the last very busy month!

Jared Hawn, Head Technician for the US of A Adaptive Ski Team, standing in front of about $30,000 worth of "fire wood"! This is only half the load that Jared's been prepping since September! For good measure as well, the USAS Team took 9 of 12 Gold at their first stop in Winter Park, Colorado. About a week off, and then they're off to Europe for a month.

US of A Snowboard Team Head Technician Stu Sores and Swix' Global Freeride Head Technician Kenny Nault, setting temp/condition specific wax and prepping boards for the first Chevy Grand Prix, a heavy first stop in Olympic Qualifiers for the US of A Halfpipe Team. Months of work paid off for both with four of their respective athletes "podium-ing", and taking a step closer to landing on the US of A Olympic Team. The men saw Shawn White and Louie Vito going one and two, and the women's results were Kelly Clark and Gretchen Bleiler going one, two as well. Congrats to the riders, and a moment to take a deep breath and have a "soda" for the Techs, before getting right back into prepping for their next stop. Literally, "no rest for the wicked", there will be a couple of weeks to turn over a few dozen boards before the next Grand Prix stop in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Just a "few" boards for Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis. (In all fairness, one of those is Jack Mitrani's). Well, Danny killed it at the Mountain Dew Tour Pipe men's Finals, taking first and unleashing not one but two Double Corked 1080's in his winning run! Kevin opted to take advantage of Copper's Super Pipe and get some more work in on the 22' walls the fellas will be seeing at the next Grand Prix stop in Mammoth, CA.

Danny Davis and Kevin Pearce stopped by "Mono Cera", Dillon CO, to drop off a few boards to be ground for structure. Structure plays just another role in the prep work for halfpipe boards and the guys know that it's worth taking advantage of anything that will ensure optimum performance out of their gear. The tune on a board can play a big part, but talent has a lot to do with it, and these guys have plenty of Talent!

Kenny Nault puts a little “magic” into Shawn White’s board at the Copper Grand Prix. Must of worked, because Shawn went into orbit and threw down the eventual winning run! Starting launches are always super busy areas at events. Riders try to just stay loose and go thru their runs, media is usually pretty busy, especially at big events. Techs are brushing, waxing, checking edges, checking bindings, waxing…

Zach Black of Summit County takes a huge step towards the Olympics, and in Very Good Company! Congrats Zach!

Copper Grand Prix Men's Podium. You know the Techs, Stu and Kenny, like what they see here. Lot of hard work paying off for everyone.

... Back at "Mono Cera", doing the rough work on edges for the US of A Adaptive Skit Team.

Another town, a new "wax room"! Welcome to Breckenridge, CO! First stop on the Mountain Dew Tour, and what only felt like hours after Kelly and Shawn closed up the Copper Grand Prix. Watch out America, these wax labs pop-up in "unsuspecting" neighborhoods throughout the Country, especially when big events roll into town! Thanks for the locale to The Canadian Halfpipe Team and Coach, Trennon Paynter.

Kenny Nault of Swix checks with Sammy Carlson for feedback, but the ski's are dialed! There isn't much that can hold Sammy back. The kid just slays it, and he did it again, taking third in Men's Slopestyle!

Bruce and Jossi Wells take a moment and "talk" thru a run at Dew Tour's Men's Slopestyle. Jossi would "fry bigger fish" a couple hours later, taking second in Men's Halfpipe!

Canadian Halfpipe Team's Mike Riddle threw down an insane run, and stomped his way to the top of the Dew Tour Podium! A lot of work went into Mike's sticks, but again, not nearly as much practice Mike has invested into himself! When you have an athlete like Mike, you only hope that the tune will eliminate any negative elements the snow may present, and allow the athlete to have no concerns with there equipment's performance. Then the athlete can perform with fewer concerns ( ie: speed, edges, etc.) weighing on them. Sometimes you just have an athlete that "won't be denied". Congrats Mike! That wrapped up Contests thru Deciembre, but it only meant that all those Techs, Athletes, and Coaches were back getting ready for the next one! Here comes January... Doesn't look any quieter!

Look to the Forecast… But Know the Snow You’re On!

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:30:35 +0000

* i GUESS THE PURPOSE OF THIS “BLOG” IS TO CORRELATE IT’S TECHNICAL MEANING TO THE COMMON SKIER/BOARDER… TO PUT IT IN LANGUAGE WE ALL DIG. i APOLOGIZE IF IT’S NOT “TECH-SPECIFIC” FOR SOME, BUT HOPE IT PROVIDES EXPLANATION FOR OTHERS.

With tuning its interesting that we’re constantly looking to the future! Yup, always checking on the forecast and trying to prescribe the best wax application in order to ensure us the best day on slope. I know, some people will say, “I never wax, it’s a waste of time”, or “I’ve ridden my skis/board straight out of the wrapper for the last two months”! Both are more than legit opinions, and honestly, no one knows how you like to ride your gear more than you. I mean you’re the one standing on it, right-?

Where it is a fact, that proper application of the correct temperature specific wax will reduce friction and drag on the base of your skis/board, and promote glide characteristics, only you can determine what type of performance you want your gear to achieve. Again, this being said, I hope only to convince you to take a bit of time to wax your skis/board for no other reason than “protection”! My point of looking to forecast is that it can be a drag, especially if you don’t see snow in it. More importantly, get to know the snow that you’re on or going to be riding. See, you can get away with not waxing, or not waxing regularly – if you have decent structure in your gear and, again, if that’s what you’re into. The problem here is that the snow that we ride upon is made up of crystals, and those crystals tear away at the base of your gear, ripping away what wax you do have in your base and even some of the base material itself! (This has nothing to do with the numerous contaminants that lie within the snow.)

The snow is your buddy, but let’s paint it this way: Almost every time you head out on it, it’s taking away something from your skis/board. Pretty crappy. You like your gear, you don’t want to see this happen to it… This is where wax enters the equation. Wax is the only material that you can “invest” into your skis/board (-other than p-tex, but that’s a whole other animal.) By waxing your gear, or bringing it to a tech. to do so, you’re not only improving the glide ratio, but you’re also investing into the base a protective measure.

You could look at the base of your skis/board as your skin. It’s not healthy for your body if your skin gets burnt-? The epidermal tissue usually dies and falls away. Sounds bad. Well, your base material does the same when it is “burnt” (look for oxidation or “whitening” on heavy contact points, ie: “under foot”) by the massive friction it creates with the snow crystals… Except when it “falls away”, it doesn’t rejuvenate like your skin! Protect that base! ”Moisturize” it, wax it! If not for performance then for protection. You like your gear. Treat it right, and it’ll treat you right. Look out for each other.

Point being: Yup it’s a drag always “looking to the future” or planning ahead, but addressing the snow that is already out there can sometimes be even more critical to the preservation and performance of your gear. Take a moment, maybe you have a “soda” and give a little something back to your gear. It’ll reward you in the long run. Oh, and pray for more snow!

Welcome to Mono Cera!

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:05:28 +0000

Setting edges with SnowGlide Tool for US Adaptive Team.

Well, here we go! This is the first blog in what i hope will be many. It’s a pretty difficult concept… a website/blog about tuning skis and snowboards. Could be boring to some, interesting to others. i’ll try to keep it as interesting as i can. What i hope to provide is some “tips” or “tricks” to the basics of tuning your gear, and additionally some insight into the activities of Mono Cera during the winter season.

i hope this is as enlightening as it is entertaining, and encourages you to start or continue tuning your own gear so that you can enjoy your time “on hill” even more so than i know you already do! Like i said, “here we go”, let’s have some fun with it!