Summer Grind
SKI|September 2017

Zen and the Art of Ski Maintenance.

Kevin Luby
Summer Grind

Come right about now, with summer not yet fading into fall, one corner of my garage becomes a shrine to skiing—and guilt. The edges of my skis rust in their racks while the black P-Tex, still scarred by rocks and roots of last season, oxidizes from neglect.

It wasn’t always that way. In my early 20s, I wouldn’t hang up the sticks until mid-July, and only after one last whiskey-fueled tuning ritual put my skis to rest in pristine condition for the next season. A few camping trips and backyard BBQs made for some fun flings while my true love headed to the Southern Hemisphere. But by early September, I’d yearn for cooler temps and the comforting embrace of my Gore-Tex. With Gear Guides on the toilet tank, I’d carefully plan my Tour de Labor Day sales trips. Skiing never slipped far from my mind.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of SKI.

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This story is from the September 2017 edition of SKI.

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