The 2015 season is quickly approaching and as your focus narrows there are several actions you should be taking. By October you should have your equipment out of your bags, scraped, and layering wax into your bases. At this point you should have done inventory on your equipment fixed or replaced any broken bindings, ordered new boards, and if necessary had them ground with their applicable structure. If the bases on your boards are still in pristine condition...just add wax. They are hydrated and should be running fast if you removed the fluoros, and travel waxed them with a soft hydrocarbon wax at the end of last season. If your board didn't warrant a new structure because it held up well and you did not have any major scratches then keep it fast. If you grind your board after it has been hydrated, you will essentially have to start from page one again. If you did order new boards the first thing you should do is have a structure put on it (by a reputable tech) as well as side and base bevels. Your bevels will vary by personal preference so if you are young enough or if you don't know, try different bevels and learn what you like long before your first race. Your early season training should be dialing in your equipment and stocking your race pack with spare parts, brushes, tools, and overlays. If you have questions about equipment, structures, or wax, ask your coach or local TOKO shop! That is what we are here for. In short, by this time of year you should have your equipment and be hydrating your bases by cycling wax into them. An example would be using hydrocarbon (Toko NF) wax of different temperature ranges. I would typically start warm to open up the pores and work my way to colder wax to penetrate and harden the base...wash, rinse, and repeat. If you have access to a hotbox it would not hurt to cycle the same temperature ranges. As always, make sure you brush.

Cody Brown

Head SBX Coach

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club