Five Ideal Stocking Stuffers for the Ski Bum in the Family

We all have one of those guys in the family who is an absolute nut about skiing. He’s the guy who spends countless hours scraping and brushing his skis to get that perfect glossy bottom; and hours polishing his edges to get those perfect carving arches. So, for the family of that guy, I have put together a list of things that every ski fanatic needs, and they all happen to fit conveniently in a stocking! First up we have the perfect little Travel Iron from Wend. Every ski bum knows how painful it is to ski on slow and sticky skis, but when you have the Wend Travel Iron, there are no more excuses for not being able to keep up with the group. The Wend Travel Iron comes in a compact travel bag for the ultimate convenience, and includes a small block of Universal Wend Wax so they’ll be ready to wax up those skis get up on the slopes. The handle of the Wend Travel Iron is detachable and can clip onto the front of the iron when not in use, making it compact and easy to store. The Wend Travel Iron measures just over 6” in length, making this guy small, light, and perfect for travel. So stop by the shop and pick up the Wend Travel Iron, and you’ll have the first piece you need to create the perfect stocking stuffer package.

The next item on the list is the FK 3100 Multi Base & Edge Beveler. This tool is perfect for getting that edge just right for any snow condition, whether the snow is super soft, firm, or icy. The great thing about this tool is that you can tune your base and side edge while setting the angles by simply adjusting a dial on the side of the tool. The angles offered on the tool range from 0-5 degrees, in steps of 0.5 degree increments, to make sure they can get the exact results they wanted for that edge. When you purchase the FK 3100 Multi Base & Edge Belever, included in the box is a 70mm medium ski file, so they can get straight to tuning those skis. Plus, this bad boy works on both skis and snowboards, so any snow lover can benefit from this little pocket sized Beveler.

Next, we have a pocket sized wax that’s great for all those speed freaks. Here at the Chief we carry many different types of wax that's use varies depending on the temperature and water content of the snow. However, since around this time of year we usually have cold and somewhat dry snow, the conditions are great for one of our favorite waxes, Swix’s CH8 High Performance Glide Wax. This wax is very versatile and works great for Tahoe snow, making it a great option for to use nearly all season long. We carry Swix Ch8 Wax in the 60g block and also the 180g block. But when it comes to stuffing those stocking, as well as the Wend Travel Iron's carrying case, the 60g block is the perfect size.

Now that we have covered Edges, Irons, and Waxes we now need to talk about Scrapers. You NEED a scraper if you’re going to do anything good to your skis. We carry a bunch of Swix scrapers which are a necessity if you’re going to do any sort of hot waxing to your skis. A scraper is also the perfect little nik-nak to put in those stockings.

Lastly, every self tuner will need a brush for polishing up their skis after they scrape off the wax. This is one of the more important steps there are when it comes to prepping your skis for the slopes. When it's time to get polishing, there are many different types of brushes you can use ranging from Brass to Nylon to Horse hair brushes. When it's time to get brushing, to get the best results, these brushes can be used in order from most abrasive to least. However, if you're only going to have one brush, the best single brush for all around use would be the horse hair brush. This brush gets skis nice and polished so they'll be ready for rippin'!

So when you're stuck on goods to get for stuffing those stockings, remember, these are a few items that every skier should have, and they all make perfect little gifts that will make any ski perfectionist stoked! So come on down to The Chief and pick up your stocking stuffer tuning kit for that ski fanatic in your family!!