Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Haven’t noticed mention of this site before.

https://www.slidewright.com/products/

Lotsa cool tools, etc. for those of us who enjoy puttering with stuff when skiing conditions suck or are nonexistent. The Tuning Tips tab under Support in the Main Menu has some neat articles.

Wow! Great resource, there is definitely more product than my go to resource.

I appreciate the information they share about using different tools, etc. as well- they mention the different ways they’ve used the Big Gator Tools V-Drill Guide Standard for example.

I purchased the SkiVisions base planer and file holder from SlideWright this past fall. As far as I can tell, it is the only consumer-level tool of its kind, and has been a great value. It will not "blank" skis (I used the file holder on one pair of edge-high skis, and the results... were not flat); it will only do a linear structure (I tried adding a cross-hatch on top, by hand with a wire brush on my spring skis, looks like there might be some warm snow to try those out later this week); but you can get a good-enough tune out of it. Works well for restoring dried-out, scratched, high, and even wavy bases on older skis, particularly no-edge XC ones. The included 1/2in square lathe tool is ground flat enough to use as a true bar (actually, better than some commercial true bars, because it has 4 edges, so you don't have to worry if you ding one). Great value, will probably pay for itself in 4-5 shop grinds.

Just do not get the "Structure Disk upgrade." The reason I bought the SkiVisions tool was because I was dissatisfied with what sandpaper can do. I don't see a way you can get a flat base or even a half-decent structure by hand-sanding, and I certainly do not see the need for a $115 USD sanding block.

Mark Sewell, the original inventor of the SkiVisions tool, made some very informative videos about ski tuning:

https://www.youtube.com/@marksewell7928