Leif Sunde and Sam Petty are are highly experienced ski technicians who cofounded the Denver Sports Lab in Golden, Colo., to make Olympic- level tunes available to the public. Step 3: Once edges are sharp, affix a diamond stone to the angle-indicated side of the file guide and work down the length of the edge to give it a polished finish. Again, work in a feathering motion to take care not to take off too much material.

Step 2: In a light and feathery motion, move the file guide with file down the length of the side edge in sections to remove some of the edge material.

Step 1: Using a spring clamp, affix bastard file to the angle-indicated side of the file guide so that the smooth and clean side of the guide is in contact with the base. How to sharpen skis’ side edges To sharpen edges, affix a bastard file to the file guide. Ensure constant contact between the file guide and the ski’s base. Allow the file guide to do the work-you shouldn’t be getting an arm workout while polishing your edges. Step 2: In a light and feathery motion, move the file guide with diamond stone down the length of the side edge. Step 1: Using a spring clamp, affix diamond stone to the angle-indicated side of the file guide so that the smooth and clean side of the guide is in contact with the base. Read next: 3 Ski Tuning Myths Debunked How to remove rust and minor burrs from ski edges To remove rust and burs, use a spring clamp to affix a diamond stone to the file guide. Pro tip: While adjustable file guides can be set to varying bevel angles, Sunde recommends working with a fixed file guide for a more accurate tune. Before tuning your edges, check your skis’ side edge bevel and use a file guide with the appropriate bevel angle. Skis generally come with a 1- to 3-degree factory side bevel, which means the skis’ side edges have an 89-, 88-, or 87-degree angle. The trickiest part is figuring out which file guide to use, as this depends on your skis’ factory side bevel. Minor scratches, burrs, rust, or dull patches on the skis’ side edges, however, can be easily addressed at home. “If you find any major damage from rocks, especially on your base edges, take your skis to a shop and have the technicians address it with their machines,” says Sunde. Unless you’re an accomplished and confident ski technician, sharpening base edges should be left to the pros. Leif Sunde, ski technician and cofounder of the Denver Sports Lab, recommends getting into the habit of inspecting your skis’ edges at the end of every ski day to make sure they’re free and clear of any nicks and burrs. Like their bases, your skis’ edges require regular maintenance to ensure they’re running as smoothly as possible in all snow conditions. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+

How to measure ski edge angle