Best portable adjustable ski sharpener for racing skis?

Question

Need something I can take on the mountain and adjust angles for both base and sides. What materials are best for razor-sharp edges? Best brands / models? Price? Is there a brand that has a magnet inside to gather up the filings?

Answer 1

There are sevral brands over the past few years that will give you a side bevel, Swix, Toko, SkiLite, only the last made by Barrecrafter, allows a base bevel also.  I would not recommend that you try to adjust the bevels on the hill just before a race. It may change the performance of the ski too quickly for you to compensate in your technique.  Talk with your race coach about the advisability of making those changes.  I spend about 6-8 hours a day on skiis 5-7 days a week. I use a 1x1 bevel and allow the skiis to ease into a turn and still have a good long lasting edge.  If you want easier iniation of the turn, you might try a 1.5 x1.5 bevel for the first  1/3 of the shovel and then a  1x1 bevel on the rest of the ski.  For a really sharp edge, a finer finish will give a better feel to it.  Polish the edges with a fine diamond stone at the angles you have sharpened them.  I know of no tool with a magnet included, but you could tape a magnet to  tool.  As to price  somewhere between 30 and 100 USD.  All brands will wear out evetually, replace the small file when the tool is no longer performing to your expectations.  Most edge hold problems are not due to a dull edge but rather poor technique, If you let your downhill hand come up or too far forward, your downhill hip rotates through the turn and the edge is released, causing a slide to the side and downhill backwards.  Soften your legs and bend the uphill or inside leg more.  I hot wax my skiis every 3 days of use, and touch up the edges every 6 days. I'm no longer racing, but the best advice is talk with your coach, the sponsor rep and then use your own best judgement.