The last remains of winter are melting away and it's the perfect time to get your skis ready for storage over the summer months. Preparing and properly storing your ski equipment in the summer extends its life and performance, and gives you a longer and more pleasant feeling when using it. And of course - it's nice and satisfying to take care of your favorite equipment!

Here are some tips on how to prepare your ski gear at home:

• Ski touring and alpine skis

Clean, wax and store. The main care that all skis require is waxing for storage. The wax protects the base from drying out and scratching. Clean the base of the skis using a special wax/base cleaner. Wipe off excess product and allow to dry. Wipe the base clean with a lint-free cloth such as Swix Fiberlene. Then apply a heated layer of medium warm glide wax such as Swix PS7, PS8 or equivalent. Wait for it to dry and then store your skis (preferably horizontally) in a dry place until the snow falls again.

Ski Skins

Ski touring skins should be stored with the transport nets in a cool room. We recommend placing the skins in the refrigerator or freezer. The goal – to prevent the glue from melting. Storing the belts in a cool to cold environment extends their life as well as helps them adhere well to the skis.

Bindings

It is recommended ski touring and alpine ski bindings to be "relaxed" - set the indicator for kilograms to 0 (zero). Let the biniding "rest". Keep the ski touring  bindings "locked" - this way there is less tension and less tension is generated in the binding. Once a season, we also recommend lubrication of the machines.

Ski boots

Make sure the sock in the shoe is completely dry. To do this, you can remove the sock to "breathe" and be completely dry during the summer months. This will also release any moisture held in the shell. Once you're sure the sock and shell are completely dry, tuck the sock inside and close the shoe stringers to keep the shape of the shell.

• Cross Country skis

For the cross country skis, again, the most important thing is to take care of the base of the skis. Clean the base as well as all slide areas and grip areas (for traditional classic skis) using a special wax/base cleaner. Wipe off excess product and allow to dry. Wipe the base clean with a lint-free cloth such as Swix Fiberlene. Then apply a heated layer of medium warm glide wax such as Swix PS7, PS8 or equivalent. Wait for it to dry and then store your skis (preferably horizontally) in a dry place until the snow falls again.

Cross-country skin skis

Clean the skin using a special cleaner for skin skis. Regular base cleaner may contain solvents that are too harsh and can damage the glue that attaches the skin to the base.

Shoes

Make sure the shoes are dry and there is no moisture left in the sock. Fasten the zippers and velcro summers and store the shoes in a dry room.

In case you want professional intervention to prepare your skis for the summer, you can turn to Basecamp Service+Rental. The Service has a full range of materials, tools and professional machines for cleaning and leveling the base, sharpening the edges, treating the base with wax and "sealing" the skis for the warm months. Basecamp Service+Rental is waiting for you at: Sofia, 47 Cherni Vrah Blvd., Siven Business Center.

Traditionally, summer is also the best time to renew and replenish ski equipment - in this spirit, at Basecamp shop you can get advantage of up to -50% on ski boots, skis, poles, ski skins, clothing and more! Check out all the offers here.