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Keeping Skins in Play

Skins are on our minds as the price creeps upward for these seemingly disposable essentials.

By

Jason Albert

A well-loved Free Pro 2.0. Time for some TLC to keep these skins in play.

A well-loved Free Pro 2.0. Time for some TLC to keep these skins in play.

As much as I’d like to think this is all serious business here at THR, one look at the news cycle and it’s confirmed: aspirationally, touring and thinking and writing it about takes me very far away from that cycle. To a much better place. And in such a place, we’re going to ruminate today…

Responses

  1. Scotsman

    You have not mentioned the biggest controversy with skins. Friends who insist upon putting their skin savers on at every transition, even when its windy!

    1. Travis

      TRUTH.

  2. Nate Porter

    Good topic Jason. It’s a bummer how often skins get thrown away because people don’t want to reglue them. Sure, it’s a pain, but there’s lots of good info on how to do it. Contour’s Hybrid adhesive attempts to address this with the washable adhesive, but I don’t think most people maintain them as they should, then blame the skin for not sticking. Hybrid adhesive is pretty sketchy in really cold temps and situations where it’s hard to keep snow or moisture off the adhesive, so their useable range of conditions is better suited to a few laps in mild conditions. BSMP has a pretty reasonable reglue service. It’s also a bummer when skins have construction features that cause premature failure, like the stretchy rubber tail straps sewn onto Pomoca skins, or tip attachments that are weak, hard to repair. Some of the responsibility for keeping skins in action lies with the consumer. It’s amazing how much of an afterthought skins are in general, and how lazy people are about good skin habits in the field, and maintaining them.

  3. Travis

    My strange obsession with buying skins compulsively whenever I found them on sale doesn’t seem like such a bad habit right now.

  4. Ethan Ayer

    Tariffs have really increased the price on Pomoca Frees, which make BSMP a more attractive option. And their tip attachment is a better option to prevent snow creeping underneath the skin. Jason, do you know how BSMP skins compare to the Pomoca Frees regarding weight and pacakability?

    1. Jason Albert

      Hey Ethan, I’ll work on getting that info. I handed off an uncut BSMP mohair/mix Endurance skins to someone reviewing the Atomic 108 W last week. And I’ll know more, too, but I’m on a pair of “testers” that might come to market next season.

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