I have some Rossignol skis that I use every season during winter vacation. I'm not sure if it's normal to spend so much on sharpening and waxing, or if there are cheaper ways to keep them in good condition without always taking them to the shop.
How many times a year do you actually use them? If it's just winter vacation, we're talking maybe two or three outings max, so they don't need maintenance every month. A good sharpening and waxing at the shop costs somewhere between $50 and $100, depending on the place, and if you do it once or twice a year that's pretty normal. The cheapest way is to learn to do it yourself with a basic maintenance kit (they run around $30-40), but honestly, if you don't mind spending that money, the shops are safer and they'll get them in proper shape for you.
The truth is, it's not always worth paying so much at the shop if you only ski a couple of times a year. I have some skis I use during vacation and I found that doing basic edge sharpening every two seasons is fine, while I do the waxing myself at home with cheap products that cost around 15-20 dollars, it takes an hour and they're ready to go. If you really don't ski much, a decent cleaning and a coat of homemade wax between seasons keeps your skis in shape without draining your wallet every year.
Sharpening and waxing aren't optional expenses if you want your skis to work well and last for years 🎿 What you can do is space out workshop visits more if you ski little (every other season is fine if you only go on vacation), but watch out for leaving them without maintenance too long: the edges rust and lose their sharpness, and the base dries out and cracks. If you want to save money, try learning to wax them yourself at home (it's easier than it seems and the supplies don't cost much), but edge sharpening is better left to someone who has the right equipment, because doing it wrong will ruin your skis.
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