I have some Salomon skis that my dad gave me about 8 years ago and I still use them on winter vacation. The problem is the edges are pretty rusty and the base has some deep scratches. A technician told me fixing them would be expensive, almost like buying a decent used pair. Does anyone know if it's really worth investing in the repair?
It's not worth it if the technician already told you it costs almost as much as a decent used pair, because on top of that your skis are going to keep aging. At 8 years old they've had their time, and even though Salomon makes good quality stuff, oxidized edges and a scratched base affect how they perform in the snow, so you're better off looking for a used pair in good condition or even a new one if you find something on sale. The only thing you could preserve is the sentimental value, but if you're serious about skiing, new or nearly new skis are going to give you a better experience.
If the technician already quoted you a repair price and it's close to what used skis in good condition go for, the move is to check what's available on the secondhand market before you decide 🎿 What nobody mentions is that if the edges are oxidized, that affects how the ski grips the snow and it's the first thing you notice - so even if you repair the base, that edges issue is going to keep bothering you. From my experience, when equipment gets to that point, you end up fixing one thing and a month later something else breaks, so it's better to look for a used pair that's in better overall shape.
How much do you actually use the skis in a year? Because if it's just a couple of weeks on vacation, fixing them makes more sense than if you were hitting the mountain every weekend. Rusty edges and deep scratches aren't the end of the world, but if the tech already told you the repair is gonna cost around the same as a decent used pair, you should definitely hunt for deals on the secondhand market first - you might score something newer and in better shape for the same money instead of throwing cash at skis that are already getting old!
Don't just go by what the technician tells you without doing your own research. Sometimes these quotes are pretty pessimistic, or the guy is trying to sell you something new.
What really matters here is whether those skis still work well for you to ski on. Rusty edges and base scratches are real problems, but they're not the end of the world if the ski structure is still intact. I've seen people using old gear for years without any issues. The thing is, if the repairs cost about as much as finding used ones in similar condition, then you're paying the same but ending up with equipment that's already got some years on it.
My advice: before you decide, check the local market and see what secondhand gear you can find at the price the technician quoted. Salomon is a reliable brand, so there's plenty of used stock out there. Compare it with what you have. If the new or used skis you find are noticeably better (lighter, better technology, better condition), then spend the money there. But if what you're seeing is similar, go ahead and repair them no problem. You're only using these skis on vacation, so you're not putting as much demand on them as someone who goes every weekend. They can last a bit longer without issues.
I don't think this is as black and white as it seems! I have skis I inherited years ago, and when something similar happened with the edges, I ended up doing just the urgent stuff (base and edges) at a cheaper place than the first one, and it cost way less than what they'd quoted me. Before you give up on your Salomons, get a second opinion from another technician because prices vary a ton, and if you really only use them on vacation, spending on partial repairs (not everything at once) might make sense while you figure out whether to replace them or not.
What nobody mentions is that deep scratches on the base affect how the skis glide, and that's not something you can fully fix - you can only patch it. If the technician told you the repair costs almost as much as used skis in good condition, the real question is: would you rather spend on skis that come with their full lifespan intact, or throw money at a repair that's going to last fewer seasons?
Before you spend money on repairs, check if the skis still respond well in the snow or if you've noticed they've lost their stiffness. At 8 years old, the material has probably gotten more flexible than it should be, and sometimes that matters more than oxidized edges or scratches. If you only use them a couple weeks a year like you said, it'll probably still be worth skiing on them for a while longer, but if you notice they don't give you the same precision as before, then it makes sense to switch to used ones in better shape.
The thing I see getting lost here is that with skis from 8 years ago, you're not just fixing the edge and the base. Once you start putting money into repairs, something else usually comes up: the bindings might be obsolete, the core degrades over time, and ski technology has advanced quite a bit in these years. So that budget the technician quoted you is probably just the beginning.
That said, if you really use them little during the year (a couple weeks in winter), it's more worth fixing them up than if you were going to the mountain every weekend. What I'd do is check the secondhand market to see what you can find for that money the technician asked for. If you find some Salomon or similar brand from 3 or 4 years ago in good condition, they'll probably serve you better and give you more years of life without surprises. Your dad's gift has sentimental value, of course, but that shouldn't determine whether it makes sense to keep fixing them forever.
I have old things that matter to me sentimentally, and honestly, if your dad gave you those skis, that value isn't just measured in money. That said, if the repair is close to the price of a decent used pair, the practical decision is easy: with new skis (or new to you) you'll have a warranty, better performance, and you won't be worried about them breaking mid-season. Deep scratches on the base affect how they glide, so technically you're losing performance. If you only use the skis a couple of times a year on vacation, spend that money on a used pair in good condition and keep the old ones at home if you feel bad about getting rid of them.
Looking at your situation, what worked against you is that technicians always quote the full job: edges, base, structural work... but you don't really need to do it all at once. Deep scratches are more of an aesthetic problem than a functional one if they don't reach the core, and oxidized edges can be cleaned and sharpened without major work. Ask specifically how much it costs just to sharpen the edges and do basic base repair, without a full shop overhaul. Sometimes the quote drops a lot when you break down what's essential versus what's just recommended.
Either way, before you decide you need to think about how many weeks a year you actually use those skis. If it's just two or three weeks on vacation, fixing the critical points so they work well makes more sense than buying new ones that'll sit in a closet for 50 weeks. On the other hand, if you're planning to go skiing multiple times a season, investing in used ones that are already in better shape might save you headaches down the road.
Here's the thing nobody usually mentions: before you take your skis in for repair, try cleaning the oxidized edges yourself with a steel brush or some strong white vinegar. Sometimes the rust is just surface-level and comes off without a hassle. If after that you see they really do need professional work, at least you'll have ruled out what you can fix for free at home and you'll have a clearer idea of what repair is actually worth it.
The key question is how much realistic time you have left on those skis before you'd need to replace them anyway. If the technician tells you the repair costs about the same as used ones, you're basically choosing between paying now for 8-year-old skis or paying roughly the same for ones with less mileage. Old skis lose performance (flex changes, the base degrades even if you repair it), so if you're only going out a couple weeks a year, it probably makes more sense to invest in used skis in good condition and keep the Salomon as a keepsake.
What you need to figure out is how much longer those skis are actually going to last after the repair - because edge and base work is just cosmetic stuff, it doesn't restore the structural lifespan. If you're only going to use them a couple weeks a year on vacation, it might not be worth spending almost as much as a used pair in better condition, but the key thing is that repaired skis aren't like new in terms of performance. I got a decent used pair and use the Salomons as a backup or to lend out; that way you don't lose the connection to your dad's skis but you're also not wasting money on a repair that won't extend the use much longer.
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