How to Set up your slalom ski!!

If you bought a complete slalom ski from us it arrives boots on, fin fitted at factory settings, ready to ski. This is for the other two cases: a blank ski, or replacing the boots or fin on a ski you already own. Reuben works through the whole build in the video.

Reuben on mounting boots, rear toe plate and fin to a blank slalom ski — 6 minutes 47 seconds.

What makes up a slalom ski setup

• Front boot — your front foot.
• Rear toe plate or rear binding — your back foot.
• Fin, and on some skis a wing or foil mounted to it.

Setting the ski up, step by step

Work out what your ski takes

Most modern skis are inserted — they have threaded inserts ready for a machine screw, which is a small bolt. Others are simply pre-drilled and take a self-tapping screw. Check which one you have before you start, because it decides what fastener goes into every hole on the ski, bindings and fin alike.

Position the front boot using the distance from tail

Sit the boot on the ski so its hole pattern lines up with the inserts. The correct position is set by one measurement: from the tail of the ski to the heel of the front boot — the distance from tail. It is different for every model and every length, so look yours up on the manufacturer's website or in our Resource Centre. Do not guess it.

Bolt the front boot down

Use the bolts that came with your binding, not substitutes — head sizes and washers vary between brands and the wrong ones will not seat properly. Start all six loosely first, check the boot is still in position and everything lines up, then tighten them down, taking care not to cross-thread.

Fit the rear toe plate or rear binding

Same process. Line the holes up with the inserts and position it as close to the front boot as it will go. Start all the bolts, check nothing is cross-threaded, then finish them tight.

Mount the fin

There are two types. A fixed fin has zero to minimal adjustment: line the holes up with the ski and fasten it with the six bolts or self-tapping screws that came with the fin. A competition fin adjusts for depth, length and distance from tail: slot it into the ski and secure it with machine screws. On a competition fin, the three screws at the front are what lock it in place — get those tight with an Allen key. The two grub screws and the one at the back are adjustment screws, and tuning those is a separate job.

Set the wing, if your ski has one

A foil or wing is two pieces and two bolts, one wing either side of the fin, with the bolts passing through the fin. Get both bolts through and the foil connected, but leave them loose — you need a little movement to fit the gauge. Set the angle to the manufacturer's factory setting using wing gauges (we use Ski Doc gauges, colour-coded by angle). The ski in the video is set at 7 degrees because that is what its manufacturer specifies. Then tighten everything up.

Before you ski

• Front boot — at the correct distance from tail, all six bolts tight.
• Rear toe plate — as close to the front boot as it goes, bolts tight.
• Fin — fasteners correct and tight. Check them before and after every ski; the fin is one of the most important parts of the ski.
• Wing — set to the factory angle and locked down.

Common questions

Where should the front boot sit on a slalom ski?

It is set by the distance from tail — the measurement from the tail of the ski to the heel of the front boot. That number is specific to your ski's model and length, and you will find it on the manufacturer's website or in our Resource Centre.

How close should the rear toe plate be to the front boot?

As close as it will go. That is our recommendation and it is where most riders end up.

Can I use my own bolts to mount ski bindings?

No. Use the fasteners that came with the binding and with the fin. There are a lot of different heads and washers out there, and the wrong bolt will not seat correctly in the insert.

What is the difference between a fixed fin and a competition fin?

A fixed fin has zero to minimal adjustment and just bolts on. A competition fin adjusts for depth, length and distance from tail, and has separate locking and adjustment screws.

Which screws lock a competition fin in place?

The three at the front. Do those up tight with an Allen key. The two grub screws and the one at the back are adjustment screws — leave those for tuning.

What angle should the wing on my slalom ski be set at?

Whatever your ski's manufacturer specifies — it is not a universal number. Look it up, then set it with wing gauges. The ski in our video is set at 7 degrees because that is its factory setting.

Does my ski come already set up?

If you bought a complete ski from us, yes — boots on, fin fitted at factory settings, ready to ski. This guide is for blank skis and for replacing boots or a fin on a ski you already own.

How often should I check the bolts on my ski?

Before and after every ski. The fin is one of the most important parts of the ski, and a loose fin bolt changes how the ski behaves before it falls out.

Related guides

• Resource Centre — factory settings, fin numbers and the rest of the how-to videos.
• Slalom ski size calculator
• The Breakdown: slalom skis
• Buyers guide: Ski Doc slalom ski accessories — including the wing gauges.
• How to get into your bindings properly

Shop the gear

• Slalom water skis
• Slalom ski boots
• Tournament ski equipment

Stuck on any part of the build, or not sure which fin your ski takes? Get in touch, or bring the ski into our Brisbane store and we will set it up with you.