Customer Reviews

From Tip to Tail: The Layman's Guide to Basic Alpine Ski Tuning

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I read this book and I must say I was quite pleased with it. It offers a good guide to ski tunning, with step by step instructions. I particularly liked the checklist at the beginning of each chapter that made the whole book as a sequential script on how to fine tune our skis. It doesn't, however, go too much into the details of ski tunning, but that was not its purpose anyways. I would say that this book is a wonderfull complement to Seth Masia's book, where more detailed stuff can be found.

Not only does From Tip to Tail provide you with a WORKING knowledge of ski tuning, it offers up something that other ski tuning manuals don't‹simplicity and focus. I found that after having read this small, but potently illustrated book, the art of ski tuning suddenly was within my grasp. Now I'm keeping that money I used to dole out to ski techs and buying the author a ceegar

After reading this book and following its direction, I am able to tune my whole family's skis to a high precision. Three of my children race and their performances have clearly improved. Now they really notice when their skis are out of tune. Mr. Rader does an excellent job of describing every step involved in tuning/waxing skis - Great book!

From Tip to Tail is well worth the price. It is clear, consice, and thourough. I think the author urges far more tools than necessary (e.g. any straight edge including a scraper works well as a true bar), but also covers a couple things that Masia's book doesn't (e.g. riffler). I think this and Masia's book complement each other and are both worth having. They have slightly different approaches. Tip to Tail gets into a thing or two that are hardly practical for a home ski tuner (e.g. patterned structuring), but that is hardly a criticism. De-tuning is better learned from Masia. Tip to Tail on the other hand points out that different snow calls for different structure. It also considers why flat, or bevelled, or square, is not always best depending on conditions. This is a quick read that will quckly get you tuning your own skis with confidence. If the only thing you pick up from this book is how to do your own hot wax, it will pay for itself with just one waxing (even with the purchase of an old iron and some wax).