Apparatus, system, and method for tuning a ski

A ski tuning apparatus for retaining a ski in a position to maintain the ski, the apparatus comprising:

• a first support supporting a front portion of a ski, the ski comprising a tunable base surface opposite a deck surface, the first support positioned between the front portion of the ski and a support structure;
• a second support supporting a rear portion of the ski, the second support positioned between the rear portion of the ski and the support structure;
• a binder engagement coupleable to the support structure and positioned between the first and second supports, the binder engagement comprising a rigid engagement element engageable with a binder coupled to the deck surface of a center portion of the ski, the binder comprising at least one of a binder toe piece and a binder heal piece, wherein the binder engagement engages only one of the binder toe piece and the binder heal piece;
• a coupling member that couples the binder engagement to the support structure, the coupling member preventing movement of the ski relative to the support structure in a forward and rearward direction;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first support, the second support, and the coupling member comprises at least one adjusting member, the at least one adjusting member adjusting a distance between the support structure and at least one of the front portion of the ski, the center portion of the ski, and the rear portion of the ski, wherein adjustment of the at least one adjusting member adjusts a pressure between at least one of the front portion of the ski and the first support and the rear portion of the ski and the second support.

A method for retaining a ski in a position to maintain the ski, the method comprising:

• supporting a front portion of a ski with a first support, the ski comprising a tunable base surface opposite a deck surface, the first support positioned between the front portion of the ski and a support structure;
• supporting a rear portion of a ski with a second support, the second support positioned between the rear portion of the ski and the support structure;
• engaging a binder with a binder engagement coupleable to the support structure, the binder engagement comprising a rigid engagement element that is engageable with the binder coupled to the deck surface of a center portion of the ski, the binder comprising at least one of a binder toe piece and a binder heal piece, wherein the binder engagement engages only one of the binder toe piece and the binder heal piece;
• coupling the binder engagement to the support structure with a coupling member, the coupling member preventing movement of the ski relative to the support structure in a forward and rearward direction;
• and
• applying a restricting force to the center portion of the ski with the binder engagement when the binder engagement engages the binder, the restricting force limiting the distance between the center portion of the ski and the support structure, wherein the first support and the second support apply an opposing force to the front portion and the rear portion of the ski, the opposing force applied in a direction opposite the restricting force to secure the ski.