The life expectancy of a well used Maherajah Longboard Racing Ski (and similar skis from other manufacturers) is about 5 years. Nicks and scratches in the outer layers of the ski will allow the absorbtion of water, which can make the ski heavier over time. This additional weight affects the ski’s performance. Older skis aquire more flex which will cause porpoising and increased drag. We believe that these changes due to age and and use, as well as the the aluminum plate construction of many racing bindings create shear points. Of the approximately 1,500 Longboards we have built, we know of only 2 skis that have actually broken. We attribute this to the shear points just in front of the forward binding, between the bindings, and just behind the rear binding.