July 25, 2021 - To start the season we thought we would start with some general ideas on your overall approach to ski selection and wax choices. There are a lot of good waxes on the market and some will work better in certain areas of the country and some will suits your needs better in relation to your training and racing needs.

WAX TIPS

• Proper ski selection is more important than the wax you put on the ski. The best waxing and the wrong skis equals slow skis. For optimal performance an athlete needs warm and cold skis for both classic and skating at a minimum.

• With properly selected skis, most skiers can dramatically simplify their wax regimens and using a few key waxes a skier will have good wax in most races and have a better season’s results overall.

GRIP TIPS

• Most manufacturers make good and interchangeable products in the cold ranges. But once conditions warm, there is never a single solution you can count on. Testing is required! Through your testing, depending on where you ski, over time you will find a few grips that you will have consistent success with. As the season develops you may here of another wax that is working well and decide to pick one up and see if it is something that adds to your tool kit. We suggest if it can replace a wax or be a wax for a special condition, keep it in the rotation but if it does not add value to your wax box and takes up space donate to your local ski club:

• When it comes to basewax, Vauhti Base Wax Super (aka Superbase) is the only one you need to carry. Mix in a little Swix Extra Blue for new snow conditions.

• Unfortunately, for corn snow, ice, wet snow we still need klister. Similar to grip waxing, most manufacturers make good and interchangeable products in the cold ranges. But once conditions warm, there is never a single solution you can count on. Testing is required!

• World cup racers will have typically have 8 or more layers of kick wax applied. Each layer progressively shortened with the last immediately under the toe of the binding.

GLIDE TIPS

• In keeping with the idea of keeping things simple, most manufacturers make good and interchangeable products in the cold ranges and a racer can work with a few favorites. But once conditions warm, there is never a single solution you can count on, so you may need a few more products to tackle this range, but as with kick wax some testing is required!

• Brushing: We tend not to use rotobrushes – the noise gives us a headache:.

• Fluoro powders: If used properly will give faster skis in almost all conditions. Iron must be proper temperature and do not “skimp”. Stretching a four pair can of fluoro powder to do six pairs increases the risk of damaging the ski base.  We feel that for Master’s racers doing loppets a high fluoro wax was excellent and the risk of melting your ski bases putting on powders probably was not worth it.

• Fluoro solids and liquids: More durable than many people think and often the difference between a good wax job and a great wax job. Also a good replacement for powders for those operating on a budget.

• Hand Structure: Almost always a consideration at the world cup. For Masters skiers, focus on having skis with broad range grinds that work in a variety of conditions.

Waxing can be an art and even the most seasoned waxers need to test waxes and through this testing they find key waxes they use on a consistent basis and a few waxes they keep on hand for special circumstances.