The Importance of Ski Wax
The conditions for skiing vary widely, from powder in the backcountry to icy tracks. The same skis can be used in all these places. So what is the role of ski wax? Ski wax helps your skis to glide over snow and ice faster and easier. Waxing skis is an art that will bring you more enjoyment from your skiing … and it will be much safer!
You may assume that new skis don’t need waxing, particularly if they have a coating. But the coating on new skis is designed to be heated in a ski shop. This should help remove any remaining fluids from the manufacturing process and embed a layer of wax onto the skis.
Do New Skis Need to Be Waxed?
New skis don’t necessarily need to be waxed, but they do need to be oriented to a wax. You can orient your new skis by lightly waxing them before an important run.
Pre-treating your new skis is important as it helps build an extra layer of protection on the base of the skis. This will help them slide more effortlessly on the snow when making your way down a hill.
I believe there are 3 main reasons you should buy and apply a wax to your brand new skis:
- It gives your ski a good amount of glide
- It helps protect the base
- You ski better and safer
No matter how good your gear is, taking care of it comes first.
If you fail to maintain your gear, you will most certainly suffer the consequences. So to save yourself from the headache, make sure you buy new skis that come waxed and maintained.
Who Should Wax Skis?
Professionals at Ski Shops
Many people living in cold-weather places like Colorado or northern Europe are likely to wax their boards regularly. The easiest way to do that is to take your skis into a ski shop every month before the snow starts flying.
Employees at ski shops are the trained experts and should know exactly the right type, amount, and placement of wax for your skis. Your goal should be to find a shop that is qualified to advise you about waxing and to do the job properly.
If you’re in the market for a shop specializing in waxing skis then asking for a recommendation at the local ski hill might be just the right thing for you.
Waxing Skis Yourself
The first time out, you want to make sure the wax is applied to new skis before you hit the snow. At home, use a warm buffer pad to gently heat the ski to help your wax adhere to the ski base. Then slowly heat the ski gently with an iron. If you notice the wax melting and sliding, you are heating the ski too hot.
Once you have the ski warm, brush the surface of the ski. Then coat your iron with wax and spread it over the ski using a waxing brush. Go over the entire ski. If you’re using a snowplow base and notice wax is melting between the skis, you should let the skis sit in the sun for a few minutes to grind the snow base down without damaging the base.
Now you should notice the ski is warm, and the wax is starting to melt. Using a buffing pad, put on your softest wax and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which are usually to spread the wax over the whole ski to form a thin layer over it.
For further information visit how to wax skis at home
Final Thoughts
In the previous section, I addressed what items and tools are needed, and how to make the perfect wax. This process is easily repeated each time you ski. If you do not feel confident waxing them yourself, you can take your skis to experts at ski shops. Regardless of how they are waxed, it is important for new skis to be waxed for improved performance and safety.