Skate Ski Waxing Techniques

Tools

• For waxing skate skis, two types of scrapers, a standard wide-blade plastic scraper and a groove scraper, are needed. A nylon wax brush is also critical. Having a work bench with two vice grips to hold the ski stable while cleaning old wax and applying new wax greatly simplifies the job. Finally, a waxing iron is a worthwhile investment. While a standard iron can be used, it won't have the finer temperature control of a waxing iron, and, after using a standard iron for waxing, you can never use it for clothes again.

Remove the Old Wax

• First you'll need to remove the old wax from the ski. Fix the ski in the vice grip. Then scrape off the old wax, holding the wide-blade scraper at a 45-degree angle to the ski base. Take off as much wax as you can with the blade scraper. Remove wax from the groove in the center of the ski with a rounded groove scraper. Finally, use the brush to polish off the ski base so it is ready for a new coat of wax.

Apply New Wax

• Preheat the iron to around 115 degrees Celsius. Choose your wax for the base. A low fluorocarbon is a good all-around choice; racers will choose a high fluorocarbon wax for more speed. Make sure the wax you choose matches the temperature of the snow; if you are unsure, err on the side of a colder wax than the conditions. Hold the iron six inches above the ski base, hold the wax against the iron and drizzle a thin layer of wax on the base from tip to tail. Iron the wax into the base, running the iron from tip to tail; do not let the iron linger in one place too long as it can damage the ski base.

  Let the wax cool for an hour, then use the scraper to remove the excess, leaving only a thin layer on your ski base.