How to Wax Skis With Swix

While many recreational cross-country skiers have embraced waxless skis for their simplicity, skiers who want the most performance know that a waxable ski still will outperform its waxless counterpart. Swix is one of the most popular waxes for cross-country gear. They make a full line of both kick and glide waxes, as well as base preparation. Kick waxes are applied to the wax pocket, located in the middle of the ski under the foot, to provide traction on uphill climbs and traverses, while glide waxes are applied to the tip and tail to assist on downhill travel.

Things You'll Need

  • Skis
  • Swix Base Cleaner
  • Swix kick wax
  • Swix glide wax
  • Rag
  • Plastic scraper
  • Masking tape
  • Nylon hair brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount the skis on a work bench with vice grips with their base facing up.

    • 2

      Clean the base of the ski with Swix Base Cleaner. Apply the liquid with a rag. Wipe the base clean from tip to tail.

    • 3

      Uncap the kick wax and apply it to the kick pocket by rubbing it on from front to back. Apply two layers. Use the brush to buff out the kick wax.

    • 4

      Cover the kick pocket with masking tape.

    • 5

      Choose a glide wax for the appropriate temperature.

    • 6

      Rub on the glide wax from the tip of the ski to the start of the wax pocket, and from the rear of the wax pocket to the tail. Apply it in smooth layers.

    • 7

      Use the plastic scraper to scrape off excess wax. Hold the scraper at a 45-degree angle and run it smoothly over the waxed base from front to back.

    • 8

      Buff out the glide wax with the nylon brush, then remove the masking tape from the kick wax pocket.