Types of Snow Ski Wax

Ski maintenance is important to protect the equipment and to provide a smoother ride down the mountain. Nothing is better than skiing on freshly waxed skis. Waxing skis has two purposes: It helps a skier to get a stronger grip on the snow or to glide easier over the snow. The type of snow, weather conditions and type of skiing (downhill, cross country, etc.) will determine what type of wax to use. There are three types of wax base, grip (or running) and glide.

  1. Base Wax

    • Skinet.com recommends, "Be sure to protect new skis with a base-conditioning wax." Base wax is used as a sort of primer for the grip wax. Base wax comes in a tin and is heated with an iron and then applied. It also comes in an aerosol and can be sprayed onto the skis.

    Grip Wax

    • Grip waxes are mostly used in cross-country skiing. They are sticky and designed to help grip the snow. They are applied to the center of the skis to help grip the snow when the skier presses down. There are two types of grip waxes. Hard kick is a solid, comes in a tin and is mostly used for new snow. The wax is rubbed on the ski until it becomes a smooth film. Some skiers use cork to rub the wax onto the skis. Klisters comes in a tube, is stickier and is best for icy conditions. It is more difficult to use because of the stickiness. Hairies is a process used by skiers when kick and klisters are not providing enough grip. The kick-zone of the skies is roughed up, turning them into waxless cross-country skis. This is done mostly for new abrasive snow.

    Glide Wax

    • Glide wax is used for just what the name implies. It helps skiers glide smoothly across the snow. The wax is applied to the tips and tails of the skis. There are different variations of glide wax for different skiing conditions and snow types. Glide wax is color coded according to the type of snow. General-purpose glide wax is also available, but to achieve the best results experienced skiers use the color-coded system. Red is for slushy conditions, Violet for "crud" (a mix of old snow clumps) or mushy snow, blue is for dry and hard crusted cold snow and green is for powder (all skiers dream of this) or cold, dry snow. According to the New England Nordic Ski Association, "You don't need to glide wax every time you ski, but it should be done frequently. (Once per season is NOT acceptable.)"