Snow Ski Waxing Tips

Serious snow skiers want to get the most out of their skis. One of the ways to do this is with proper waxing, a procedure that is part science and part art. Different waxes work better in different conditions. The way you wax a ski can also alter its performance. The more experience you have with using skis you've waxed, the better you will understand how variations in your wax technique can alter how well you perform on the slopes.

  1. Sand Your New Skis

    • Make sure to sand the running surfaces when preparing new skis for use. You want to remove the high and low spots and any dirt and grease that may have collected on the surface. Sand the entire ski with No. 120 or No. 220 abrasive paper. Don't use the same sheet over and over. If you are removing dirt and grease some of it may wind up on your abrasive paper, and reusing it will only mar the surface you are trying to smooth out. This is not a problem because if you have sanded correctly, it needs only be done once. More than that and you risk sanding through the base.

    Remove Burrs on Your Skis Before Waxings

    • Once the surface is prepared, remove burrs with Fibertex or similar pads. Though Brillo pads look the same, Fibertex claims that it only removes raised burrs, and it doesn't shred or leave splinters. Don't take a chance of ruining the surface you worked so hard to smooth out. Use a pad designed for the job.

    Rill Your Skis to Avoid Suction

    • You can avoid suction by rilling your skis. A rilling tool, comblike in design, creates small gaps in your ski surface to keep any suction from forming. It is not needed if the snow is dry and very cold because that type of snow won't create suctions with your skis. If you do choose to rill your skis, use a riller and don't press too hard. The idea is to compress the wax in thin lines, not to gouge the skis.

    Apply the Glide Wax

    • Don't worry about specialty glide wax. Any benefit you get from one is easily outweighed by the hassles experienced in trying to apply them. A universal glide wax or base prep wax will work fine. Once the wax is applied, don't worry about polishing the skis. It would certainly smooth out the running surface, but it will also create suction, which will slow you down when you're skiing. You should only need to apply the glide wax once a season. Anymore and you risk damaging the ski base with the excessive heat, solvent or scraping.

    Use the Right Wax

    • Many variables might affect your choice of wax if you are a competitive skier. There are different waxes for different types of skiing (for example, alpine, Nordic or snowboarding). You might also want to vary your wax depending on the combination of skiing conditions (temperature, snow conditions, humidity, etc.). One company that offers a full range of products is Swix Wax. They also offer a wax selector (http://www.swixschool.com/web/wizard.html) where you can enter the conditions and it will tell which wax will work best. For recreational skiers, a general wax should work fine.