The right ski wax will help you glide faster and more smoothly down the slopes, making it easier to turn and control your skis. It seemed appropriate to post something about waxing for artificial snow. Great book for waxing and tuning crosscountry skis. Nov 05, 2008 owner, doug mcspadden shares basic tips help make your ski waxing easier, and how this will in turn keep your skis in their best possible. It is a good idea to spray the base, especially the kick zone, with wax remover and wipe it clean with a base cleaning paper or paper towel. Base saver protects base when ironing pure fluoro topcoats. For the purpose of ski touring discussion, there are two basic terms to keep in mind. This guide is intended for novice and recreational skiers who want to achieve a. Cross country ski waxing 101 steve thatcher 112401 updated 111806 in blue ride and glide bike and ski club these instructions are for people looking for a simple approach to ski waxing. They carry glide wax, grip wax, klisters, base cleaning products, ski holders, snow thermometers and. You only need an iron for hot waxing, and thats typically for skate skiing, or for preppingrefreshing the bases on your classic skis. Written by an expert ski and wax technician, this book is based on more than thirty years of field experience and testing at the highest level. We have discounted wax and skate boots and limited sizes in skate skis available now.
Heres your stepbystep guide to glide waxing your skis or snowboard. Its relatively easy to apply glide wax to a pair of crosscountry skis. Cross country ski waxing and base prep on nordicskiracer. Ski bases will be cleaned with glide cleaner and waxed with bp88 before universal or lf wax. After careful consideration, our favorite cross country skis out there are the rossignol evo xc 59 ifp crosscountry skis. Whether you enjoy a long classic ski or a hard fast skate, we have the tools. However if you have ski that need wax this is the pack to start off with.
Classic cross country skis are long and narrow with no shape. True sport is a series of programs and initiatives designed to give people, communities and organizations the means by which to leverage the many benefits of good sport from a. The fischer spiders are primarily designed for groomed trails, however they can off offtrack as long as the snow is not too deep. I live in apartments and do not have a place to iron wax ski. Nordic backcountry skis typically have a slight hourglass shape that allows for basic turns on moderate terrain. Resources for learning on classic skis xc ski roberts. I have suffered a few times but mostly i appreciate the better glide a waxable ski provides.
Joel jaques is a wax technician with canadas national cross country ski team, supporting all the skiers as well as acting as personal wax tech for perianne jones and ivan babikov. Grip waxing your crosscountry skis get tips on grip waxing your classic crosscountry skis and learn how to use hard waxes, klister waxes and spray waxes. Waxing skis as wrong as tarring a plastic boat, says. A comprehensive guide cross country skiing covers equipment and accessories, waxing for grip and glide, training and conditioning, snow camping, route finding, and avalanche awareness. Maxiglide xc quick wax for all cross country nordic skis 4fl oz container.
Once most of the wax has been scraped, brush 1020 times with metal brush tip to tail. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. The complete guide to crosscountry ski preparationby nat brownhere is the complete, handson guide to the tools and techniques necessary to ready skis for optimal performance. Lets start with the core piece of your classic equipment the skinny skis aka the cross country skis. This is because classic skis have a glide section at the front and back of the ski and a kick section under your foot. Occasionally you will want to hot wax the tips and tails of your skis to keep the base from drying out. Classic skis are usually much longer than your body height and have a soft ski flex.
Our 2020 endofseason rental sale for skate ski equipment only will begin on tuesday, march 3rd at 10am. Firstly, you need to identify what kind of cross country skis you have. All cross country skiing artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30day moneyback guarantee. The following 5minute wax job for your waxless cross country skis will work when youre short on time. The complete guide to cross country ski preparation is the gold standard for bringing your wax game to the next level. These new formulas conformed to the 2020 european union regulations. When you are ready, you push back on that ski with your leg this legpush is often called the kick. Buy waxing irons for skis from cross country ski shop in grayling, michigan. Maxiglide xc quick wax for all cross country nordic skis. Ive been a recreational crosscountry skier my entire life xcountry skiing was even part of the primary school curriculum in bc 25yrs ago when i switched from scales to waxed skis i of course bought all of the different colours of wax, and the super sticky klistar, but honestly, i only ever use blue wax, because i really dont have much fun. The idea is that you are taking long gliding strides on skis. Racewax offers ski and snowboard wax for racers, tools and tuning kits that include irons, vises, diamond stones, files and edgers, as well as detailed how to.
With warmer weather forecasted this week, the manmade snow at huron meadows metropark and the cross country ski headquarters may be the only snow around. Cross country saskatchewan is an official member of the true sport movement. Different crosscountry skis are used for your various forms of skiing, making it rather difficult finding the right ski for yourself. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. A true story of adventure, tragedy and transformation 64.
So your ski might be too stiff for soft snow, but ok for hard snow. Solda began to reformulate their waxes with fluorocarbon compounds of c6 or less. After the ski is fairly covered, begin spreading the wax around the skis base by running your iron in circular motions across the skis base. Crosscountry skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity. Solda introduces nonfluoro ski waxes 2282020 by bert hinkley. Waxing is a complicated matter about which small books have been written. I use hair dryer to slightly heat ski as recommended on zumwax site. When using cold wax dont let the ski cool off too much. Unfortunately, many beginners are intimidated by the waxing process, and find that its a hitandmiss affair which involves a lot of hocuspocus. The ultimate ski maintenance book gives simple stepbystep instructions on everything you need to know in order to take care of your skis from home. The action of gliding over snow slowly releases wax to give a lubricating layer between your base and the snow. Hot waxing often involves making minor repairs to your bases before application. For information on grip waxing crosscountry skis, see our grip waxing your.
The author provided lots of simple information that is simple and easy to follow. Using a cork, rub the base until the friction blends and smoothes the wax in. Check our our online store or give us a call for more information. Watch cross country ski waxing explained video online, on globalnews. Affinity ef my style womens cross country skis with bindings 2020. The complete guide to crosscountry ski preparation. Sweden has the worlds largest indoor crosscountry ski trail, for skiing at any time of the year.
The classic ski, unlike the skate ski, has a grip zone wax pocket for applying the grip wax. Waxing your skis a beginners guide if you have waxable skis, you will have to apply the proper kick wax on them before you hit the trails. Buy waxing irons for skis from cross country ski shop in. Norways ski wax chief is only noticed when he fails. Waxing tips for crosscountry skis ski preparation wellwaxed is half the battle in crosscountry skiing, the right wax can be the difference between victory and defeat. Cross country ski waxing explained watch news videos online. For the most part, youre only concerned with the application of grip wax in the kick zone.
Vintage package cross country ski wax swix sport us ski team rare. In my 15 ski quiver i just counted them, i still dont have a pair no wax skis. Online shopping for cross country skiing from a great selection at books store. Buy ski profile wax benches from cross country ski shop in. Cross country ski shop has the equipment for waxing and tuning your skis. Waxing on a regular basis not only makes you go faster, it makes turning and handling smoother and more predictable and protects your bases from abrasion. The town of big sky, and big sky country in general, is a mecca for nordic skiing. Having a well waxed ski base is as important as oil in your cars engine. Jan, 2007 bergs ski shop ski waxing demo at the willamette backcountry ski patrol meeting.
You have to decide how much time you want to spend waxing versus skiing. We are present at all big events on the world cup for crosscountry, alpine and snowboard. Review of the new waxless traditional cross country skis. Regular application of ski wax allows you to glide and turn easily as well as protects your base. Cover the ski with little blotches of wax from tip to tail. Experienced waxers can take this for what its worth. Hertel ski wax has a free downloadable ebook called waxfax, which covers waxing and ski care. Currently with the team for world cup races in europe and preparing to head off to sochi for the 2014 olympic winter games, jaques took a few minutes to pass on. The following articles describe waxing and care techniques for your skis. Even the 10minute operation in the video above is more thorough and longer lasting. A proper hot wax for your nordic skis is the key to making sure that they last longer and perform better. Each of the major ski manufacturers including rossignol, salomon, fischer, madshus, and atomic have formulated new technology within the cross country ski traditional skis that bridges the gap involving a waxable ski along with a conventional fishscale primarily based waxless performance ski.
Cross country ski wax types when you are out skiing for longer periods of time, you really want your skis to be in topcondition, giving you both optimal glide and kick. Between lone mountain ranch and the miles of groomed ski trails around the greater gallatin county region, nordic skiing, and specifically skate skiing, is one of the best activities for getting into the woods and away from the crowds, fast. You may have to apply the cold kick wax two or three times. Both skate and classic skis need glide wax, so youd think most crosscountry skiers would know how to apply it. Although not all of us ski as pros, ski wax is still important if we want to preserve our skis and enjoy a smooth experience on the mountain. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Using a cold kick wax special green or polar, apply a thin layer to the base for the whole length of the ski. The procedure for hot waxing tips and tails of waxless skis is the same as waxing skate or classical skis. Shop for cross country skiing art from the worlds greatest living artists. A stepbystep guide, by rick lovett, paul petersen, john morton. This buying guide has thus been compiled to help shed some light on all the types of skis used for touring across the open country so that you buy the best crosscountry skis to hit the snow. Norways ski wax chief is only noticed when he fails norways head wax tech, knut nystad, center, testing skis with harvard skorstad at a crosscountry course in pyeongchang, south. And this wax is easier and faster to apply than iron wax. Begin the waxing process by holding your wax block at a steep downward angle to the face of the iron, allowing hot wax to drip onto the ski.
Cross country ski wax and accessories from the house are essential for your cross country skiing setup. And, of course, it hosts the annual 90k vasaloppet the oldest, longest and largest crosscountry ski race in the world that regularly counts more than 50. Theyre excellent for both groomed and ungroomedoffpiste trails, as well as hills, although we wouldnt try anything. Cross country ski wax buy ski tuning equipment here. Fast wax slickpro is a sophisticated paste wax, which is applied to ski bases and rubbed in with a heatgenerating felt pad. This extends from the back end of the ski binding, to about 812 in front of the binding. It covers the most command of conditions and comes with a cork used for smoothing down the wax to reduce friction. Ski and snowboard at the 2017 nordic world cup in davos, switzerland. Crosscountry ski waxing and maintenance book, 1977. Repeat the wax application until the base has a shiny, glasslike surface. Diy ski waxing, edging and tuning ski books ballin, mr peter.
In comparison with other skiers downhill glide distance my ski is even better than some ironwaxed ones. Find the best equipment for classic cross country skiing. But unlike downhill skis, skate skis require more frequent. Get the best deals on cross country ski wax when you shop the largest online selection at. Faq on classic skiing cross country skiing roberts.
They carry glide wax, grip wax, klisters, base cleaning products, ski holders, snow thermometers and ski profile wax benches. Nov 04, 2003 the procedure for hot waxing tips and tails of waxless skis is the same as waxing skate or classical skis. Ross mckinnon one of the waxers at the telemark nordic club explains the secret to waxing cross country skis. When you step onto the new ski, first you glide on it. Hot waxing the tips and tails will keep your skis lasting longer. However, this process shouldnt be considered a longterm solution for waxing your cross country skis. Here are tokos recommendations for storage waxing of skis.
Wax will keep dirt out of the base, prevent the base from drying out and will keep your skis gliding fast. No iron ski wax kit on sale cross country ski headquarters. Unless you are a real crosscountry ski fanatic, or involved in serious competitive skiing, you dont have to worry about all of this. Back when all skis had a wooden base, adding wax was essential in. Kick and glide wax are the most known types of cross country ski wax, which you might also call nordic ski wax. The snow was quite abrasive and a 30k classic race including climbing up hermods hill 6 times meant that maintaining kick was critical. Glide wax is the wax you will encounter more frequently. If there is excessive dirt and wax, you may want to use a liquid wax remover or mineral spirits with an abrasive pad to remove the residue. The second thing you will want to do is wipe a surface liquid wax through the no wax. There are two types of ski waxes, and they fulfill similar, but slightly different functions, for both classic and skating cross country skis.
A guide to simple and affordable cross country ski performance and maintenance mar 27, 2018 8. Basic cross country ski waxing principles duration. Buy ski profile wax benches from cross country ski shop in grayling, mi. You will need a sharp metal scraper, which is available at most cross country ski shops. After skiing, take a few minutes to clean your bases. Complete guide to xc ski glide waxing cross country ski. Ratings are from amazon at the time of publication and can change. Check out this swix nordic ski preparation guide for professional instruction on how to apply hot wax. Online shopping for crosscountry skiing from a great selection at books store. Dec 19, 2012 glide wax is important because while the ski base may appear smooth, it isnt. For the past several years, debate has been brewing amongst crosscountry skiers as to the merits of skiwaxing.
Crosscountry skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snowcovered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. A definitive guide to the best cross country skis ski. This is the area under the ski from about 6 to 8 inches 15 to 20 cm in front of your foot to the heel see illustration. Written by an expert ski and wax technician, this book is based on more than 30 years of field experience. How to wax backcountry skis the adirondack almanack. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Hey phil nice article to prime the pump for a great season of cross country skiing. Choose your favorite cross country skiing designs and purchase them as. The book is packed full of photos illustrating each procedure in an easytofollow manner that absolutely anyone youngster to adult, novice to professional will benefit. This method is recommended by some of canadas top waxing experts. Waxing tips for crosscountry skis davos klosters tourism. It s meant to give beginners answers and specific instructions, not just generalizations.
Traditional striding cross country skis will need regular waxing on the center third of the base to enable them to perform properly on the snow. Amazons choice recommends highly rated, wellpriced products available to ship immediately. To a professional racer, the speed factor can spell the difference between victory and defeat. Dec 17, 2008 this method is recommended by some of canadas top waxing experts. There are teeny tiny pores and imperfections that need to be filled in to allow the ski to glide effortlessly over the snow.