Waxing 101

Many people have contacted me in order to obtain the Rossignol Tuning DVD. We are working on the first version.
However to motivate skiers to wax their own skis the following is an introductory text for the uninitiated.

You must first understand that you wax, not to ski faster or win races but to get better "glide" and to protect your bases! Thus most wax booklets you get have to be adapted for your needs since they are oriented for ski racing.
You are not racing so you do need the exotic powders, the very expensive molecular graphite wax etc..

What are the reasons you wax yourself?
1.Better overall result
2.Longer lasting protection
3.Personalized result
4 Yes, save money
5.You learn to "feel" ski. Once you have the correct wax, you will feel like gliding on a cloud. No resistance, pure silk!!!

We will not go into the mechanics of waxing here yet!

You must learn how to select correct waxes based on your needs.

The common factors wax technicians consider before applying wax are;
snow type ( books have been written about this)
-Artificial (A)
-new fallen
-wind blown
-rolled
-crusty

Temperature ( during skiing)
Not exact temp but a range!

Overall atmospheric conditions ( wind, sun,cloud etc...)

Humidity

I am not racing. I want my wax to work over a day thus I have found you must select the first two parameters as key elements in choosing wax types.

I have found that I can divide the ski wax selection into three zones;
Spring ( -5 to +10 )

Winter ( -8 to -20 )

Colder ( -15 to -30 )

In fact most wax companies have these three general wax zones.

This last zone is not based only temperature but also on ski conditions. If it has been cold (-20) for several days and snow is "old" snow then the wax must be "harder" ( colder wax) since snow is in the snow/ice zone.

Remember you are selecting wax for tomorrows ski conditions so you must be aware of your ski area.If in doubt always go for "colder" wax ( harder wax) or else you will experience the famous "syrop" feeling!

Learn to observe ski centers and snow! Very quickly you will note that snow is a marvelous medium that has many identities. You will learn that in some conditions, for your area snow gets very "cold" due to wind or humidity. You will adjust for "colder"wax.

That is why you wax, because to select specific waxes for specific conditions. Rarely do shops wax for variable conditions. They place a "universal" wax in their machines.

How do you get started?

Get a log. Observe snow in all its forms.
Note the ski days with types of snow.

Once you get log and note snow types, I will next time go into the ABCs of waxing in the next post!

Only if you get log now!
Only if you post at least three snow flake types!

Till next time!

If you find this is too time consumming,silly or a waste of time, then by all means let "others" do the waxing for you but just remember you will never experience "that feeling"! Just look at the smiles on skiers!

Thanks pavelski for an excellent post... waxing appears to be one of those subjects that's as complicated as you want to make it, but comes down to common sense once you know the rules?

Ok, my three snowflake types (in no particular order of preference) :-

1/ big fat wet ones that stick like glue and form porridge.
2/ the smallish "dry" flakes that form perfect knee-deep powder.
3/ the hard, almost hail-like stuff you get with suddenly dropping temps - the stuff that doesn't stick to anything, including itself!

... and what's the best wax for sharp rocks? :evil: