Ski waxes

🏷️ XCSkiGuru’s general ski-waxing guide

• 1) Cleaning: Remove old wax and dirt. Use fiber cloth with cleaner or hot-scrape with a paraffin wax.
• 2) Base wax: Hot-wax the base → iron 120–140 °C (per wax) → light, even pass → cool 10–20 min → scrape → brush.
• 3) Match the conditions: Colder needs harder wax, warmer needs softer wax.
• 4) Brushing: Brass/fine steel first to open structure → finish with lots of nylon for maximum glide.
• 5) Toppers / liquids: For race & training finishing: thin layer → let dry → light brush.

❄️ Quick glide tips

• Cold & dry snow: Hard wax + light brushing + avoid excess surface build-up.
• New snow: Often needs slightly softer wax and a more “open” base structure.
• Wet/dirty snow: Softer wax + a dirt-repellent liquid/topper.

Kick waxing (classic)

• Wax tins: For colder weather and hard tracks.
• Klisters: For above-freezing temps, icy or coarse tracks.
• Core principle: Thin coats → smooth out → test on a gentle uphill.

Safety & cleanliness

• Good ventilation; moderate iron/heat temperatures.
• Always brush from tip to tail.
• Don’t leave thick surface layers → they slow you down.

Quick checklist: Clean → Base wax → Scrape → Brush → Condition wax/topper → Test.