Taking care of our gear is really important to ensure them a long life and good performances. Here we’ll focus on a single step : the ski waxing for a better flow. No worries, it isn’t hard as it seems.

The first way to maintain your nice skis is the storage. It’s really important to stock them in a dry and clean local. Avoid ski bags for a long summer storage. It will maintain some moisture and the ski edges will probably rust. To protect the ski base, a thick layer of wax is recommended to protect it from the external environment like dust for instance. When the season will start, you just have to scrape the wax and let’s ride ! If you haven’t the possibility to properly store your skis for any reason, you will find below a few tips to wax it.

Don’t hesitate to ask a professional support if you haven’t the time or space at home to do it. Ski waxing is dirty!

The cleaning

The ski bases endure lots of inconvenients like stones, dust or rest of wax. Hard life ! So you have to clean it before waxing.
Use a brush quite smooth to clean the sole. You can brush it from the top to the bottom or the opposite. It’s just about cleaning here. Do it with energy !

The waxing

The wax is used to protect and ensure a good glide. You need now an iron, a wax block (Depends on snow conditions. The snow temperature corresponding is often written on the packaging. Don’t confuse with air temperature. It isn’t the same), a plastic scraper, a nylon brush (quite hard), a brass brush (hard) and strong rubber bands (to block the ski brakes). When the iron is hot enough, warm the wax with it. Take care of not burning the wax, it should be useless like so. So, you put the wax on the iron during few seconds and scrub the block on the ski base to apply the material. Do it on all the base length. Then, use the iron to smooth the wax, from the top to the bottom. Never stop moving for preventing any burnt.

Let it cool down during at least a minimum of thirty minutes to an hour before scrapping. If you have the possibility to wait longer like a whole night, it’s even better. Then, scrap until there is no white traces on the base. Start to brush with brass by lightly pressing. Don’t push too hard for not harming the ski. A maximum of three to five passings is widely enough. Use the nylon brush afterwards to finalize the waxing process. Brush only from the top to the bottom (it will permit the water evacuation).

Now it’s time for skiing !

→ A more detailed video will come soon ! Until that time there,  to go further you can have a look on Vola tips or check that.

    Have a nice winter !