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. Wax will keep dirt out of the base, prevent the base from drying out and will keep your skis gliding fast.

Can you use ski wax on cross-country skis?

Only waxable classic cross-country skis should be waxed at the grip zone (underneath your foot). Fishscale or skin skis don't need any grip wax. Grip wax on classic cross-country skis is all about a compromise between grip and glide.

How often wax XC skis?

If you ever see the bases of your skis looking slightly white the base has oxidised, and no amount of waxing can return it. To prevent that, make sure you wax your skis at least every 4-5 times you ski.

Do skis really need to be waxed?

your new skis really just need a wax coat every couple of weeks and some shop work once or twice a season. Other skis require even more work than just a simple waxing. Fat skis, for instance, tend to need a base grind in order to flatten out the base so it runs evenly and smoothly on the snow.

What happens if you dont wax your skis?

Over time, without wax, the base of a ski or board will start to dry out and whiten, almost like the black is fading. As it continues to dry, it shrinks. In extreme cases, the base can shrink away from your edges, making them prone to blowing out of the ski on a rock or hard ice.

How to wax your cross country skis.

How do you tell if your skis need waxing?

The most obvious sign is the discoloration of the base material. If the base material is dry and in need of wax it will appear white and chalky, starting at the edges and moving inward.

Why are my cross country skis sticking?

“When you're skiing, you're causing friction and creating water from ice. Water has a very strong bond to itself, so it sticks to things. That's why it's sticky snow.” Temperature also determines the crystal formation of snow, which further affects ski performance.

How do you care for wooden cross country skis?

The bases of your wooden skis need to be treated with pine tar, to repel the moisture and to seal the wooden base. In a well ventilated area using a small brush, apply an even coat of pine tar to the entire base of the ski. Use a hot air gun or a propane torch with a flare tip to heat the pine tar until it bubbles.

Does cross country ski wax go bad?

Should still be good, there is nothing perishable inside wax and the chemicals are quite stable.

How long does cross country ski wax last?

After every couple of liquid wax jobs you should clean the dirt from your bases with some base cleaner before you wax again. Generally each application will last about 20 miles. The easiest solution: rub on, let dry and go.

How long do cross country skis last?

The average skier replaces their skis every 8 years (source). For the best performance, you can get 100-125 ski days before the ski starts to deteriorate – but this does depend on your weight, ski style and how well-maintained the ski is (source).

How often do skis need to be waxed?

It's important to remember that you can wax as often as you'd like; some racers and expert skiers wax their skis and snowboards every day. Look at your edges. Carefully assess your edges to make sure they are fairly sharp. Lightly slide your fingers down the edge to see if the metal is getting dull and worn down.

Why do you wax skis?

The wax protects skis from scratches in addition to giving them their glide. In warm weather, soft waxes based on petroleum wax repel slushy snow and keep skis gliding. On cold, hard snow, long-chain or branched alkanes protect the base of the ski, keeping it smooth and slick.

How do you wax old wood cross country skis?

The glide wax for wooden skis is actually a COLD TEMPERATURE KICK WAX like Polar or Special Green. Apply it by rubbing the wax stick onto the base, applying a thin layer throughout the whole ski, including the groove. Using a wax cork, rub the cork over the wax until it smoothes the wax into a shiny surface.

How do you maintain wooden skis?

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. Be sure to dry your skis well before the next step. After metal scraping and cleaning, sand the base with course or 60 grit sandpaper.

Do you wax fishscale skis?

Most people own waxless skis, also known as fish scale or step skis, for two reasons: They do not want to deal with kick waxing their skis, nor do they want to clean kick wax off their skis. For this reason, care of waxless skis needs to be quick and easy.

How do you keep cross country skis from sticking?

Kick wax, or grip wax, sticks to snow and is used exclusively for classic style cross-country skiing. Glide wax prevents snow from sticking and is used for alpine skiing, tele skiing, skate skiing, snowboarding, and yes, classic style cross-country skiing.

Is it OK to store skis standing up?

Where to Store Skis, Boards and Boots. “Anyplace you store rice or pasta is great place to store your skis,” says Geoff Curtis. “You want to avoid excessive heat which can damage the adhesives in skis [and boards].” So, avoid hot garages or attics. Curtis recommends storing skis either on their sides or standing up.

Are 10 year old skis still good?

Once your skis get to the 5-10-year-old age they are still considered modern, but you may not be getting the most of their performance or could be forced to work harder than you should to get the same level of performance out of them.

Should I wax my skis at the end of the season?

Wax skis before storing them

The beauty of this end-of-season chore is that the scraping step of waxing (the time-consuming part) is not even necessary. Just leave the thick coat of wax on the base and even dripped over the edges for protection.

How do I know if my cross country skis need waxing?

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. Wax will keep dirt out of the base, prevent the base from drying out and will keep your skis gliding fast. Some cross country skis, however, are waxless.

What can I use instead of ski wax?

• Look No Wax.
• Phantom Permanent Waxless Glide.
• Faststik Revolutionary Ski Wax Alternative.