Waxing your cross-country skis is essential for optimal performance and protecting the ski bases. The process generally involves cleaning the base, applying wax, and finishing the surface.
The Step-by-Step Hot Waxing Process
Waxing XC skis, particularly the glide zones, is a straightforward process when following a few key steps. Here's how you typically do it, based on standard practices:
1. Prepare Your Ski Bases
Begin by ensuring your ski bases are clean. This is a crucial first step for wax adhesion and performance.
- Clean the base. This can be achieved by first brushing the bases with a brass or medium steel brush to remove old wax, dirt, and debris.
- Wipe down the bases with a fiberlene cloth.
2. Select Wax & Set Iron Temperature
Choosing the right wax depends on snow conditions (temperature, humidity, snow type), but the application process is similar.
- Select your wax and set the iron temperature.
- Most wax packages have a suggested iron temp on the back. Set your waxing iron to this recommended temperature. Ensure the iron is hot enough to melt the wax smoothly but not so hot that it smokes or damages the ski base.
3. Apply the Wax
Now it's time to get the wax onto the ski bases.
- Coat the base. Hold the block of wax against the hot iron, letting the melting wax drip onto the base.
- Once you have wax drips along the length of the base, gently press the iron onto the base and spread the melted wax evenly across the entire glide zone, moving from tip to tail. Keep the iron moving continuously to avoid overheating any one spot.
4. Scrape Off Excess Wax
Allow the wax to cool and harden completely (usually 10-20 minutes at room temperature). Then, remove the excess.
- Scrape the wax off. Use a sharp plastic or acrylic scraper. Start from the tip and scrape towards the tail, using firm, consistent pressure to remove as much wax as possible from the surface and the ski's base structure. It's important to remove excess wax so the base structure can interact with the snow.
5. Final Brushing
The final step polishes the base and clears out any wax remaining in the structure.
- Brush the bases. Use a brush, typically a stiff nylon or horsehair brush first, followed by a finer nylon or finishing brush. Brush from tip to tail, applying moderate pressure to clean out the base structure and leave a smooth, fast surface.
Following these steps will help maintain your XC skis and provide better glide on the snow.
