Waxing Guide

There are so many waxes and tools...where do I begin?

Come into our shop and you are arrested by a startling number of colorful wax tins, each labeled with cryptic symbols and temperature ranges in degrees centigrade. Scrapers, both plastic and metal hang above brushes with bristles of brass, nylon and horsehair. You begin to sweat. Casually picking up a ski tuning gadget, you find it impossible to figure out exactly what the heck it does. And for that matter, what is klister, really? How about fiberlene and fibertex? By now, all eyes have turned toward you. A bead of sweat hangs suspended from your nose. But no, it's not sweat, is it? Dots of wax. Dots of molten wax. You hope the alarm will sound soon, so you can wake up from this nightmare and normality will be restored...

DON'T PANIC! This is good advice from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

All skis need wax, but the amount and complexity of the work involved really depends on the skier to whom they belong. A fellow who races in Nordic marathons will pay more attention to detail than someone who gets out a couple times a season, even if they both happen to use the same exact ski model. Waxing can be as easy as you desire, so don't feel as through you need a master's degree in alchemy to succeed. Our advise is to start simple with a few basic tools and build from there if you enjoy it.

Though in the following sections you will find technical advice on preparing new ski bases, layering glide waxes and tips on all of the various tuning instruments, remember that we don't intend you to assimilate and practice every little technical procedure if you are new to the basic concepts. Again, start simple. Focus on using your equipment first and having fun. Feel free to come in and take advantage of our experienced staff with any tuning questions you might have. Remember, we are a full-service shop, so we'd be glad to do any of the procedures outlined below for you if you're not comfortable with them or simply lack the time. If you are interested in learning how to enhance the performance of your own skis yourself, however, read on.

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Bike: Johnny's 10 Bike Tips Local MTB Rides Ski & Board: How-To Waxing Guide Winter Ski/Board F.A.Q. 06-07 Ski Gallery		Waxing Guide back to FAQ There are so many waxes and tools...where do I begin? Come into our shop and you are arrested by a startling number of colorful wax tins, each labeled with cryptic symbols and temperature ranges in degrees centigrade. Scrapers, both plastic and metal hang above brushes with bristles of brass, nylon and horsehair. You begin to sweat. Casually picking up a ski tuning gadget, you find it impossible to figure out exactly what the heck it does. And for that matter, what is klister, really? How about fiberlene and fibertex? By now, all eyes have turned toward you. A bead of sweat hangs suspended from your nose. But no, it's not sweat, is it? Dots of wax. Dots of molten wax. You hope the alarm will sound soon, so you can wake up from this nightmare and normality will be restored... DON'T PANIC! This is good advice from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. All skis need wax, but the amount and complexity of the work involved really depends on the skier to whom they belong. A fellow who races in Nordic marathons will pay more attention to detail than someone who gets out a couple times a season, even if they both happen to use the same exact ski model. Waxing can be as easy as you desire, so don't feel as through you need a master's degree in alchemy to succeed. Our advise is to start simple with a few basic tools and build from there if you enjoy it. Though in the following sections you will find technical advice on preparing new ski bases, layering glide waxes and tips on all of the various tuning instruments, remember that we don't intend you to assimilate and practice every little technical procedure if you are new to the basic concepts. Again, start simple. Focus on using your equipment first and having fun. Feel free to come in and take advantage of our experienced staff with any tuning questions you might have. Remember, we are a full-service shop, so we'd be glad to do any of the procedures outlined below for you if you're not comfortable with them or simply lack the time. If you are interested in learning how to enhance the performance of your own skis yourself, however, read on. back to FAQ