Waxing Guide

If I'm just starting out, what are the basic tools and waxes I need?

Choose your discipline from the list below:

Alpine or Telemark skiers and Snowboarders
Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxless Skis
Skate Skiers
Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxable

Alpine (Downhill)/ Tele Skiers and Snowboarders

You've got a few options. The quick and easy path is to grab one of the following glide waxes:

Swix F4 Liquid Glide Wax
Swix F4 Paste Glide Wax

You don't need any special tools; just rub on the entire base surface, polish and go.

If you would like to follow the righteous way of the hot wax, some specialized tools and waxes are in fact required:

Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing)
Plexi Scraper
Nylon Brush
Base Cleaner
Swix Universal Warm Wax
Swix Universal Cold Wax

That should get you started nicely. Come in and talk to us about ways to expand your downhill-oriented waxing kit if you want to move beyond the basics. In the meanwhile, enjoy a plentitude of turns.

Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxless Skis

So you've got waxless Nordic skis, eh? If you are reading this far you probably understand that waxless skis still need to be glide waxed. The easiest single thing to buy is:

Swix Easy Glide Liquid for Waxless Skis

Rub it on the entire length of your ski, including the waxless pattern. This reduces friction on the fishscale surface and allows it to glide more freely. It also prevents clumps of snow from adhering to the pattern and ruining your day.

Yes, you can (and we recommend this) hot wax the tips and tails of your waxless Nordic skis, if you are interested in performance. To do this, you'll need:

Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing)
Plexi Scraper
Groove Scraper
Nylon Brush
Base Cleaner
Swix CH10
Swix CH8
Swix CH6

You can subsitute a single Universal Warm or Cold wax for the three Swix waxes above to save some cash.

Skate Skiers with, you guessed it, Skate Skis

A skate ski possesses a single gliding surface, much like its alpine comrades. When you glide wax your ski, you coat the entire base. The simple route is to pick up either:

Swix F4 Liquid Glide Wax
Swix F4 Paste Glide Wax

You don't need any special tools; just rub on the entire base surface, polish and go.

To join the ranks of initiated hot waxers, you'll need some extra toolage.

Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing)
Plexi Scraper
Groove Scraper
Nylon Brush
Base Cleaner
Swix CH10
Swix CH8
Swix CH6

You can subsitute a single Universal Warm or Cold wax for the three Swix waxes if you're on a budget.

Classic Skiers with Waxable Skis

Your story is a bit different from the rest, because in additition to glide waxes & tools (you'll use the same here as the skate skier above), you require kick wax to move forward. This makes you special. Unlike many things in life, ski waxing is a very fair enterprise. Since it takes a little more work to apply kick wax, you get better grip and kick as a result, just as you would expect. Yee-haw! As far as glide wax is concerned, just read the above portion for skate skis and remember that you're applying it ONLY to the tips and tails of your classical skis. Kick wax goes in the middle 1/3 zone under your foot (it doesn't adhere very well to glide wax). In addition to the aforementioned tools for glide wax, for kick waxing you'll need:

Synthetic Cork
Swix Blue Extra
Swix Violet Special
Swix Red Special
Swix Red/Silver

Don't feel as though you need to buy all the waxes at once. You can do it in stages if you like, buying when the conditions dictate. Those waxes should form the nucleus of an excellent kit, however. Purchase a Universal Klister for those tricky warm conditions or frozen tracks if you like, and happy trails.

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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 If I'm just starting out, what are the basic tools and waxes I need? Choose your discipline from the list below: Alpine or Telemark skiers and Snowboarders Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxless Skis Skate Skiers Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxable Alpine (Downhill)/ Tele Skiers and Snowboarders You've got a few options. The quick and easy path is to grab one of the following glide waxes: Swix F4 Liquid Glide Wax Swix F4 Paste Glide Wax You don't need any special tools; just rub on the entire base surface, polish and go. If you would like to follow the righteous way of the hot wax, some specialized tools and waxes are in fact required: Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing) Plexi Scraper Nylon Brush Base Cleaner Swix Universal Warm Wax Swix Universal Cold Wax That should get you started nicely. Come in and talk to us about ways to expand your downhill-oriented waxing kit if you want to move beyond the basics. In the meanwhile, enjoy a plentitude of turns. Classical Nordic Skiers with Waxless Skis So you've got waxless Nordic skis, eh? If you are reading this far you probably understand that waxless skis still need to be glide waxed. The easiest single thing to buy is: Swix Easy Glide Liquid for Waxless Skis Rub it on the entire length of your ski, including the waxless pattern. This reduces friction on the fishscale surface and allows it to glide more freely. It also prevents clumps of snow from adhering to the pattern and ruining your day. Yes, you can (and we recommend this) hot wax the tips and tails of your waxless Nordic skis, if you are interested in performance. To do this, you'll need: Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing) Plexi Scraper Groove Scraper Nylon Brush Base Cleaner Swix CH10 Swix CH8 Swix CH6 You can subsitute a single Universal Warm or Cold wax for the three Swix waxes above to save some cash. Skate Skiers with, you guessed it, Skate Skis A skate ski possesses a single gliding surface, much like its alpine comrades. When you glide wax your ski, you coat the entire base. The simple route is to pick up either: Swix F4 Liquid Glide Wax Swix F4 Paste Glide Wax You don't need any special tools; just rub on the entire base surface, polish and go. To join the ranks of initiated hot waxers, you'll need some extra toolage. Iron (preferably one designed for ski waxing) Plexi Scraper Groove Scraper Nylon Brush Base Cleaner Swix CH10 Swix CH8 Swix CH6 You can subsitute a single Universal Warm or Cold wax for the three Swix waxes if you're on a budget. Classic Skiers with Waxable Skis Your story is a bit different from the rest, because in additition to glide waxes & tools (you'll use the same here as the skate skier above), you require kick wax to move forward. This makes you special. Unlike many things in life, ski waxing is a very fair enterprise. Since it takes a little more work to apply kick wax, you get better grip and kick as a result, just as you would expect. Yee-haw! As far as glide wax is concerned, just read the above portion for skate skis and remember that you're applying it ONLY to the tips and tails of your classical skis. Kick wax goes in the middle 1/3 zone under your foot (it doesn't adhere very well to glide wax). In addition to the aforementioned tools for glide wax, for kick waxing you'll need: Synthetic Cork Swix Blue Extra Swix Violet Special Swix Red Special Swix Red/Silver Don't feel as though you need to buy all the waxes at once. You can do it in stages if you like, buying when the conditions dictate. Those waxes should form the nucleus of an excellent kit, however. Purchase a Universal Klister for those tricky warm conditions or frozen tracks if you like, and happy trails. back to FAQ