How to Wax Nordic Skis

ski 3 image by wanty from Fotolia.com

Like any other type of skis, nordic skis need proper wax maintenance to be effective on the snow. The general rule for waxing is to apply a new coat twice a year, but this can vary according to how often you go skiing. If the bottom of the ski starts to look ashen or white, your ski needs waxing. Although this can be an intimidating process, it's actually easy to execute. Ski wax can be applied without many expensive tools and in just a few simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Ski wax
Wax scraper
Soft cloth
Clothing iron
Polishing pad
Ski vice or two chairs

Step 1

Bring your skis indoors and let them acclimate to room temperature.

Step 2

Set your skis into a ski vice, if you have one, or place them upside down on two chairs, with the bindings hanging down in between the chairs.

Step 3

Wipe down your skis with a wet cloth. This removes any dust or sediments that may have accumulated on your skis. Ski specialty shops also sell base cleaners which are purported to do a better job of cleaning the ski undersides.

Step 4

Take a warmed-up clothing iron and hold it close to a chunk of ski wax over the ski. Allow the wax to heat up and begin melting, dripping onto the ski. Apply this melted wax from tip to tip on the ski--unless your skis have a patterned mid-section that is not supposed to be waxed--by leaving a drop of wax every 1 or 2 inches. With wax, it's generally wise to use more rather than less if you are unsure of the proper amount. Excess wax will be removed in later steps.

Step 5

Use the iron's warmed flat area to even spread the wax along the ski. Press down moderately hard to ensure the wax spreads, and keep the iron moving from tip to tip. If you hold it in one place for too long, you risk warping the ski.

Step 6

Let the wax dry, then run a wax scraper across the ski from tip to tip. Press the scraper down on the wax at a 45-degree angle and try to remove the wax in one continuous motion. This evens out the wax on the ski and leaves a smooth surface.

Step 7

Run a polishing brush, stone or other ski wax polisher from one end of the ski to another to smooth the wax even further. This has a similar effect as fine sandpaper does on wood, and the smoother finish creates even less resistance between the ski and the snow, resulting in a faster ride. Smoother surfaces are also more resistant to dust, dirt and other sediments because there is less surface area for these particles to catch onto the wax.

Article Written By Jonathan Croswell

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." Croswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nebraska and is currently pursuing a Master's of Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University.

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