Ski Wax Articles & Videos

• How to Build a Ski Waxing Profile

  Experienced skiers know that keeping your skis tuned and your bases waxed is the key to ski performance. Serious skiers will likely invest in a ski tuning bench, complete with a clamp system that can be used to hold a wide variety of skis,… read more

• Swix Ski Wax Instructions

  While hot waxing skis with an iron is the best way to get your skis in top shape, Swix makes several waxes that can be applied without an iron that will keep your skis humming along in between professional tuning sessions. As an added bonus… read more

• Ski Tuning Tricks

  Keeping your skis properly tuned is an important part of maintaining their performance. While some things, like a stone grind, can only be done by a professional shop, a lot of upkeep tuning work can be done at home with some simple gear.… read more

• Swix Ski Waxing Techniques

  Waxing cross country skis is important to getting the proper performance out of them. Waxable skis outperform waxless skis, as long as you prepare them properly. Even waxless skis benefit from applying glide wax to the glide zone of the ski… read more

• Ski Wax Colors

  When choosing a wax for hot waxing alpine skis, the waxes are color-coded by the temperature of the snow. Because you are unlikely to know the temperature of the snow when applying wax at home, it is best to look at the expected temperature… read more

• What Is Ski Wax Used For?

  Skis and snowboards perform best when they have well waxed bases, yet many people do not wax their equipment frequently enough. Ski wax is applied to the bottom of the ski and improves performance in the snow. read more

• Ingredients in Ski Wax

  Ski wax has long been used on Alpine skis to improve skiing performance. Wax does this by reducing friction between the ski and the snow. It smooths over imperfections on the ski, such as dents and dirt, and also creates a synthetic surface… read more

• How to Break in New Skis

  A new pair of skis can make or break your technique. You may suddenly find that you can experiment with different techniques on more challenging terrain. New skis, however, will obviously function in a manner that is different from your pre… read more

• Types of Snow Ski Wax

  There are two primary purposes of applying wax to cross-country skis. Waxing can either help give the ski a stronger grip or it can facilitate a smoother gliding motion across the snow. There are, therefore, essentially two different types… read more

• The Advantages of Ski Wax

  Frequent alpine skiers understand the importance of ski maintenance. In fact, skiers who go to the slopes every weekend throughout the winter often get their skis tuned every month. Tuning helps maintain the bases and edges of your skis, bu… read more

• Characteristics of Snow Skis

  Skis are particular. Different manufacturers use different cores, materials, flex, camber, edges and more. Knowing the qualities and characteristics of skis, or what the materials are used in their making and how it affects the performance… read more

• Ski Wax Techniques

  As part of a full ski tune, waxing your bases is the last step. Many racers wax their skis every time they go out, using special waxes that perform best at different temperatures. Temperature waxes outperform universal waxes, but universal… read more

• Why Do You Need to Wax Skis?

  With the exception of no-wax cross country skis, skiers can find themselves juggling wax and knowledge. Having the right wax for the right temperature and conditions becomes as much art as technique. Understanding why we have to wax our ski… read more

• Ski Tuning Instructions

  Have you ever felt like your skis weren't moving down the slope? Have you ever found turning more difficult than it usually is? The solution may be a simple ski tune. Ski tuning is the process of sharpening your edges and repairing and waxi… read more

• Recipes for Ski Wax

  Making your own ski wax, or klister, is a great way to fine-tune its qualities. For example, if you want your wax to be a little more or less sticky to match the local conditions, you can simply whip up your own the evening before you head… read more

• How to Build Adirondack Chairs Out of Skis

  If your love of skiing is combined with a desire to recycle, consider turning your old skis into an Adirondack chair. First built in the Adirondack Mountains, these outdoor chairs are not only quaint but comfortable. The simple rustic desig… read more

• How to Remove Cosmoline From Skis

  One of the most common materials used to wax skis is cosmoline. The yellow-brown, waxy material is the consistency of a thick ointment such as petroleum jelly. Cosmoline helps to protect the skis from rust and offers a smoother ride for ski… read more

• Guide to Waxing Skis

  Many skiers fail to take the simple, important step of waxing their skis regularly. In order to enjoy the best performance, waxing your skis is an imperative procedure. You could take your skis in to the shop for waxing, but learning to do… read more

• How Ski Wax Affects Skiing

  Skiing is an exciting way to enjoy the forces of gravity, but the friction between the snow and the bottom surface of the skis can impede a skier's speed and lesson the overall thrill of the sport. Friction varies with the temperature and… read more

• How to Wax Skis at Home

  It's a new ski season and you're looking at your dry skis, wondering how they'll perform on the slopes. The answer is not good, not good at all. Before you start making reservations, scheduling trips and checking the weather every few minut… read more

• How to Wax Skis With Swix

  Any skier should know how to wax his skis. It is an important part of ski maintenance that not only extends the life and durability of the skis but also improves the quality and speed of your skiing. You should apply wax at least once a yea… read more

• How to Wax Snow Skis

  Waxing your skis regularly will give you the best performance on the slopes. While waxing may seem like a daunting task that only a professional can do, it's really a short, simple job that you can save time and money doing in your garage.… read more

• The Best Way to Store Snow Skis

  The ski season seems to come to an end way too soon, but unless you plan to travel the globe in order to follow the snow, you will need to store your skis for the summer. Proper storage is important so that you keep your skis in top conditi… read more

• The Effects of Wax on Skis

  Wax is put on skis to improve their performance. Cross-country skiers have different demands from alpine skiers, and consequently the two kinds of skiing have different types of wax. read more

• How to Wax Skis Without an Iron

  When you ski over a chunk of basalt or fallen tree, the wax on your skis can mitigate the damage to your skis' bases. It can also make you go fast and turn with ease. There is a thin film of water between ski and snow--if the film is too s… read more

• What Are Skis Made Of?

  Skis were originally made from solid wood and it stayed that way until the early 1990s, when new technology meshed with new materials in the seemingly never-ending search for the perfect ski construction. Today, many other materials are use… read more

• How to Hot Wax Snow Skis

  Next to maintaining smooth ski bases and sharp edges, waxing your skis is probably one of the easiest, yet most important ways to maintain your equipment and ensure that you're getting the most out of your gear. All it takes is a few simple… read more

• How to Wax & Sharpen Skis

  Whether you enjoy alpine, telemark or cross country skiing, your skis will run better and smoother if you keep them maintained. The key to properly maintaining your skis is to keep them tuned with sharp edges and bases that are waxed and fr… read more

• How to Tune Skis

  No matter how little or how much you ski, eventually your skis will become damaged by skiing over rocks, ice or bare spots. Damage to your bases and edges, regardless of how small, will slow your skis and make them more difficult to steer.… read more

• How to Wax Skis

  You don't have to be a world class ski racer to appreciate the importance of keeping your skis tuned and waxed. Skiing on properly waxed skis will help you to ski faster, turn better and make the most out of the expensive ski equipment you… read more

• How to Store Skis

  When winter season is over, it is time to store your skis until the snow falls again. Snow skis are made to last through all of the action you put them through. They do not require a lot to keep them in good working order. A little maintena… read more

• How to P-Tex Skis

  If you feel like you're slowing down while others are skiing past you, it may not be your technique or the snow conditions. It could be your equipment. The running surfaces of your skis are prone to dings, gouges and other damage that can c… read more

• Ski Waxing Tips

  Properly waxed skis make it easier to rip and tear down mountainsides. Besides improving performance, applying glide wax to form a smooth and slick surface helps skis last longer. The task of waxing also can help build anticipation for that… read more

• How to Make Ski Wax

  Ski wax is used on snow skis to create speed on downhill slopes, and is used on cross country skis to create less or more friction depending on the need. It can be purchased in jars or tubes at retail locations that sell ski equipment, but… read more

• How to Sharpen Skis

  Skis take a lot of abuse. Ice, rocks, twigs and even ski lifts can really take a toll on both base and edges of the skis. If you do a lot of skiing in hardpack or icy conditions, it's very important to maintain sharp, tuned edges that will… read more

• How to Make Skis Faster

  No skier wants to buy a costly lift ticket only to discover that he is stuck on a slow set of skis. The key to fast skis is proper waxing, which needs to occur before you leave home for the slopes. By creating a smooth surface to reduce fri… read more