How to Wax Skate Nordic Skis

There are two major types of Nordic skiing techniques. The first is classic and the second is skating or freestyle. Each method requires different equipment. When skiing skate or freestyle, you can have your skis glide in any direction. As opposed to classic, your skis are always moving and never stop. This makes it a more efficient technique.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 waxing iron (an old iron you don’t care about)
• 1 package of hard wax (lasts approximately five waxes)
• 2 scrapers (groove and flat)
• 1 wax brush (nylon bristles work best)

1. Rub hard wax all the way down from tip to tail. Use some elbow grease.

2. Glide the iron over the wax lightly, making sure that the wax melts and the ski itself doesn’t burn. To ensure this, keep the iron moving at all times.

3. After the wax has cooled to room temperature, it is time to scrape. Run the groove scraper down the middle-channel of the ski. After this is completed, press the flat scraper with your thumbs all the way down the ski, keeping constant, heavy pressure. Now brush off the skis until the bases’ shine.

4. You are ready to hit the trails.

Tips & Warnings

• It is very important to keep the iron moving and not have it too hot, because this will melt the actual base of the ski.