How to Wax Cross-Country Skis

Used since prehistoric times, cross-country skis were employed for transportation and hunting, and now are used primarily for sport, as the activity provides an effective cardio workout. Cross-country skis are used to traverse level snowfields, as opposed to downhill skis, and require the skier to use a "push-off" motion on one ski while gliding forward on the other. To move as quickly as possible without drag, it is important to keep your cross-country skis clean, smooth and waxed--a task that is not too difficult after a bit of practice.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plexiglass scraper Rounded groove scraper Ski wax Wax iron Thermomelt stick Stiff nylon brush Thermo Pad or white Scotchbrite pad Brass brush Horsehair brush Sandpaper

1. Clean all the surface dirt off the bottom of the ski by scraping it with a thick plexiglass scraper. Ensure that you clean out the groove with a rounded groove scraper from tip to tail.

2. Choose the correct color-coded wax for the outdoor temperature in which you will be skiing--yellow for warmer temperatures, and then red, purple, blue and green for the coldest temperatures.

3. Turn on the wax iron to the correct temperature stated on the container of wax. Rub the wax on the hot surface of the iron to melt the wax, and then slide the wax bar over the base of the ski, from tip to tail, re-warming the wax on the iron as needed.

4. Move the iron smoothly from tip to tail to melt the wax into the ski. Let the ski cool, and then repeat Steps 3 and 4 up to a maximum of three times, making sure that you apply the wax and iron the ski in one direction only. Let wax dry.

5. Scrape off wax to remove trapped air bubbles. Use a rounded groove scraper to scrape the groove first, and then use a plexiglass scraper on the sides, and finally the skiiing surface. Scrape from the tip to the tail several times until no excess wax comes off.

6. Brush the running surface of the ski with a stiff, nylon brush, remembering to work from tip to tail. Buff the running surface with a white Scotchbrite pad until the surface is shiny for very cold conditions only.

Tips & Warnings

• For inexpensive skis, you may use paste wax instead of melting and ironing the bar wax. Remember to clean the ski first with a brass brush. Dry five minutes, and then scrub vigorously with a Thermo Pad or white Scotchbrite pad, and buff with a horsehair brush to finish. When the scraper needs to be sharpened, pull it across a piece of sandpaper. If you do not have a wax iron, you may use a small travel clothes iron with no vents.
• Do not allow the wax to smoke. This means the temperature of the iron is too hot. If you are skiing in slushy conditions, in the kick-off portion of the ski (under the foot clamp area), use klister instead of waxing that area for better grip.

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