How to Wax Skis for Ski Skating

Apply glide wax for optimum performance while ski skating.

Ski skating is a winter sport technique in which skiers use diagonal skating strides to maneuver through snow. Slightly different than classic cross country skiing, ski skating imitates the form of ice skating by transferring your weight from one ski to the other using the inside edge as leverage. Ski skating is used for sport, but it is also an excellent form of exercise. Glide wax is distributed along the entire length of the skis to ensure a smooth glide for maximum performance and speed.

Things You'll Need

• Vice
• Glide wax
• Ski waxing iron
• Rubbing alcohol
• Clean cloth
• Plastic scraper
• Nylon brush

Instructions

1. Lock the middle of the ski, base side up, with a vice to hold it securely in place.

2. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth and rub it on the ski base. This will clear any debris that would disrupt the waxing process. Allow 20 minutes for the ski to dry.

3. Power up a ski waxing iron. Lightly touch a chunk of glide wax to the face of the iron. Hold the iron and wax 2 to 4 inches away from the ski. Let the wax drip on the ski and cover the entire length and width of the base.

4. Place the iron on the ski base and spread the wax evenly across the ski until a thin layer of wax coats the entire base. Allow at least an hour for the wax to dry.

5. Scrape the ski base from end to end with a plastic scraper. Remove any excess wax that has built up on the edge of the ski base.

6. Brush the ski base with a stiff, nylon brush to create texture in the ski base. Brush the ski from tip to tail using 15 or 20 strokes to fill in the pores of the base.

7. Remove the ski from the vise.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply wax in a well ventilated area.

• The iron should be just hot enough to melt the wax.

References

• Ride and glide: Waxing 101
• Ski wax: Cold Glide