Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is a winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily Northern Europe and Canada.

Waxes

There are a wide variety of waxes for Nordic Skiing. The waxes can be classified into three main categories: glide waxes, kick waxes, and klisters.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Glide wax

Glide waxes are used to make a ski glide faster, and are applied by ironing onto the ski. Glide waxes range widely in price, depending on quality; racing waxes can be very expensive. Glide waxes are applied outside the kick zone of classic skis, or to the full length of skate skis. They are the only type of wax used on skating skis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kick wax

The purpose of kick wax is to provide grip on snow when weight is transferred on a ski; they are used on classic skis only. Kick waxes are applied in the kick zone of classic skis if the ski is not a fish-scale, waxless ski.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kick waxes are classified according to their hardness: harder waxes are for colder and newer snow. Using a too hard wax will not give sufficient grip, while a too soft one will cause the formation of an ice soles that will slow the skier down. It is not uncommon to apply a new layer of wax if the weather changes, or when moving in altitude.

Related Topics:
Ice - Sole

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kick waxes generate grip work by being penetrated by snowflakes when the skier puts his weight on the ski. Colder snowflakes are harder, and so is newly fallen snow. The most appropriate wax is the one that is soft enough to generate grip, but also hard enough not to accumulate snow and create a sole.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Waxes are usually colour-coded: the most common are red is for temperatures above 0?C, and blue for below. There are many other colours for more specific temperature ranges, for instance violet for around 0?C, green for below -10?C, and white for below -15?C. The snow-temperature range given by the producer must be taken with a grain of salt, since new snow will require a harder wax.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Guessing the right hardness is difficult, and the varying condition of the snow can make the right choice wrong after a few hundred metres. Furthermore, the snow in the beaten track is usually much different from the one immediately surrounding it, and works best with a softer wax. Thin snow soles can often be dealt simply by beating the ski on the track after kicking, the opposite problem may be handled by skating.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Klister

As the snow becomes older and snow flakes lose their sharpness, in case of re-freezing or of water, kick wax cannot provide any more grip, and it becomes useless. One must therefore resort to klister, which is basically a glue. Klister is discouraging for amateurs, as it is very sticky, easy to apply but very difficult to remove.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Professionals often maintain that klister is best applied with the palm of the hand, but it is generally not clear how to clean the hand afterwards; amateurs often resort to some object of the appropriate size. Since klister is an organic chemical, a non-polar solvent (such as gasoline) or a soap is necessary to remove it. Stores often sell purpose-made solvent to clean skis. These should be used with care, as they are both flammable and toxic if inhaled.

Related Topics:
Solvent - Gasoline - Soap - Flammable - Toxic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Klister is also colour-coded, with red klister for wet snow and blue klister for icy snow.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Waxless skis

In recent years, waxless skies have obtained some success in the market. Waxless skis have normally a fish scale pattern in the kick zone that is supposed to provide the grip. A waxless ski is inferior to a finely tuned waxed ski, but does not require waxing (except some seasonal protective waxing).

Related Topics:
Fish - Scale

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~