Waxing for slush

NMMedia

NMMedia

Member
Is there a specific kind of wax any of you find works really well for when the snow gets slushy. Once there is water involved I find even the warm temperature wax sticks to the ground and kills my speed.
 
there are warm snow waxes, but from what ive heard, the grainy-like consistency of the snow will just scrape the wax off in a few runs anyways.
 
There are temp specific waxes. If you just ski park an all temp wax would do just fine. Temp specific wax only makes minute differences compared to an all temp
 
dirtbag 101: paraffin canning wax works well in very wet and warm snow. crayon it on, cork it out and brush it down!!! good for 1 day!! also, in late spring, get in the habit of carrying a rag soaked in wd40 in a zip lock bag!! may need to use it every few runs but will get you across the big suck!!!
 
Yeah I realize there are different waxes for different temperatures, as I said, when its wet even warm temperature wax sticks.
 
What is your ski? If your ski has an extruded base, rather than a sintered base, it won't really matter what wax you use as it won't really be affected by the wax. If your ski uses an extruded base any "what wax" question is moot.
 
I'm not 100% sure either but I would wager that those have a sintered base (someone correct me otherwise). Just for argument's sake, let's say they do. When was the last time they got a stone grind? If you haven't been regularly waxing a sintered base, it can dry out and not easily accept wax until that dry top layer is removed. When getting said stone grind, make sure you get a structure pattern that is made for warmer, spring time conditions. Structure prevents suction from developing between your base and the melted snow. Normal winter structure has a fine pattern, spring structure will be deeper and more spaced out. Make sure you get this, it is just as important as selecting the right wax. Next step is obviously using a warm temperature hydrocarbon wax ( you can use low flouros but I don't think you'll honestly notice the difference).
 
Awesome man, thanks a bunch for the response k+. They are actually brand new skis as of last week so I dont think I have to worry about dry bases as of yet, and I do was on a weekly basis which I believe should be enough, but correct me if I'm wrong as I do ski almost daily.
 
Doesn't sound like you are doing it infrequently, but you can not really over do it.

Are your bases slightly white, like dry skin looking? If so, then yes you need a base grind. If they look bright/shiny then you just need a new structure and keep up with the waxing.
 
What do you mean when you say you need a new structure exactly? I've never heard someone say that before
 
Your base is not smooth, it has a pattern that has been put into it. If you look at it closely and run your fingernail across the base, you will notice that it has fine grooves. This is the structure or pattern on your base. Different snow conditions call for different patterns, just like different road conditions call for different tires on your car.

 
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