You just got a brand new pair of skis. They’re beautiful, they’re perfect, and you can’t wait to take them out on the slopes. But do new skis need to be waxed first?
In this post, we will explore the reasons why waxing your new skis is so important, what happens if you don’t and how to wax them. From protecting your investment to improving your skiing performance, waxing your skis is a must.
Table of Contents
Should New Skis Be Waxed?
Yes, new skis must be waxed! Ski wax helps to protect your skis from the elements and keeps them performing at their best.
When you buy new skis, the factory applies a small coat of wax to preserve them during transportation. However, this wax will rapidly wear off, so make sure to give your new skis a nice wax treatment before hitting the slopes.
What Happens if Your Skis Are Not Waxed?
If you do not wax your new skis, you will not be able to glide as smoothly on the snow. This will make controlling your skis difficult and may cause tiredness. Furthermore, your skis will become more prone to gathering dirt, skin glue and debris, which will reduce their performance even further.
Finally, failing to wax your skis might make your skiing experience less fun and become more dangerous.
How Long Does It Take To Wax Skis?
Waxing the skis will only take around 45 to 60 minutes if you do it yourself, and this includes the cool down time it should be kept to properly set the wax.
Getting your skis waxed from a shop will also take roughly around the same amount of time, or maybe less.
How Do You Wax Brand New Skis?
When it comes to getting your skis waxed, there are two ways; you can either take them to a shop, or do it yourself.
Waxing the skis by yourself might sound like a hard job, but it isn’t. Plus, waxing your skis from a shop can be expensive on top of the usual cost to ski , especially if you are a regular skier, who will need frequent waxing.
So, doing it yourself might sound like the best solution.
There are few things you will need to have, if you plan on waxing your skis by yourself;
- Waxing iron: This iron is similar to any regular iron, but a waxing iron comes with the advantage of being able to control the temperature. However, do not use a regular iron for waxing, the wax will damage the iron, making it unusable. The waxing iron may be a little expensive, but its long term use will be much more valuable.
- Scraper: This piece of equipment is used to scrape off the excess wax around the ski. It is a rectangular shaped tool, which looks like a credit card. An old card might do the trick as well.
- Brushes: When it comes to brushes, the market will have many types. The nylon one will do the simple trick, but if you need that shiny finished touch, brass and horse-hair brushes can be used. Of course the ski will do fine with only using nylon brushes.
- Rubber bands: Rubber bands are needed to hold the brakes of the skies up.
- Wax: Last but not the least, wax. The market contains many different wax types, so make sure to buy a good brand which will last long.
The ski waxing process is very simple, let’s break it down step by step:
Step1: Wax
To begin, keep the skis somewhere stable, and tie the brakes up. This will help in keeping the ski still, and will make your job easier. Once this is done, clean the base of your ski with a damp cloth.
Next, heat up the waxing iron, the required temperature will usually be given on the wax pack. Hold the wax bar against the iron and drip the melted wax onto the ski.
Afterwards, spread the wax throughout the ski using the iron. Make sure to not leave the iron in the same place for too long, as this might damage the skis.
When both skis are completely covered in wax, keep them aside to cool down. 30 minutes or so will do the trick. The longer the cooling time, the BETTER the end result.
Step 2: Scrape
Now it’s time to get rid of the excess wax. Using their scraper, firmly scrape the extra wax off. Use the base of the scraper, not the edges. Start from the tip and go up the way to the tail. Remove as much wax as possible.
Step 3: Brushing
Now that waxing and scraping is all done, the only thing left to do is brush the ski. Just like scraping, start from the tip and end in the tail. Get rid of as much wax as possible, to get the shiny finish up.
The order in which the bruises are used is as follows: First brass, then nylon and finally horsehair brush. Although only a nylon brush will do the trick as well.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Skis Waxed
If you are getting your skis waxed by a shop, a basic wax will cost you around $10. A full tune will cost roughly $50, and will cover everything your ski will need.
If you plan on waxing the skies by yourself, the overall cost will be around $70-80. But this will be a one time cost, since all the equipment can be reused for a long time. The only thing that needs to be repurchased would be the wax sticks and rubber bands.
This price adds up as follows;
- The waxing iron will cost around $40.
- The scraper will only cost $5
- The brushes will also cost only around $10
- The rubber bands will not cost a lot as well.
- The wax will also cost sound only $10-15
How Often to Wax Skis
Waxing your skis at least once a month is normally suggested, and more frequently if you ski regularly or store them in damp circumstances.
Waxing your skis will keep them fast and robust while also extending their lifespan. So, if you enjoy skiing, take care of your skis by waxing them on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Skis must be waxed before being used on the slopes, be it new or used. You may wax your skis in two ways: by a professional or by yourself.
Waxing skis helps to maintain them fast and strong, while also increasing their life span. Skis should be waxed at least once a month, and more frequently if you ski frequently or in wet weather. Taking proper care of your skis will help you use them for a long time, and make your ski trips a lot less dangerous. Plus, it’s yours, and yours to protect.
