Bought yourself a new pair of skis or snowboard? Don’t know what to do with them now they are sitting in a cupboard and begging to be taken to the mountains?
Looking after your equipment properly has never been as important as your ski holiday can quickly turn sour if they’re not in top condition before you go. It’s time to wax!
At home waxing is a more cost effective way to look after your skis in the long run. You don’t have to get your skis or snowboard serviced in a store and it does also become a pre-holiday ritual to really get you excited for your trip.
Equipment & preparation
The obvious is getting all the equipment. You can buy waxing kits which have all the equipment ready for you with instructions so you’ll be a pro in no time. Or if you are on a budget, grab your mum’s best iron! Household irons can be used, but just be careful as it should be hot enough to melt the wax but not too hot for it to start smoking! We recommend keeping it on a low- mid temperature.
Waxing is also very messy so make sure you have bin bags and newspaper at the ready to catch the wax shavings and drippings. If it’s nice weather, waxing outside is probably the easiest and less messy way to do it.
1. Clean
Clean the base of your skis or board by using an acrylic wax scraper, or an old loyalty or credit card, to remove any dirt and wax from the surface. Follow with a base cleaner, applying with a cloth and then preheat the iron to around 110-140C.
2. Wax
Once the iron is up to temperature, apply the wax directly to the surface of the iron so that it melts and drips onto the base of the skis or board. Evenly apply the wax drips from tip to tail. Be careful not to drip wax on the floor or any furniture - that’s where newspaper does come in handy.
3. Iron
Take the iron and apply it directly to the base, re-melting the wax. Again, start at the tip and work your way down, moving the iron in circular motions. Evenly spread the wax and make sure to not hold the iron in one place, move quickly so to not burn the base. Then leave the skis to cool for 5 to 10 minutes or until all the wax has hardened.
4. Scrape
Now for the most satisfying part – scraping! From tip to tail in in one direction, scrape off all of the wax. Finally, brush the remaining bits of wax off with a nylon brush and your skis or snowboard will be as smooth as a baby’s bum!
You’re all set! Happy skiing!
For ski holiday inspiration and advice, browse our ski holiday deals or give us a call and speak to a ski expert.