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Paraffin wax for spring conditions????

  • PowderT
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13 years 8 months ago #205676 by PowderT
Anybody heard of this? I went up last weekend and the snow looked like perfect corn, but upon dropping in I found it to be challenging at the very least. It was like skiing on Velcro. One splitboader I was with made it look easy and said he used paraffin wax. Any advice?

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  • Robie
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13 years 8 months ago #205693 by Robie
Replied by Robie on topic Re: Paraffin wax for spring conditions????
I have friends who swear by it, gives a little grip plus glides and cheap too.
What do you have to lose ?

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  • Atraslin
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13 years 8 months ago #205697 by Atraslin
Replied by Atraslin on topic Re: Paraffin wax for spring conditions????
I need to try that wax, where can you buy it.

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  • melchap
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13 years 8 months ago #205700 by melchap
Replied by melchap on topic Re: Paraffin wax for spring conditions????

I need to try that wax, where can you buy it.


Paraffin wax was formerly used for canning food. You can still find it at the grocery or hardware store along with the canning supplies.

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  • pin!head
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13 years 8 months ago #205703 by pin!head
Replied by pin!head on topic Re: Paraffin wax for spring conditions????

It was like skiing on Velcro. One splitboader I was with made it look easy and said he used paraffin wax. Any advice?


Get a snowboard??? Just kidding. There is a chance that you may have accumulated debris/polin on your skis which is sticky and covers over the structure in your base. An unwaxed or mis-waxed ski will often glide much better than a pollinated or structureless ski.

I'm headed out for a long weekened. I will clean my bases and brush them out to expose the structure. Wax with the softest wax I have then brush that out until the bases look like and old vinyl album. If your ski has little or no structure, or has a cold snow structure, it is time for a stone grind specific to spring temps. The structure breaks up water suction and channels it out the back.

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  • Joedabaker
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13 years 8 months ago #205731 by Joedabaker
Replied by Joedabaker on topic Re: Paraffin wax for spring conditions????

If your ski has little or no structure, or has a cold snow structure, it is time for a stone grind specific to spring temps.  The structure breaks up water suction and channels it out the back.


Or use a the thin side of a medium mill bastard file and pull it along the base perpendicular to the edges with downward pressure. It will create a spring style channeling system embossed in the base. Then go back over the base with a sharp metal scraper to pull down the raised base a bit and a couple finishing swipes with a file. Or....
Old, but effective technique. I just step on roots, run over rocks, brush and it naturally designs a base that breaks water suction.

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