New Skis: How To Pick and Season A Good Pair
The following article by Torbjørn Broks Pettersen is translated and summarized from Norsk Ski Sport, no. 6, 2003. Translation and summary by Inge Scheve.
It’s easy to get lost in the wood of skis when purchasing equipment. As most know, and most shop staff offer advice on, fit is key. Skis must be the right length, the correct camber and have a quality base. Most skis are marked with tables to let skiers select the right length, and new skis typically run somewhat shorter than the traditional rule-of-thumb guides suggest. With new production technology, manufacturers are able to produce skis that have stiff enough cambers and gentle transitions between the kick and glide zones in shorter skis than before. While a skier might have skied 210 classic skis 12 years ago, the same individual will likely ski 205 or even 200 if buying new skis today. The same trend is evident in skate equipment.
These days, most ski bases have additives such as graphite, Cera-F, or similar materials, which manufacturers label P-Tex 4000, Race WC Pro, Sintec, etc. Most brands also carry a wet and a dry base version, or a cold and a warm/ “plus” base version for each model, and almost all skis come stone ground from the factory with a universal grind that works well for most conditions. However, if you buy bargain skis or last season’s model that have been stored over the summer, it might pay off to invest in a new stone grind. A grind will remove the top layer of the base, which is dry and oxidized, to allow skis to absorb wax better and faster. When getting a stone grind, you have the opportunity to target specific conditions for your race skis, but that also limits their versatility.
Seasoning a good pair of skis
Regardless of what skis you buy – this year’s new skis or last season’s bargain – how you prep your skis determines whether they will be the fastest you’ve ever owned or just another pair of run-of-the-mill skis. xcskiworld.com Editor's note: Even casual skiers are often (usually) interested in having skis that offer exceptional glide. Whereas sheer speed isn't the issue it is with racing, recreational skiers still like to get all the bang they can get out of skis when we are talking about the work (uphill) sections. Glide is important!
This need not be an expensive pursuit, but it does take time. The four-step plan to exceptional skis:
1. Start grooming your skis with Fiber-Tex – a fine version. The coarse gray pad can be a little rough on modern, relatively soft graphite bases. Move the pad back and forth along the base 15-20 passes. Finish with a bronze brush, 10-15 passes.
2. Hot-wax your skis to clean the bases by dripping a soft glidewax onto the base. Scrape before the wax cools to remove any dirt, excess hairs on the base and other impurities. Let the skis cool.
3. Begin saturating the bases. Drip on a soft glide wax, let the skis cool, and reheat the wax. Let the skis cool again, scrape and brush the bases with a bronze brush (medium coarse). Repeat this process 4 to 6 times, letting the skis cool between each time.
4. Seasoning the perfect pair is only attainable by putting in time and TLC. Don’t be afraid to use your new pair, even if conditions are not optimal. Good advice: use the new skis often, clean them well (hot scrape) upon return, and always reapply wax before calling it a day. This way, the skis will never be stored without a protective layer of wax for any length of time, and the saturation process will continue throughout the season.
Happy Trails!
