Where are you and where are they racing? That makes a big difference. Are you looking to wax for specific snow conditions or are you looking for recommendations on a generic/universal wax? For example, I would consider Swix LF6 to be a universal wax for my athletes as it will be fast enough in the vast majority of their races. Similarly, you could probably get away with Holmenkol Betamix or Toko Red/black as a generic wax.
You need to learn how wax works, as some basic knowledge will allow you to answer a lot of your own questions. In general terms, a harder wax is more durable than a softer wax. It is better to wax too cold than too warm. A harder/colder wax will give better acceleration, and softer wax will give better top speed. In aggressive snow (new or coarse) you need a harder wax. Anti stats are important, but can be slower in fresh or wet snow. Snow warms slower than air and cools very quickly. You will hear snow humidity as dry, normal, or wet. In general terms, dry snow can’t make a snowball (hydrocarbon wax is fine), normal snow can make a snowball (low fluoro), wet snow will make a snowball and water will drip down your arm (high fluoro).
So what does all that mean? Wax is not that important in slalom, but go a little harder to help with getting back up to speed after a mistake. Also harder will help with durability for the second run. In SG you only have to worry about one run and you want to wax for the longest flats. GS falls in between.
Buy a decent wax iron. Swix T77 is my current favorite budget iron. If you want to go up from there, Swix has a new low end digital that looks very nice. Buy brushes that match the hardness of your wax. The Swix steel brush is really nice on harder waxes. A roto brush will save a lot of time. A good liquid wax can be used to refresh a ski for a second run, or a rerun. Sharpen your scraper after every ski. If you are cheap, something 90 degrees and a drywall sanding screen gets the job done. If you have money to spend, electric scraper sharpeners run $275-$500. They are a stupid waste of money and the greatest things ever.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with using slalom skis to inspect and warmup for a GS unless there is a dedicated freeski area that you can ski at speed. Otherwise warmup on slaloms focusing on precision of movement.
I’m against overlays of any kind until the skier can ski a clean run. If she is speed checking before a jump, no point in super expensive wax. When she is skiing clean, wax appropriately for the conditions, but stay away from overlays until she is contesting places. If you are using fast wax in races, it needs to be used at least some in training. It feels different. There are physiological reasons why really fast wax can make younger skiers (U12 and under) ski slower.
As for basics of how to wax a ski, there are good videos on YouTube from Swix, Toko (Wili Wiltz), Artech (George Merrill), Starthaus (@otto) and Holmenkol on the subject. Don’t be stingy with wax, use the proper iron temp, three passes with the iron is sufficient (heat is bad for skis), allow the ski to fully cool for warmer waxes (heat twice for swix 4 and 5), and make sure to scrape and brush fully. Wax after every training session. Wax in the base is like oil in your engine. Betamix makes a very good all purpose training wax, as does Toko red. Swix has a 900g pack that gives you two bars of CH5, one CH6, CH7, CH8. If you are going to use Swix, it is a very economical way to go.
L&AirC
PSIA Instructor and USSA Coach
Skier
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- Aug 29, 2017
- Posts
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- Southern NH
- Feb 25, 2018
- #21
noah said: Thanks for the reply! I totally agree that the younger kids should focus on technique. When the race spread is 10-20 seconds, wax is certainly not the deciding factor.
For my u14, races are now being decided by tenths and hundredths of a second, so wax is starting to matter more.
I guess my real question is if temperature specific waxes are really that much better than wide-range waxes (holmekol or toko) or all-temp waxes like dominator.
It would be much easier to not have to figure out what temp wax to use for any given day.
habks for Click to expand...
Dominator has all temp waxes and temperature specific. My general recommendations for racers - U10 and below Dominator Zoom. U12 - Race Zoom - U14 and up - conditions of the day (Bullet, Butter, etc). In all cases, if you aren't sure, ask the coach, this provided your coach understands the difference between the best wax for the day and the best wax for your athlete.
Again, this is providing the wax is making a difference. For the older kids, even if it isn't that big of a difference, there is a benefit to the learning what the faster waxes do as long as they are going to stick with racing.
Reactions: noah and Jacques
