To wax or not to wax a pair of brand new skies? If you are confused about waxing new skis, you’ve come to the right place.
Many rookie skiers had several questions about maintenance before taking the skis out for the first time. So, we decided to compile the most common questions and address them here. If you are wondering, “do new skis need to be waxed?”, read till the end to find out the details.
Do New Skis Come Waxed From The Factory?
Beginners may wonder if brand new skis need waxing at all. After all, it would be a waste of time and resources to apply wax if the company already does it. The simple answer is – Yes, skis are already waxed. But there’s something you should know about this “factory wax.”
Essentially, this factory wax applied by the company is primarily all-season or all-temperature wax, which means it isn’t supposed to cater to a specific season or environment. Many times, the factory wax is only good enough to last while it’s available for sale at the store.
Do New Skis Need to Be Waxed?
Any new pair of skis you pick from the store has a temporary layer of wax. But the concern is, temporary coats will probably wear out soon. Now, if you want to get the best out of your new skis, waxing them is not only a good idea, but there is ZERO downside to doing it and doing it right.
The whole point is to prevent the base of the ski from drying. So, look at the base of the skis to check the current state. It is usually possible to tell if a wax coating is applied by the cloudy white tint that appears in various places at the base. White and chalky discoloration indicates dryness, and the ski definitely needs a coat of wax.
Besides, sitting in the shop for a while can wear factory wax, and a new coat will be required by the time you purchase it.
How Do You Wax Brand New Skis?
You do not have to depend on professionals for waxing; as long as you have the right tools, you can DIY it. All you need is a workbench, clamps, a wax iron for heating, and wax, or an all-in-one tuning and waxing kits. Here is the easiest way to do it:
1. Fix The Ski On Your Bench
First of all, place the ski flat on your workbench and ensure it doesn’t move while working. You can use clamps or braces to hold both the tips and tails in place. Once the ski is secured in place, pull the brakes up so that you can move them out of the way.
Stretch a thick rubber band to hold the brake arms around the heel so that it is safe from hot wax.
2. Pour Wax On The Ski
Next, you need a hot iron rod to melt the wax into a hot liquid. Place the hot iron rod safely, with one corner facing downwards, and put the wax on the hot rod to allow it to melt. Here maintain caution so that your hand does not touch the rod, so wear safety gear to prevent accidents.
Also, you could use a longer tool to place the wax on the rod so that your hand is as far away from the hot iron as possible. Soon the melted wax will become fluid enough to slide over the rod and drip down onto your ski.
3. Spread The Wax All Over The Ski
Now, you will need to move the rod all across the surface of the base, making sure to deposit melted wax all over the ski. As a rule of thumb, don’t add all the wax to one place because that will form an uneven layer and could also overheat the ski base.
4. Allow The Wax To Cool
Lastly, leave the ski at room temperature for about an hour or until the wax has cooled down. After the wax has cooled off, brush the base to even the surface. And, that’s it! Your waxed ski is ready to use.
Do You Have to Tune Brand New Skis?
While skis come with a factory tune, it might not be wise to depend on them. Generally, skis take a long time traveling – from factory to manufacturer and then to store before finally reaching you. Therefore, it is better to have them inspected by an expert before using them. The ski expert will check the flatness and edge angles to see if they are fit for use.
Depending on the usage and frequency of skiing, the ski tech will suggest a few tweaks for improving your overall skiing experience. However, if the base is flat, edges are balanced, and bevel-angles are in order, you can directly opt for waxing the ski.
How Do You Prepare Brand New Skies?
Sometimes a brand new ski will not need any preparation since they are tuned and waxed at the factory. But if you are used to a certain structure, it’s possible to ask the ski expert to adjust the bases and edges to your liking.
Additionally, if the bases are warped, edges uneven, or discolored from factory wax, you will need to tune the ski before using it. Ideally, you should fix the base flatness and wax it if everything else seems proper.
Final Thoughts
So, that was all you needed to know about preparing, tuning, and waxing a brand new ski. If you collect the tools required, there is no reason why you cannot DIY the waxing process. And, it is safe to say that minor maintenance regularly is effective in keeping skis in good condition.
We hope this short guide answers all the questions you have about waxing or preparing a new ski. Let us know which other topics you’d like to read about, and feel free to ask any other queries in the comments section below.
Take care and until next time, happy skiing!
