A foundation for durability
LDR glide waxes are designed to improve the durability of the wax applied over them. UP Polar is also used as a glide base in several race waxing suggestions below.
Vallaboden / Vauhti
Vauhti waxing guide
The snow type helps you choose your wax. Application helps you get the most from it. Here we help you choose the right glide and grip wax, apply the layers in the right order and prepare your skis for today's snow.
Find the right glide waxRace waxing suggestion:
fresh snow, 0 to -4 °C. See the full procedure below.
Start with the snow surface
Temperature is only part of the choice
Fresh, fine-grained snow may need a different wax from old snow or artificial snow at the same temperature. This comparison covers RACE glide waxes. Grip waxes with the same colour names have their own applications.
| Wax | Product temperature range | Snow type and use | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACE Red | +7 to -3 °C | Wet, old snow. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE Pink | +3 to -4 °C | Especially useful around freezing. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE Violet | -1 to -7 °C | Versatile, especially on dirty artificial snow. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE Blue | -5 to -15 °C | Mainly dry artificial snow. Also falling snow at -5 °C or colder. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE Green | -10 to -20 °C | Fresh snow and cold conditions. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE MoS₂ | Not specified | Old, coarse-grained and icy snow. | Powder |
| RACE C | Not specified | Dry, fine-grained snow. | Powder |
The temperature ranges in the table apply to each product on its own. The race waxing suggestions below combine several waxes and may have different ranges.
From training to racing
What does each layer do?
For training, one glide wax may be enough. For racing, you can combine products to adapt durability and glide to the snow. LDR glide waxes can be used alone or beneath another glide wax.
Build up the chosen combination
In several powder combinations, a liquid glide base forms the intermediate layer. In the liquid RACE combinations, the intermediate layer is the colour chosen for the snow.
Fine-tune the race finish
A powder can form the final layer. Other combinations finish with a TOP RACE block or spray. An extra topping layer is an optional addition to test on the current snow.
How to do it
The right method for each product form
Start with a clean glide zone. Then choose the instructions for the product you are using. Always follow the current packaging instructions for temperature and handling.
Clean the glide zone with Clean & Glide
- Shake Clean & Glide well and apply to the glide zone.
- Wipe clean with polishing cloth.
- Brush with a nylon brush after 1-2 minutes.
- Repeat until the cloth stays clean when wiping.
For more effective cleaning, wrap the polishing cloth around a brush and work it over the wet base.
RACE liquid glide wax
- Press the sponge lightly against the glide zone to open the bottle's valve.
- Move the sponge back and forth and apply a thick layer over the glide zone.
- Let the wax dry completely.
- Brush thoroughly with brass, then horsehair and finally nylon.
This is the racing method for the RACE liquids compared above. For UP, other ranges and liquid base waxes, follow each product's own instructions.
Powder and solid glide wax
- Spread the powder over the glide zone or melt the solid wax onto it.
- Iron in with the iron moving so the wax melts evenly. Follow the temperature specified for the product.
- Scrape lightly while the wax is still warm.
- Allow to cool. Finish scraping and brush thoroughly with brass, horsehair and nylon, in that order.
Set the iron temperature according to the product's instructions. Different race waxes may need different temperatures, even within the same waxing combination.
TOP RACE Red spray
- Prepare the glide zone with a RACE glide wax chosen for the snow.
- Shake the bottle well.
- Spray TOP RACE Red over the glide zone.
- Spread with synthetic cork with fleece/felt.
- Allow to dry completely. Application is then complete.
TOP RACE block
- Rub the block onto the glide zone.
- Work in with synthetic cork with felt.
- Rub the block onto the glide zone a second time.
- Work with felt, by hand or with a suitable rotary tool.
- Natural cork can be used as an optional step.
- Finish with a nylon brush.
Alternatively, you can apply the blocks using a merino rotary wool tool.
TOP RACE Vector, solid block 30 g
- Rub a very thin layer of TOP RACE Vector onto the glide zone. Briefly touch the block to the iron first to make it easier to rub on.
- Iron in at about 160 °C for 10-15 seconds per ski. Keep the iron moving and cover the whole glide zone.
- Allow both the base and wax to cool completely before scraping and brushing. In a warm room, a short cooling period outdoors can help.
- Scrape and brush gently: brass or a fine steel brush, then horsehair and finally nylon.
- Check with a polishing cloth. If the base feels sticky, allow more cooling time and continue brushing gently.
These instructions apply to the solid Vector block. Follow the current packaging instructions for your product.
Before the race
Race waxing suggestions for different conditions
Here you will find complete waxing suggestions for different snow types and temperatures. Use them as a starting point and test your skis to adapt the wax to the current snow. Apply, dry or cool, and finish each product using its own method before applying the next layer.
The temperatures apply to the whole combination. The race suggestions may cover a wider temperature range than an individual product. The product's own range still applies when it is used alone.
Liquid glide wax with block or spray
The RACE liquid forms the intermediate layer. These race suggestions finish with a block or spray.
Warm conditions
+8 to 0 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Old snow around freezing
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Fresh snow around freezing
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Cold, old snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Cold fresh snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Solid glide base finished with powder
Choose one powder option where several are listed. These three layers do not automatically include an extra topping.
Warm conditions
+8 to 0 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
The powder options are two alternatives to test, not two layers that must be applied one after the other.
Old snow around freezing
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Fresh snow around freezing
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Cold, old snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Cold fresh snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Intermediate layer
- Final layer
Choose one of the powder options and compare on the current snow.
To fine-tune the wax, try powder blends or an extra topping. Always compare glide on the current snow before choosing your race wax combination.
For classic cross-country skiing
Build grip to suit the snow
Base wax, hard grip wax and klister have different roles in the kick zone. LDR also comes as hard grip wax and klister - these must not be confused with LDR glide waxes.
Base AT
A durable base wax with good glide properties, also suitable for fresh snow. Can also be applied cold, without an iron.
View GS Base ATBase Super
For coarse, abrasive snow, artificial snow and wet fresh snow around freezing. Liquid base wax must dry completely before the next layer.
Solid base wax · Liquid base waxKS Base
A klister base that helps the layers above adhere and last. Can also be used under hard grip wax in coarse snow.
Base klister · Liquid klister baseChoose RACE hard grip wax by snow type
Old snow and artificial snow
- Red, +3 to -1 °C: wet, coarse snow, also for covering klister.
- Silver, +1 to -4 °C: contains aluminium. Can form a base for Red and be combined with Blue klister in coarse snow.
- LDR hard grip wax, 0 to -10 °C: coarse old snow and artificial snow, also for covering klister.
- Blue, -5 to -20 °C: dry old snow and artificial snow.
New and fine-grained snow
- White, +3 to -3 °C: damp and wet fine-grained snow, including mixed snow with a risk of icing.
- Pink, -1 to -5 °C: dry, fine-grained falling snow. Can cover LDR klister when there is a risk of icing.
- Violet, -2 to -7 °C: glazed tracks with fine-grained snow.
- Green, -5 to -20 °C: cold conditions with natural snow.
Choose RACE klister by purpose
- Red, +10 to +1 °C: very wet snow. Used as the top layer or mixed with LDR klister.
- LDR klister, +5 to -10 °C: a wide range of uses from wet to icy tracks. Especially useful in fresh snow or when icing is a risk.
- Violet, +2 to -6 °C: a hard, durable intermediate layer. Can also be used alone in old snow with hard, glazed tracks.
- Blue, -1 to -15 °C: hard, icy snow, especially refrozen old snow and artificial snow. Can form a base for other klisters and hard grip waxes.
Race suggestions for hard grip wax and klister
Use the suggestions as a starting point and adapt the number of layers to your skis and the conditions. Liquid base wax must dry completely. Cool heated layers as described in the steps.
Wet snow
+3 °C or warmer- Apply a thin, even layer of KS Base klister base and allow to cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Violet klister and allow to cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE LDR klister and allow to cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Red klister and allow to cool. Adapt the amount of Red to the snow.
Damp snow
+2 to 0 °C- Apply thin layers of KS Base klister base, RACE Violet klister and RACE LDR klister, in that order. Allow each layer to cool.
- Cover with a layer of RACE Red hard grip wax and smooth with your thumb.
Fresh snow near freezing
-1 to -2 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of GS Base Super liquid base wax and allow to dry completely.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE Silver hard grip wax and smooth by pressing with your thumb.
- Apply 2-4 layers of GT Pink or RACE Pink hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Old, coarse artificial snow
-1 to -3 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of KS Base liquid klister base and allow to dry completely.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Blue klister and allow to cool.
- Apply two layers of RACE Silver hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Fresh snow
-2 to -7 °C- Iron in a thin layer of GS Base AT and allow to cool slightly.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE LDR hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
- Apply 3-5 thin layers of RACE Violet hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Old snow or artificial snow
-2 to -7 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of GS Base Super liquid base wax and allow to dry completely.
- Apply 3-5 thin layers of RACE LDR hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE Violet hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Colder fresh snow
-6 to -12 °C- Iron in a thin layer of GS Base AT and allow to cool slightly.
- Apply 4-5 thin layers of RACE Violet hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
- If needed, a final layer of RACE Blue hard grip wax or GT Carrot can be tested. Smooth with a synthetic cork.
Very cold fresh snow
-12 to -20 °C- Iron in a thin layer of GS Base AT and allow to cool slightly.
- Apply one layer of RACE Blue hard grip wax while the base layer is still warm. Smooth and allow to cool.
- Apply another layer of RACE Blue hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
- Apply 2-4 thin layers of RACE Green hard grip wax or GT Green and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Cold old snow or artificial snow
-7 to -20 °C- Iron in a thin layer of GS Base Super solid base wax and allow to cool slightly.
- Apply one layer of RACE LDR hard grip wax while the base layer is still warm. Smooth and allow to cool.
- Apply 2-4 thin layers of RACE Blue hard grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Have the right equipment ready
Tools for the method
Cleaning and brushing
- Clean & Glide and polishing cloth for cleaning the glide zone.
- Brass brush, horsehair brush and nylon brush for the racing method described.
Application and scraping
- Synthetic cork with felt for blocks and spreading TOP RACE Red.
- Plexi scraper for solid wax and powder after ironing.
- Digital waxing iron for products that need ironing in.
Find wax and tools
Our Vauhti range includes glide wax, grip wax, klister and tools for both training and racing.
View the full Vauhti range