Waxing terminology - words and expressions in the waxing room

Snow produced with a snow gun. The crystals are often denser, coarser, and more abrasive than fresh natural snow, especially when the track has been packed and skied a lot.

The plastic surface on the underside of the ski that meets the snow. On cross-country skis, the underside consists of glide zones and, on classic skis, a kick zone or skin strip. The condition, structure, and cleanliness of the base affect how the ski glides and how the wax adheres.

Repair of scratches or gouges in the base using a material that is melted or pressed into the damage and then leveled. Superficial damage can often be repaired at home, while deep damage near the core or steel edge should be assessed by a workshop.

Tool used to clean the base, expose the structure after scraping, or polish the finished surface. Steel and bronze work deeper into the structure, horsehair removes finer residue, and nylon is often used for the final finish.

A thin and durable first klister layer that anchors the day’s klister in the kick zone. It can be heated or smoothed in depending on the product and should normally be allowed to dry or cool before the next layer is applied.

The first thorough treatment of new or newly stone-ground glide surfaces. It may include inspection, cleaning, suitable base or saturation wax, cooling, scraping, and brushing.

The ski's permanent structure, created by stone grinding at the factory or in a workshop. The base grind determines the starting point for contact with the snow and can be fine, medium or coarse for different conditions.

A thin first layer in the normal kick zone that improves the hard grip wax’s adhesion and durability. The base wax can be corked in or heated in depending on the product and level of ambition.

The small angle ground between the ski base plane and the steel edge. The base bevel means the edge does not engage fully immediately when the ski lies flat, which affects how easily the ski turns and how aggressive the edge feels.

Block of natural cork or synthetic material used to smooth hard wax and certain other products into thin, continuous layers. The friction from corking helps the wax spread over the kick zone.

Conditions around the freezing point where small changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity can quickly change the snow. Grip wax often needs to be right on the boundary between sufficient grip and icing.

The ski’s flex and stiffness that determine how pressure is distributed against the snow. On a classic ski, the kick zone should lift sufficiently during glide but be pressed down when the skier loads the ski for kick.

The lengthwise groove in the ski base that helps the ski track straight. After hot waxing, the centre groove is cleaned out before the glide zones so that wax does not remain and cause drag or uneven tracking.

A thin, fully cooled klister layer that is covered with several thin layers of hard wax. The method can combine the durability of a klister base with a drier surface that reduces the risk of icing in mixed conditions.

The angle of the side of the steel edge relative to the ski base. A more aggressive angle can provide stronger edge grip but requires the right tools, precision, and consideration of the ski’s intended use.

Low-lint disposable paper used to apply cleaning agents, wipe bases, and lift off dissolved hard grip wax or klister. Clean pieces reduce the risk of moving dirt between the ski's different zones.

Abrasive cloth for fine treatment of the base, for example on some new or freshly stone-ground skis with noticeable micro-hairs. Different grades work with different aggressiveness and should be used thoughtfully in the ski's longitudinal direction.

Older glide waxes and topping products that contained fluorine. Names such as Cera F, HF, LF, and fluoro powder still appear in old manuals and wax boxes, but fluorinated wax and tuning products containing fluorine are prohibited by FIS in all disciplines and at all levels.

Fresh snow with relatively sharp and distinct crystals. It is often sensitive to grip wax that is too soft and to overly coarse structure, especially when it falls damp around zero degrees.

Umbrella term for wax that creates grip under classic cross-country skis. Hard grip wax is used mainly in finer snow, and klister in transformed, coarse, icy, or wet snow. Skin also provides grip, but it is a mechanical skin insert and not a grip wax.

Wax applied to the ski’s glide zones to reduce friction, optimize contact with the snow, and protect the base. Solid, liquid, and gel-based glide wax are different application forms of the same basic function.

The part of the ski that should glide against the snow. On waxable classic skis there are glide zones in front of and behind the kick zone, on skin skis in front of and behind the skin strip, and on skate skis across the entire base.

Solid grip wax in a tin, normally used in new, fine-grained, or relatively dry snow. It is applied in several thin layers in the kick zone and smoothed with cork between the layers.

A structure applied manually with a rilling tool to fine-tune the ski’s contact with the snow. Rolling tools normally press in a more temporary structure, while cutting tools alter the base more permanently.

A deeper cleaning method where a soft glide wax is ironed in and scraped off while it is still warm or lukewarm. Dirt and old paraffin come out of the base structure with the wax.

When snow crystals stick to a grip wax that is too soft or to klister and begin building up a layer of snow under the ski. The risk is especially high in falling or damp fresh snow around zero degrees.

The part under a classic ski where hard grip wax or klister is applied. The length of the zone is affected by the ski camber, the skier’s weight, technique, and the type of grip wax used.

Soft and sticky grip wax for transformed, coarse-grained, icy, or water-rich snow where regular hard wax often wears off or does not provide enough grip. Klister is applied thinly and smoothed into a continuous surface.

The part of the classic ski’s kick zone where klister is applied. Because klister builds more and deforms more easily than hard wax, a shorter and more controlled zone is often used.

Glide wax applied in a thin liquid layer and allowed to dry before polishing or brushing according to the product instructions. It is quick and practical for training, travel, and maintenance between hot waxings.

Very fine plastic fibers that can stand up from the base after manufacturing or stone grinding. They can increase friction and retain wax residue if they are not treated in a controlled manner.

Rigid plastic tool used to scrape off excess solid glide wax after cooling. A sharp edge requires less pressure and gives better control than a rounded or dull scraper.

The parts of the ski that carry the most load against the snow during glide. The pressure zones are affected by camber, skier and speed, and are sometimes used when fine-tuning structure or comparing ski pairs.

Manually added structure or the tool that creates it. A straight, diagonal, or V-shaped rill can change how water and snow leave the contact surface and is used as fine-tuning on top of the ski's stone grind.

Cylindrical brush mounted on a drive machine to make cleaning, opening the structure, or polishing more efficient. Different materials have the same main roles as hand brushes, but the work goes faster and requires better control.

Light roughening of a standard kick zone to give base binder or klister better mechanical adhesion. The work is done lengthwise along the ski and after the glide zones have been fully prepared.

Glide wax in solid form that is usually ironed in with a waxing iron. Once the wax has cooled, the excess is scraped off and the base is brushed until the structure is clean and clearly visible.

A common term for giving the glide surfaces an even and well-prepared starting point through suitable wax, controlled heat, cooling, scraping, and brushing. It is not about filling the base with unlimited amounts of paraffin.

The step in which excess wax is removed with a scraper. On glide zones, ironed-in glide wax is scraped after it has cooled, while hard grip wax and klister are often removed mechanically before using wax remover.

Integrated strip of mohair, synthetic fiber or a blend that provides mechanical grip on classic skis. The glide zones in front of and behind the strip are waxed as usual, but the skin itself is cleaned with a dedicated skin product.

A layer of glide wax left unscraped on the glide zones during storage or transport. The layer protects the base from dust, dirt and drying out and is only removed when the ski is to be used again.

The temperature in the snow itself, measured a little way down in the track or snowpack. It often changes more slowly than the air temperature and can therefore give a more stable indication of which temperature range a glide wax is intended for.

The pattern of fine and coarse grooves in the base that affects the contact surface against the snow and how water is transported away. Stone grinding and hand structure work together, but have different durability and function.

Metal edge along alpine skis, snowboards and some touring or backcountry skis. It is sharpened to provide grip on hard surfaces and is affected by both the side-edge angle and the base bevel.

Snow whose crystals have rounded, compacted, melted, or refrozen. It often becomes coarser and more abrasive than fresh snow and can develop free water when the temperature rises.

A thin final glide layer for race preparation, such as liquid wax, gel, spray or another specialist product. The topping is applied to a ski where the base, main wax, scraping, brushing and any structure have already been completed.

Temperature-controlled iron with a smooth plate that melts and spreads solid glide wax or certain base waxes. The correct setting is determined by the product being used, and the iron should be kept moving evenly over the base.

An everyday term for the entire package of thin grip wax layers in the kick zone. A wax cushion can be built with a durable base, harder intermediate layers and a smaller amount of softer wax where the most grip is needed.

Support that holds the ski stable during waxing, scraping and brushing. A full-length profile follows the shape of the ski, while compact waxing benches and ski clamps hold the ski at fewer points.