"How should I wax cross-country skis for the best glide?"
"Can you get great glide without fluorine powder?"
"Is there an easy way to get good glide without too much work?"
Many people ask us how to wax cross-country skis for glide, preferably in a relatively simple way, but that still provides perfect glide.
We wanted to find a good answer to these questions ourselves and took most of the products from START's range and, with the help of their best waxers, we conducted extensive tests in varying conditions and came up with the following, relatively simple, approach. With years of experience and countless hours of testing, we can guarantee you an incredibly good glide if you follow these simple steps. Enjoy!
THE BEST GLIDE ON CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS - SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE!
Step 1. Start by scraping off the transport glider / cleaning glider you used. Then apply a couple of layers of Start Race Glider Base. For today's race waxing, apply a layer of Start Ultra Green which is very durable. (This wax is applied regardless of today's temperature. Temperature-specific wax will be applied in step 2.) Brush out the base with a fine (soft) steel brush 4-6 strokes. Finish with nylon.
Step 2. Now apply the current day's glider depending on the temperature. Let it cool. Scrape off the glider with Start's Plexi scraper. Brush out the base with a fine (soft) steel brush 4-6 strokes, finish with a horsehair or nylon brush.
This step 2 can also be performed with Start's liquid products which is very quick to perform and with a good base according to Step 1 you get a race waxing of the highest class. Then apply Start's new liquid fluorine-free race wax for the right temperature, apply so it covers the base. Its alcohol-based solvent evaporates quickly and you get a white film on your skis. Cork it into the base. It is also possible to heat this wax, which we have discovered is easier and faster. The waxing iron should be set to a maximum of 125 degrees. Heat calmly in one stroke from tip to tail, you can clearly see how the wax melts. Whether you corked or heated this in, it should now be brushed out with a medium-hard nylon brush. Brush about 10 strokes with medium pressure. Then polish with a fiber cloth.
Step 3. Then top this with Start RG Ultra Gel Finisher , which essentially replaces liquid fluorine. Very important here according to our tests is that both the ski and the bottle are at room temperature. You must cork this in, it cannot be heated in with a waxing iron. Since it is water-based, it is corked wet because it will not dry itself, then wipe off the excess. Then brush it out with a medium nylon brush or horsehair brush in 5-10 strokes and medium pressure, and finally with a soft nylon brush in 5-10 strokes and medium pressure. Then polish with a fiber cloth.
Step 4. If you really want to do everything extra, you finally apply a super topping like Start RG Ultra Finisher Spray, which actually many times does not provide any improvement over the topping in the previous step, but in certain special conditions, it can incredibly improve the result. It never gives any deterioration, so go all in with this step as well. Spray this on the ski's glide surfaces, spread it with your thumb and let it dry. Brush out lightly with a medium nylon brush or horsehair brush.
Advanced Course. As in everything else, there is also an advanced course where two additional products are included :-) Snow crystals can vary in all its forms and if it is really cold with harsh snow, what we call gnarly snow, it is an advantage to mix in graphite in step 2, then you use this product Start RG Race Liquid Glider Graphite.
The second special product is this, Start RG Race Liquid Glider Molybdenum, it is advantageously mixed in step 2 when it is really coarse-grained, old, and dirty snow. Perfect for artificial snow that has refrozen in springtime!
Now you have very fast racing skis with the best durability and best release in glide waxing.
A ski that is waxed in these different steps has the best durability in waxing and the best glide. What is often crucial is the pre-work with the best tools and a durable base (hard glider).
We are ourselves surprised at how well these glide waxes work. In many cases, they are on par with fluorine waxes and in some cases better. With the liquid products, you adjust your waxing easily and quickly with very good results.
Here are all the products you need to wax your cross-country skis to near perfection!
Basic Equipment:
Steel Brush
Bronze Brush
Medium/Hard Nylon Brush
Soft Nylon Brush
Waxing Iron
Plexi Scraper
Cork
Cleaning:
Cleaning Glider / Protective Glider
Base Waxing:
Start RG Race Glider Base
Start RG Ultra Glider Green -10 / -25
Glide wax: (depending on temperature)
Start RG Ultra Glider Red +10 / -2
Start RG Ultra Glider Purple -2 / -8
Start RG Ultra Glider Blue -6 / -15
Start RG Ultra Glider Green -10 / -25
Topping: (depending on temperature)
Start RG Ultra Gel Finisher Red +10 / -2
Start RG Ultra Gel Finisher Purple +5 / -5
Start RG Ultra Gel Finisher Blue -3 / -12
Supertopping:
Start RG Ultra Finisher Spray +5 / -15
For special conditions:
Start RG Race Glider Graphite
Start RG Race Glider Molybdenum