A base for durability
The LDR glide waxes are developed to improve the durability of the wax layers applied on top. UP Polar is also used as a glide base in several of the race recommendations further down.
Wax Cabin / Vauhti
Vauhti wax guide
The snow type helps you choose the wax. The application helps you get the best out of it. Here we help you choose the right glide wax and grip wax, apply the layers in the right order, and get a wax job that suits today’s snow.
Find the right glide waxWaxing recommendation for racing:
new snow, 0 to -4 °C. Read the full setup further down.
Start with the surface
The temperature is only part of the choice
New and fine-grained snow may require a different wax than old snow or man-made snow at the same temperature. The comparison applies to RACE glide waxes. Grip waxes with the same color name have their own usage ranges.
| Wax | Product 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 | Wide range of use, especially dirty man-made snow. | Powder · Liquid |
| RACE Blue | -5 to -15 °C | Primarily dry man-made 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 and fine-grained snow. | Powder |
The temperature ranges in the table apply to each product individually. The race recommendations further down apply to combinations of several waxes and may have different ranges.
From training to racing
What do the different layers do?
For training, one glide wax may be enough. For racing, you can combine several products to adapt durability and glide to the snow. The LDR glide waxes can be used on their own or under another glide wax.
Build further according to the setup
In several of the powder setups, you apply a liquid glide base as a middle layer. In the setups with liquid RACE, the middle layer is the color selected according to the snow.
Adjust the race finish
A powder can be the final layer. In other setups, a TOP RACE block or a spray is used as the finish. An extra topping layer is an optional choice to test for the current snow conditions.
How to do it
The right method for the right product format
Start with a clean glide surface. Then choose the instructions for the product you are using. Always follow the current packaging instructions for temperature and application.
Clean the glide surface with Clean & Glide
- Shake Clean & Glide well and apply it to the glide surface.
- Wipe clean with polishing cloth.
- Brush with a nylon brush after 1-2 minutes.
- Repeat until the cloth remains clean when you wipe.
For more effective cleaning, you can 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 surface so that the bottle valve opens.
- Work the sponge back and forth and apply a thick layer over the glide surface.
- Allow the wax to dry completely.
- Brush thoroughly with brass, then horsehair, and finally nylon.
This is the racing method for the RACE liquids in the comparison above. For UP, other series, and liquid base waxes, follow the instructions for each respective product.
Powder and solid glide wax
- Distribute the powder over the glide surface or melt on the solid wax.
- Iron it in with the iron moving so that the wax melts evenly. Follow the temperature specification for the product in question.
- Do a light scraping while the wax is still warm.
- Let it cool. Finish scraping and brush thoroughly with brass, horsehair, and nylon in that order.
Choose the iron temperature according to the instructions for the product in question. Different racing waxes may require different temperatures, even when they are used in the same waxing setup.
TOP RACE Red spray
- Prepare the glide surface with a RACE glide wax selected for the snow conditions.
- Shake the bottle well.
- Spray TOP RACE Red over the glide surface.
- Distribute with synthetic cork with fleece/felt.
- Allow to dry completely. The application is then finished.
TOP RACE block
- Rub the block onto the glide surface.
- Work it in using a synthetic cork with felt.
- Rub the block onto the glide surface a second time.
- Work with felt, by hand or with the intended roto tool.
- Natural cork can be used as an optional step.
- Finish with a nylon brush.
You can also apply the blocks with merino roto wool as an alternative method.
TOP RACE Vector, solid block 30 g
- Rub a very thin layer of TOP RACE Vector over the glide surface. The block can first be dabbed against the iron to make it easier to rub on.
- Heat in at about 160 °C for 10-15 seconds per ski. Keep the iron moving and distribute over the entire glide surface.
- Allow both the base and the wax to cool completely before scraping and brushing. In a warm room, a short cool-down outdoors can help.
- Scrape and brush carefully: brass or fine steel brush, then horsehair and finally nylon.
- Check with a polishing cloth. If the base feels sticky, let it cool more and continue brushing gently.
The instructions apply to the solid Vector block. Follow the current packaging instructions for your product.
Before the race
Race recommendations for different conditions
Here you will find complete waxing recommendations for different snow types and temperatures. Use them as a starting point and test ski to adapt the waxing to the current snow. Each product must be applied, dried or cooled, and finished according to its method before the next layer is added.
The temperatures apply to the entire combination. The temperature ranges in the race recommendations may be broader than the range on an individual product. The product’s own range still applies when it is used separately.
Liquid glide wax with block or spray
The RACE liquid forms the middle layer. In these race recommendations, a block or a spray is used as the finishing layer.
Warm conditions
+8 to 0 °C- Base layer
- Middle layer
- Finishing layer
Old snow around zero
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Final layer
Fresh snow around zero
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Final layer
Cold, old snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Final layer
Cold fresh snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Final layer
Solid glide base with powder as the finishing layer
Choose one powder option where several are listed. No additional topping is automatically included in these three layers.
Warm conditions
+8 to 0 °C- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Final layer
The powder options are two different choices to try, not two layers that must be applied one after the other.
Old snow around zero
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Middle layer
- Finishing layer
Fresh snow around zero
0 to -4 °C- Base layer
- Middle layer
- Finishing layer
Cold, old snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Middle layer
- Finishing layer
Cold fresh snow
-5 to -18 °C- Base layer
- Middle layer
- Finishing layer
Choose one of the powder options and compare on the current snow conditions.
If you want to fine-tune the waxing, you can try powder blends or an extra topping. Always compare glide on the current snow before choosing race wax.
For classic cross-country skiing
Build grip according to the snow
Base binder, hardwax and klister have different functions in the grip zone. LDR is also available as hardwax and klister - those products should not be confused with the LDR glide waxes.
Base AT
A durable base binder with good glide properties that also suits fresh snow. Can also be applied cold, without an iron.
See GS Base ATBase Super
For coarse, abrasive snow, man-made snow and wet new snow around zero. Liquid base binder must be allowed to dry completely before the next layer.
Solid base binder · Liquid base binderKS Base
Klister base that helps the layers above adhere and last. Can also be used under hardwax in coarse snow.
Base klister · Liquid klister baseChoose RACE hardwax by snow type
Old snow and man-made snow
- Red, +3 to -1 °C: wet and coarse snow, also for covering klister.
- Silver, +1 to -4 °C: contains aluminum. Can be used as a base under Red and combined with Blue klister in coarse snow.
- LDR hardwax, 0 to -10 °C: coarse old snow and man-made snow, also for covering klister.
- Blue, -5 to -20 °C: dry old snow and man-made snow.
New and fine-grained snow
- White, +3 to -3 °C: moist and wet fine-grained snow, also mixed snow with a risk of icing.
- Pink, -1 to -5 °C: dry and 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: wide range of use from wet to icy tracks. Particularly useful in new snow or when there is a risk of icing.
- Violet, +2 to -6 °C: hard and durable intermediate layer. Can also be used alone on old snow with hard, glazed tracks.
- Blue, -1 to -15 °C: hard and icy snow, especially refrozen old snow and man-made snow. Can be used as a base for other klisters and grip waxes.
Racing recommendations for grip wax and klister
Use the recommendations as a starting point and adjust the number of layers according to the skis and the conditions. Liquid base wax must dry completely. Heated layers are cooled between the steps.
Wet snow
+3 °C or warmer- Apply a thin, even layer of KS Base klister base and let it cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Violet klister and let it cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE LDR klister and let it cool.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Red klister and let it cool. Adjust the amount of Red according to the snow.
Moist snow
+2 to 0 °C- Apply thin layers of KS Base klister base, RACE Violet klister and RACE LDR klister, in that order. Let each layer cool.
- Cover with a layer of RACE Red grip wax and smooth it with your thumb.
Fresh snow near zero
-1 to -2 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of GS Base Super liquid base wax and let it dry completely.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE Silver grip wax and smooth it by pressing with your thumb.
- Apply 2-4 layers of GT Pink or RACE Pink grip wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Old, coarse man-made snow
-1 to -3 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of KS Base liquid klister base and let it dry completely.
- Apply a thin layer of RACE Blue klister and let it cool.
- Apply two layers of RACE Silver kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
Fresh snow
-2 to -7 °C- Heat in a thin layer of GS Base AT and let it cool slightly.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE LDR kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
- Apply 3-5 thin layers of RACE Violet kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
Old snow or man-made snow
-2 to -7 °C- Apply a thin, even layer of GS Base Super liquid base wax and let it dry completely.
- Apply 3-5 thin layers of RACE LDR kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
- Apply 1-2 thin layers of RACE Violet kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
Colder fresh snow
-6 to -12 °C- Heat in a thin layer of GS Base AT and let it cool slightly.
- Apply 4-5 thin layers of RACE Violet kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
- If needed, a final layer of RACE Blue kick wax or GT Carrot can be tried. Smooth with synthetic cork.
Very cold fresh snow
-12 to -20 °C- Heat in a thin layer of GS Base AT and let it cool slightly.
- Apply one layer of RACE Blue kick wax while the base is still warm. Smooth out and let it cool.
- Apply another layer of RACE Blue kick wax and smooth with synthetic cork.
- Apply 2-4 thin layers of RACE Green kick wax or GT Green and smooth with synthetic cork.
Cold old snow or man-made snow
-7 to -20 °C- Heat in a thin layer of GS Base Super solid base wax and let it cool slightly.
- Apply one layer of RACE LDR kick wax while the base layer is still warm. Cork smooth and let cool.
- Apply 2–4 thin layers of RACE Blue kick wax and smooth with a synthetic cork.
Have the right tools at hand
Tools for this method
Cleaning and brushing
- Clean & Glide and polishing cloth for cleaning the glide surface.
- Brass brush, horsehair brush and nylon brush for the described racing method.
Application and scraping
- Synthetic cork with felt for blocks and for distributing TOP RACE Red.
- Plexi scraper for hard wax and powder after ironing.
- Digital waxing iron for products that should be ironed in.
Find the wax and tools
In our Vauhti range you will find glide wax, kick wax, klister and tools for both training and racing.
View the full Vauhti range