By Kevin Palmer
Ski Guru - Skis.com

For you skiers out there who recognize the importance of ski wax in relation to your skis we greatly commend you for this feat. Most people do not realize the importance of this relationship, primarily because they just do not understand how wax protects the ski and how snow can damage the base of the ski if not properly maintained.

The best way to demonstrate the relationship between wax and ski is to think of it terms of motor oil and a car. In order to insure that your car keeps running you have to check the oil to make sure it is at the proper level. You have to change it at the appropriate time, and you have to make sure you’re putting the right oil in. Oil keeps your car running. Ski wax will keep your skis running…or gliding as the case may be.

I have been waxing skis since I started working in ski shops over 12 years ago. It wasn’t until I took my first trip to Big Sky approximately 8 years ago that I finally learned how important ski wax was. The temperatures there were crazy cold. We’re talking -40 degrees cold and my skis were sticking to the snow like glue because I hadn’t prepared them properly. I had put wax on for weather at approximately 20 degrees.

As snow becomes colder, its crystals become sharper and actually begin to cut into the base of your skis. Conversely, as the temperature of snow rises it becomes wetter, creating more suction. A colder wax is harder and denser. Cold wax hardens the base material and makes it more resistant to the cutting effect of colder snow. Warm waxes are softer. They add moisture to the base, which creates a wicking effect that allows the ski to glide over soft, sticky snow.

By now, you should be able to see that waxes are different and that it is important to understand the type of conditions you’re going to be skiing so that you can be ready, unlike me in Big Sky. Next, I will explain the items that you will need and the process to perform your own ski waxing.

Here is a list of the items that you will need to get started on waxing your own skis:

• Iron
• Wax
• Scraper
• Brushes
• Vise

Iron: Please! Please do not use your mom or wife’s clothing iron! We recommend that you invest in a waxing iron. It will save you from wrecking the wax you just bought, as well as your skis. A waxing iron will maintain a consistent temperature preventing the wax from smoking, which is a signal that it is breaking down. Additionally it will help in warding off costly damage to your bases.

Scraper: A scraper is necessary to remove the bulk of the wax on your skis. A good sharp plexi-scraper will quickly become your best friend when you begin waxing your skis on your own.

Brushes: Brushes will be used to remove any remaining wax left on top of the base that the scraper does not get. Brushes vary from very stiff steel, to ultra soft nylon. We recommend that you invest in two, but if you get only one go with a white nylon that has medium flex bristles. If you get two go for a medium brass brush and a boars hair. These two coupled together will do wonders for your skis.

Vise: Understand that this item is not necessary, but it will save you loads of time and many busted knuckles. It will hold the skis in place perfectly for you instead of them flopping around wildly in every direction!

That’s it. That’s all you need.

Once you have all of these items, the fun can begin. The first thing that you will want to do is secure your skis to the vice if you have elected to equip yourself with one. Select the appropriate wax for the temperature which you plan to ski in. (NOTE: The temperature range on the wax is for the snow temperature. The snow temperature is usually a couple of degrees higher than the air temperature; this is do to the insulating properties of snow.)

Begin by dripping the wax on the skis by holding the iron approximately 6 inches above the base of the ski. Be sure to keep the wax constantly moving on the iron. I find it helpful to point one of the corners of the iron at the base of the ski, allowing the wax to drip off the iron in a controllable fashion. You will not need as much wax as you probably think you do. A 60g bar should be good for about 6-8 pairs of skis (3-5 snowboards).

After dripping wax onto the base material you can begin ironing it into the ski. It’s imperative that you keep the iron constantly moving while ironing the wax into the ski. If you leave it in one spot, the heat from the iron can bubble the base or cause the epoxy to lose bond with the internal materials of the ski. If this occurs, it can lead to delamination.

Be sure to spread the wax evenly over the entire running surface, which is the area of the base that will actually have contact with the snow. Once you’ve done this, it is now time to let the wax cool. An optimal cooling period is 30-60 minutes. A simple way to determine if the wax is ready to come off is by feeling the top-sheet of the ski. When it is cool to the touch, you are ready to begin scraping.

Make sure that you have a sharp scraper. Scraping wax with a dull scraper is like cutting a steak with a butter knife, it might work but it’s not fun. Hold the scraper at a 45 degree angle to the ski and begin at the tail. Start with pushing strokes towards the tip, and then make pulling strokes on the return pass. Repeat this until wax can no longer be removed.

Next you will move to your brushes. Begin with the stiffest brush in your arsenal and work your way progressively down to the softest. Make long strokes from tip to tail applying some “elbow grease” while still allowing the brush to do the work. Use each brush until wax can no longer be removed. Wipe down the base with paper towels to remove the “wax dust” before moving onto the next brush.

As a guideline, it is best to wax your skis every 4-10 skiing days, depending on the snow conditions. The more you wax them, the better they will glide and the easier they will turn. The final step in the puzzle…GO HAVE FUN!

By Steve Kopitz

Founder – Skis.com

The skiing industry, both products and ski technique, were truly changed with the introduction of shaped skis a little over 10 years ago. Shaped skis, also known as Parabolic skis, are skis that are significantly wider in the tip and tail than in the waist. This unique ski design creates an hourglass shape that was a stark contrast to the standard straight skis that were all over the market. Nowadays, the market is a polar opposite to that of 10 years ago and virtually every ski made is a shaped ski. To fully understand why shaped skis are better than the straight skis of yesterday, you must first understand the complexities of straight skis. Here’s a little history for those who don’t recall the days of straight skis.

For those of you who learned on straight skis and have either forgotten what a monumental task it was to get those bad-boys to turn, or have simply chosen to block it out of your mind permanently, here is a quick refresher on what a beast straight skis were to tame. First, we would enter a turn with our weight on the downhill ski. As we entered the turn, we would push up with our knees to release the weight from the downhill ski and then transfer the weight to the outside ski. As the skis would begin to slide around the turn, we would then push our knees down forcefully into the boots to slightly bend the skis and set our edges. By doing this, the skis would try, and I mean try, to carve a turn. Does any of this sound familiar? Familiar or not, one thing for certain is that it was complicated…very. It also explains why it took so many people so many years to learn to ski, and why many people never learned how to carve their skis. Those who didn’t learn just simply slid their skis from side-to-side, which worked well on easy runs, but not so much on steeper runs.

Initially shaped skis were met with a lot of skepticism. It wasn’t the first, and wasn’t to be the last time the ski industry would promise a new technology that would revolutionize skiing, only to be replaced by something else. Here are a few of the ‘revolutionary’ ski technologies: capped skis, shorter skis, skis with electronic devices built in that would light up and supposedly reduction vibration, skis with airfoil tip inserts, and who could forget Rear-Entry ski boots? Rear-Entry boots were touted as superior in comfort in comparison to stiff front-buckle boots. The only problem was that you could not control your skis because your foot was not held securely in one place. After the industry had sold everyone on the technology and everyone owned a pair, they decided to switch back to the front-buckle system due to the better fit and performance qualities. With all of this said, I’m sure that it’s clear to see why it took so long for shaped skis to catch on.

I myself was a big doubter of the shaped ski movement. In the beginning, I tried them a couple of times; only to proclaim they were inferior to straight skis. The reasoning behind my conviction was that I did not understand that they required a different skiing style. After all, I prided myself on my ability to keep my skis close together as I skied down the hill. The ability to keep your skis close together was the mark of a good skier back in the day of straight skis. In order to take advantage of the hourglass shape of shaped skis, I would have to change my style. I would need to have my skis shoulder width apart and lean over so I could roll my edges on their side. This would allow my skis to turn on their own, which was very weird to me at first. This was totally counterintuitive to everything that I had learned and practiced my previous 30+ years of skiing. Once I figured it out, I felt a sensation that I had never felt before while skiing. My skis grabbed the snow in the turn and propelled me around like a car on a banked turn at a race track. I was finally convinced that shaped skis really would revolutionize the sport of skiing.

Once I was a believer, I could see how shaped skis were going to make the process of learning to ski much easier. The effort it was going to take to ski was going to be reduced, as was the difficulty of the learning curve. It would no longer take many years to become a proficient skier; rather it would be done in a fraction of the time…possibly one season for some people.

As mentioned earlier, a shaped ski has a much wider tip and tail with a narrower waist, giving it an hourglass shape (see illustration below).

If you take a shaped ski and place it flat on the floor, then you roll it part way onto its side, you will have a space between the waist of the ski and the floor. With most shaped skis, you will be able to slide your fingers completely under the ski. If you pull your fingers out and push down on the ski (simulating weight on the ski in a turn), you will create an arc, or curve shape, that naturally wants to turn. Keep in mind that you will be required to open your stance to approximately shoulder width apart so that you can roll your skis onto their sides. If you play with it a little, you will find the “sweet spot” of the ski and really feel the grip on the snow. Additionally, you will carve, not slide, your skis in turns. Do not be afraid to lean your weight heavily to the side. Your skis will hold the snow and this is how you will really get them to carve.

Unfortunately I still see people on the slopes that own shaped skis, but still ski them as if they were straight skis. Their feet are too close together, they are sliding their turns, and they are not really getting their skis over on their sides to allow them to carve like they are designed to do. If you are on straight skis, I strongly recommend you purchase a new pair of shaped skis. Your skis are probably 10 years or older and are likely worn out, as most skis this age are anyway. If you’re still not convinced, I recommend you demo a pair on the slopes and be certain to use the techniques above. It is only a matter of time before you come to the realization that I did and accept the superiority of shaped skis.

Enjoy!

Steve

Steve Kopitz

Founder – Skis.com

My daughter Jessie at age 3 and a half!

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by Steve Kopitz
Founder – Skis.com

I just returned from a family ski vacation in Zermatt, Switzerland, and it was simply amazing! In my 44 years of skiing, I have skied over 20 resorts in the Rocky Mountains, and have gone on family ski trips virtually every year with my wife and 2 adult children. However, despite all of the trips, we have never skied in Europe.

I was always told that skiing in the Rocky Mountains was far better. I’ve been told that the snow is better and the trails are marked better. I’ve even been told that it is less expensive, the accommodations are better, and it requires less travel time. While all of this may be true, skiing in Zermatt was unlike anything I have ever experienced while skiing in North America. Skiing in Zermatt was more than just skiing, it was an experience.

For starters, the views in Zermatt were astonishing. Whether in town or on the mountain, the Matterhorn was always in plain view…and no, I’m not talking about the Matterhorn at Disney World. For those who are unfamiliar with the Matterhorn, it is perhaps the most notable mountain in the European Alps, on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Yet the views were not just about the Matterhorn, everywhere I looked it was breathtaking.

Aside from the views, one of the most notable differences is that almost all of the skiing I did was above the tree line. I’m not quite sure why, but there were hardly any trees anywhere.

Another more notable difference was that as opposed to skiing in Colorado, and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains where most of the runs are mountains with the trees removed, Zermatt’s runs were relatively narrow. The runs were like ribbons transcending down the vast mountain range through-and around rocks, cliffs, mountains, and plateaus. I felt like I was on a sight-seeing tour through the mountains, and I just happened to be seeing it on skis. Each and every turn that I made provided a different view, terrain, or formation. As I mentioned, I have skied many beautiful resorts out west, with the most picturesque probably being in Telluride, Colorado. What made Zermatt so unique is that in Telluride most of the views were off in the distance, only noticeable when you stopped skiing and took time to notice. In Switzerland, you couldn’t help but notice the views because you were apart of them, skiing in them!

I could go on-and-on about how breathtakingly beautiful the views were in Zermatt, but there are more noteworthy differences about skiing in Switzerland versus North America, with one being the difference in how people get to the runs. Getting to the top required an unusual combination of Gondolas, Trams, Trains, T-Bars, a Subway, and every once-in-a-while, a plain ol’ high-speed quad. I realize that most major resorts have a Gondola or a Tram, but the difference here was that they had tons of them! Gondolas and Trams everywhere! I would get off of one and then immediately get on another. In fact, we even took a train…yes a train, up the mountain. How cool is that?! I also caught wind that there was a subway up the mountain, but unfortunately we never found it. In all, I don’t believe we took more than 6-8 chairlift rides throughout our entire trip.

To further illustrate how different skiing in Zermatt was, one day we went all the way to the top of the mountain, which required 2 Gondolas, 1 Tram, and 2 T-Bars. However, what made this adventure so unique was that upon reaching the top, we skied into Italy! From the top, we crossed over to the Italian side of the mountain, all the way down to Breuil-Cervinia. We were advised to carry our passports just in case, but we were never asked for them. Again it was a totally different experience on the Italian side. The language spoken was Italian, not German. The food was different, Italian instead of Swiss. Even the ski lifts were different. The Italian Gondolas are round and require you to stand with about 8 other individuals in a circle, holding your skis inside. The only word I can use to describe it is weird.

All of that said I shall not forget the difference in experiencing Switzerland in contrast to resort towns of the western United States. While skiing may not have been invented in Switzerland, most ski resorts attempt to have that Swiss feel. Fortunately, we didn’t have to worry about a resort trying to get that feel, because this was the real thing. All of the buildings were centuries old, but inside they were ultra modern. Even the bathrooms were amazing, with state-of-the-art fixtures, and by far the cleanest I have ever seen.

Last, but certainly not least, the food was excellent. We experienced many delectable dishes like fondue, beef stroganoff, pasta, pizza, bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel, and more. Certainly not to be forgotten is the selection of great beers from across Europe. It can almost go without saying as well that the cheese was amazing, and of course the best part the chocolate! I ate chocolate everyday.

Skiing in Switzerland was without a doubt one of the most memorable ski trips I have taken. I will still go to out west to the Rocky Mountains to do most of my skiing, but I believe that every serious skier should experience skiing in Switzerland at least once in the lifetime. It was a great family vacation, one that I know my children will remember for a long time.

Steve
Founder Of Skis.com

As part of a skiing family that includes a wife and two kids, we have gone on many a ski vacation. While both of my kids are in college now, they both started skiing shortly after they could walk, and over the years I learned a few tricks…usually the hard way. Below are some tips, techniques, and tools to help maximize your enjoyment on your vacation when you get to your resort. This will insure that your first trip isn’t to the ski shop to purchase things that you left at home.

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A rundown of everything you need – or maybe just want – to have a perfect day of skiing.
By Steve, skis.com

As a father of two skiers, I’ve learnt over the years the importance of keeping a gear checklist. Just making sure I have everything needed before hitting the lifts can tricky enough, but add in looking after the kids and you end up with a many a day that starts with a helmet-less son or a daughter without her gloves.

I put the following checklist together to help make sure you hit the slopes with all the necessary gear. I’ve broken down what you need into three lists, starting with the bare necessities and working up to a catalog of luxurious items that’ll leave your chairlift partners green with envy. All three lists are organized from the bottom up, but if you just want to check things off click here for printable checklist that’ll make sure you never leave the sunscreen back at the condo again.

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Whenever a customer comes into one of my stores shopping for skis, I have a set of questions that I like to walk them through. I start off with “How long have you skied?” and “Where have you skied?” Based on these answers, I like to ask if they like to ski slow, medium or fast, and if they like to make wide, open turns, or quick, snappy ones. Finally, I ask them where they spend the majority of their time skiing, from beginner, intermediate and expert trails to mogul runs or even out of bounds. Think about these questions while reading my five simple steps for selecting the right pair of skis. Your answers will help narrow down your choices, provided that you work through each step honestly, answering questions based on the type of skier your are and not the type of skier you wish you were. Do this and you’ll select the right set of skis quicker than it takes to strap into your ski boots.

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A step-by-step approach to hunting down the perfect ski boot.
By Steve, skis.com

In my opinion, ski boots are the single most important piece of equipment. No matter how good your gear may be, if your boots don’t fit you are going to be miserable on the slopes. Believe me, I know this from personal experience. I feel so strongly about this that I even tell beginner skiers to hunt down and buy a proper pair of boots before heading out. You can have a great day on a set of rented skis, but rarely will your day be pain free in a pair of boots that haven’t been properly researched.

The bright side to all this is that finding the right boot isn’t rocket science, provided you understand some of the key characteristics of ski boots. For starters, ski boots fall into a few basic categories: Men’s, Women’s, Kid’s, Race and Freestyle. Compared to Men’s boots, Women’s are softer, have a narrower last – the interior shape of a boot – and a shorter cuff, as women’s calves are generally located lower than men’s and so the cuffs need to lower to get the boot buckled. Race boots are stiffer than regular boots, to hold firm at higher speeds, while Freestyle boots tend to be softer, with a padded bootboard to reduce the impact of landings.

Once you determine the type of boot you need, it’s easy to start narrowing down the choices. Begin with the size and width of the boots, and then move on to the boot’s stiffness. After that all you have left are the extras ¬– both adjustability options and creature comforts – and you’re ready to roll. Read on for the full details to my five simple steps for hunting down the perfect ski boot.

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When I proposed to my wife 22 years ago, she was not a skier. I had no intentions of giving up skiing nor did I want to leave her at the bottom of the slopes at an apres-ski bar all day. My solution? I told her that she had to learn to ski or we couldn’t get married.

She agreed, but had two conditions of her own. First she had to like it, which I wasn’t all that worried about. And second, she had to be warm. So I stacked the deck by going to a local ski shop and bought her all the best ski clothes for guaranteeing a warm and dry day out . We then headed to Steamboat, Colorado.

Her response after the first day of skiing in her new clothes was: “What’s not to like.” She and I have been happily skiing together ever since.

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The ski season has yet to start, but I can already make a somber prediction – somewhere this year, a skier or snowboarder will have a terrible accident that could have far less damaging had he or she been wearing a helmet. In fact, it will happen dozens if not hundreds of times. Sure, it’s an obvious calculation, but given that roughly half of skiers and snowboarders still ride helmet-less, it’s one that needs to be made. It’s my belief that everyone should wear a helmet, but if you still think a hard hat is not for you, check out my:

[ Helmet 101. ]