Pink Snow Conditions (Saturated, New Snow, +20°C to 0°C)
Pink conditions occur when fresh snow becomes thoroughly saturated with water. This happens at temperatures at and well above zero Celsius or in rare circumstances when the ground radiates heat up through the snowpack. The fresh snow is melting, turning into slush and hanging on to almost all its moisture as it melts. The snow is weighty, and sticks to tree branches as it falls. Pink conditions are the slowest conditions. It takes a lot of energy to force a ski through the high levels of suction friction.
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Friction Characteristics
In pink conditions, the layer of fresh snow acts as a seal to keep all the water on the surface. This means the only type of friction to worry about in pink conditions is suction friction. The best way to counteract suction friction is to get some aggressive structure into your ski base with a rill tool or an aggressive stone grind. Highly hydrophobic waxes or fluorinated waxes help a lot as well. Using a stiffer ski will also counteract suction friction by propping up most of the ski - giving space for water to vacate from the bottom of the ski.
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Kick Waxing
Unfortunately, finding a kick wax in pink conditions requires klister - the softest, goopiest klister, to be precise. It is difficult to find a substance that will get a grip on what is essentially liquid water, so what will generally be the best option in these conditions are hairys or zeros. The hairs and burrs on skis set up this way are able to penetrate below the film of water on top of the snowpack and dig into the more frozen layer beneath. Skin skis are also fantastic in these conditions for the same reason.
Products for Pink Snow Conditions
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Swix F4 Warm Performance Wax
Regular price $24.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$29.95 CADSale price $24.95 CADSale -
Ski*Go XC Orange Klister | 60g (10C/3C)
Regular price $19.99 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $19.99 CAD -
Rode Skin Ski Evo Kit (20C/-20C)
Regular price $127.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $127.96 CAD -
Rex Wax NF11 Yellow Spray Liquid Glider | 150ml (10C/-2C)
Regular price $135.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $135.00 CAD -
MasterWax New Snow Ultra8 PP4 POWER HF Wax (0C/-5C)
Regular price $222.48 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$444.95 CADSale price $222.48 CADSold out -
Holmenkol Klister Silver Spezial (2C/-2C) | 60ml
Regular price $26.46 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $26.46 CAD -
Holmenkol Klister Gold (10C/-2C) | 60ml
Regular price $26.46 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $26.46 CAD -
Start RG Ultra Finishing Powder Warm (10C/-3C) | 30g
Regular price $349.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $349.96 CAD -
Start RG Ultra Finishing Liquid Warm (10C/-3C) | 30ml
Regular price $123.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $123.96 CAD -
Toko All-in-One Wipe & Brush | 250ml
Regular price $59.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $59.96 CAD -
Toko Performance Paste Black | 75ml
Regular price $54.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $54.96 CAD -
Toko Jet Liquid Top Finish Warm (10C/-4C) | 70ml
Regular price $239.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $239.96 CAD -
Kuu Warm Yellow Hardwax (5C/0C) | 40g
Regular price $13.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $13.96 CAD -
Kuu Beer Wax (10C/-20C) | 80g
Regular price $21.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $21.96 CAD -
Kuu MACH+ Speed Warm Yellow (15C/-5C)
Regular price From $31.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $31.96 CAD -
Kuu MACH 4+ World Cup Warm Yellow (15C/-6C)
Regular price From $81.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $81.96 CAD -
STAR S30 Stick Glazing Hardwax (3C/-1C) | 45g
Regular price $44.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $44.96 CAD -
STAR S25 Stick Warm Hardwax (1C/-4C) | 45g
Regular price $44.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $44.96 CAD -
Rex Wax NFX11 Yellow Powder (10C/-5C) | 20g
Regular price $198.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $198.00 CAD -
Rode RX50 New Snow WC Glider Yellow Melt Wax (0C/-3C)
Regular price From $75.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $75.96 CAD -
Optiwax HydrOX Race Powder Wet (5C/-5C) | 35g
Regular price $159.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $159.96 CAD -
Holmenkol Grip Red | 45g (2C/-1C)
Regular price $21.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $21.96 CAD -
Holmenkol Klister Silver | 60ml (3C/-1C)
Regular price $26.46 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $26.46 CAD -
Holmenkol Klister Universal | 60ml (4C/-4C)
Regular price $26.46 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $26.46 CAD