
Red Snow Conditions (Coarse, Packing Snow, +5°C to -5°C)

Red conditions occur when old snow or artificial snow enters the transition temperature range around zero Celsius. High humidity differentiates red conditions from violet conditions - if there’s moisture in the snow, it’s red. If it’s dry, it’s violet. The track in red conditions tends to be corny, moist, and packs/glazes when skied over.
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Friction Characteristics
Hard, rounded snow crystals from repeated freeze-thaw cycles can be quite abrasive even in higher humidifies, so red glide waxes can be somewhat hard to combat kinetic friction. Dirt that gathers on the surface of older snow is also an issue. Dirt-repelling additives such as graphite, moly, or gallium can be quite helpful. Red conditions have a high humidity content, so highly hydrophobic waxes like pure fluoros, HF or LF waxes reduce suction between the wet snowpack and the ski base. Rills are often necessary to break up large water droplets and pert them out the back of the ski.
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Kick Waxing
Since the snow crystals in older snow have lost their idealized snowflake pattern and are now rounded blobs of humid ice, kick waxes will rarely ice up in red conditions. This means a straight Klister may not degrade your glide too much. However, a layer or two of hard wax on top of a thin Klister will definitely give the best combination of grip and glide. Sometimes straight hardwax will work, but often the humidity and rounded snow crystals mean hardwax can’t find a purchase.
Products for Red Snow Conditions
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Vauhti Clean & Glide Liquid Discontinued Version From 2021 Or Earlier
Regular price From $19.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$23.00 USDSale price From $19.00 USDSale -
Rode Blue Super Hardwax P32 | 45g (-1C/-10C)
Regular price $13.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $13.00 USD -
Rode Multigrade Klister K76 | 60g (6C/-6C)
Regular price $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $16.00 USD -
Vauhti GS BASE SUPER BASE Binder | 45g
Regular price $12.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $12.00 USD -
Rode Top Line Hardwax BV15 | 45g (-1C/-5C)
Regular price $23.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $23.00 USD -
Vauhti GS CARROT Hardwax | 45g (-1C/-6C)
Regular price $12.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $12.00 USD -
Rode Viola Hardwax P40 | 45g (0C/-4C)
Regular price $13.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $13.00 USD -
Rode Viola Special Multigrade Hardwax P46 | 45g (0C/-5C)
Regular price $13.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $13.00 USD -
Rode RLM RACING LIQUID MED (-2C/-7C)
Regular price From $19.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price From $19.00 USD -
Rode R40 RACING GLIDER RED MELT WAX (0C/-5C)
Regular price From $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price From $16.00 USD -
Rode RXLM RACING EXTRA LIQUID MED | 80ml (-2C/-7C)
Regular price $31.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $31.00 USD -