Treating Skin Skis
Skin skis are marketed as "waxless" skis but that doesn't mean their performance can't be massively enhanced by wax. We recommend treating the glide zones of skin skis the same way you'd treat your skate ski bases: Give them the full base prep and waxing maintenance you'd give your skate skis and you'll find the glide of your skin skis will be much faster. The actual 'skin inserts' can also be made to glide much faster by special skin ski treatments, or at the very least, treatments can reduce the chances your skins will 'ice up' or build snowballs in Orange or Red snow conditions. Each wax brand has a slightly different way of maintaining skin inserts, so it's important to know what each brand prescribers for their treatments.
How-To Video
Step-by-Step
There are three broad categories of treating skin inserts: Liquids, Wool-Apply & Glide Tape. Here's an overview of each:
1) Liquids: Liquids are the most popular way to maintain skin inserts. Because the skin inserts are glued into the ski with a heat-sensitive glue, it's important to use designated products for skin skis since the solvents in them won't degrade the glue. That being said, it's better never directly apply liquid waxes onto your skin insert. Instead, apply the liquid to a cloth or fiberlene, then use the cloth to apply the liquid products to the skin insert.
Cleaners: Liquid skin cleaners are the best way to remove grim or old wax from your skin skis. Again, it's always best to apply the cleaner to a cloth first instead of directly dumping the cleaner onto the skin insert. Before applying any wax to the skin insert, it's best to use a cleaner on them to ensure the skin wax sticks to the skins.
Liquid Skin Ski Wax: Liquid skin ski treatments are super easy to apply: Get some product on a cloth, and use the cloth to apply the wax to the insert with a circular motion moving in a tip-to-tail direction. Each wax manufacturer has a different dry time so check the bottle to see how long you should let your skis sit before hitting the trails.
Wool-Apply: If you're using a wool-apply wax on your glide zones, you can simply run the wool over your skin inserts while you're at it. Make sure your drill is rotating in the same direction as the skin's haris.
Glide Tape: If you're using a glide tape, you can simply run the iron over the tape & skin to apply a thin layer of wax. You can use a metal brush after to gently loosen the wax on the skin.
Products for Treating Skin Skis
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Canadian Wintersports Inc ProForm-AL1 Wax Bench Station FULL SET
Regular price $669.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $669.95 CAD -
Rode Fiber Paper | 25m
Regular price $17.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $17.96 CAD -
Rode FiberTex
Regular price From $13.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $13.96 CADRode FiberTex
Regular price From $13.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $13.96 CADRode FiberTex
Regular price From $13.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $13.96 CAD -
Rode Apron
Regular price $33.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $33.96 CAD -
Rode Wall Ski Holder
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $29.96 CAD -
Shop Towel for Ski & Snowboard Waxing
Regular price $6.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $6.95 CAD -
Rode Hand Cleaner Cream | 60g
Regular price $19.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $19.96 CAD -
Canadian Wintersports Inc ProForm-AL1 Wax Bench Station FORM Segment
Regular price $299.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $299.95 CAD -
Swix Tuning Gloves
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / perSwix Tuning Gloves
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / perSwix Tuning Gloves
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per -
Canadian Wintersports Inc ProForm-AL1 Wax Bench Station LEGS Segment
Regular price $319.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $319.95 CAD