Wax On

click on image to enlarge

I have been asked many times about my favorite waxes. A skiers’ choice in wax is much like a college boys little black book; filled with personal preference and usually kept secret. As a professional athlete, I have been affiliated with a wax company for the past two years, which has limited my wax box to a single brand. Such is no longer the case and it is here and now that I will share my all-time favorite players in my little red wax box.

First, my most readily used. A wax that I attain by the kilo – Swix LF6 (it’s the blue one)
I use LF6 as a glide wax for training 99% of the time. It has the ideal temperature range for the majority of days (10-21°F) and is a great base layer on race day. Whether you are topping it with warmer or colder wax, higher or lower fluorocarbons or skiing on it straight up, LF6 is the way to be. Since it is a mid-range floro, it also works well in both wet and dry snow. Training on slow skis is not fun and I train more than I race. It is a bit more than the CH6 (no fluorocarbons) but WELL worth the extra penny! Ever ski will be more enjoyable, I promise.

For kick-wax, lets start with binder. My faves – Rode Chola (klister) and Toko Base Wax (kick)
On abrasive days, long skis or trails that you might be using a directional turn (snowplow) or slide, kick-wax and even klister will tend to wear off. If you are looking for bomber kick that stays put, these are the way to go no doubt. Chola looks, feels and even smells like tar; it is gnarly stuff but it works. The thinnest layer you can manage is enough, which explains why I have had the same tube since high school (going on 8 years) so it is a good investment. The same goes with the Toko Base; just a dab will do. I apply both binders with an iron whenever possible to ensure the thinnest layer possible, which will make sure your skis stay fast after you add the wax of the day over-top.

Kick-wax – Swix Extra Blue (duh, it is everyone’s fave) and Rode Multigrade
These waxes work really well. The reason why they are my favorites however, is probably because the day is going to look like this: blue sky, 20°F, hard tracks and fast snow. Extra blue days are the ones that remind me why I ski; they are perfect.

Klister – Rex oi, ov and Swix Universal
These klisters are for the tough days. They are for wet snow, eastern and springtime conditions. I have used these waxes in combination on many occasions and have had great results on days where everyone else is struggling. The universal added in helps keep the wax from icing and can also be bought with graphite (Silver Universal), which will repel dirt.

Handy tools – These are the little gadgets that make my life easier.


Pipe cutter – used for cutting down poles. This little sucker makes training camps, race days and the beginning of every year SOOO much easier! It is WAY quicker and more portable than the saw that everyone else uses. Tip - wrap tape around the shaft, just below where you are going to cut to keep the carbon from shattering. I also carry a glue stick to adhere the grips/tips.

Thermometer – my favorite is a Swix digital snow gauge (shown), which measures in degrees Celsius. Air temperature can be measured with it too (if you don’t put it in the snow, silly).

Scraper sharpener – Any brand, the important thing is to have one! There is nothing worse than a dull scraper and nothing better than a sharp one. A sharp scraper also saves loads of time in the wax-room. It takes me roughly 30 seconds to scrape a ski – how long does it take your dull blade?


Plug adaptor – This little bad-boy is not often used but it has saved the day more than once. Most irons are three-pronged and this adaptor enables them to fit into a two-pronger (for lack of the technical term) outlet. The adaptor is just a little guy that you might never need, but if you do you’ll be psyched to have it!

Have fun and maybe even leave me a comment - let me know what the favorite item in your wax box is…