He claimed he had, in the distant past, rented, and used loaner no-wax skis, and he wasn't impressed. He would just stick with his wax skis, thank you very much.
Then he took his wax skis into the shop for a tune-up, and the technician pointed out that both skis were showing wear under the binding. In fact, said the technician, I would not chance skiing around Crater Lake with these skis. So our protagonist bought a pair of skis at the shop, the only ones available, which, to his dismay, were no-wax. Had there been more time, he would have shopped around, and purchased wax skis, but time was not there.
He skied on no-wax skis in March, April, and again in December. A three day trip around Crater Lake gave him quite a bit of experience on no-wax skis. He climbed to Tam McArthur Rim in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area, and shredded the back-country of the Elkhorn Mountains of northeast Oregon with no-wax skis.
"It could have been wax skis!" In the bowels of Broken Top, Three Sisters Wilderness Area.
You may be wondering why? For those how are not nordic skiers, this may be an esoteric exercise in minute details of unimportance. But for this skier, it feels that the entire world should be made aware of the differences.
There is the story of a local skier packing, getting on the plane, and zooming to the Scandinavian countries with the intention of skiing long distances in many of the races they have there. He had packed his no-wax skis, and once he arrived in Finland, was ridiculed, mocked, and came in last place everywhere he skied. Apparently, the source of nordic skiing doesn't take kindly to no-wax skis.
So, let's compare wax skis, verses no-wax skis.
1) The skier has more control with wax skis.
What kind of wax you use depends on the type of snow, the terrain and the temperature. The skier has total control on what type of wax to choose, and use. A person using a no-wax ski has no options. Whatever the base of the ski is, is what the skier has to use. There is no option for a no-wax skier. They are stuck with the base that they have, and have no recourse on changing anything with respect to their bases.
2) The wax ski is faster.
Many times, skiing with somebody who uses no-wax skis, they will step aside so the wax ski user can zip down the hill before them. They know that a wax ski will, as a general rule, be faster than a no-wax ski on the downhill. You want to be faster? Use a wax ski. There is something wrong with having a rough surface on the base of your ski when you are trying to make progress. Imagine a surface made of sandpaper on the base of a ski. This is akin to the no-wax surfaces of some skis.
3) The wax ski is quieter.
Under certain conditions, such as hard pack, groomed trails, and icy conditions, no-wax skis will be louder than wax skis. You can hear them. Wax skis are quieter, and allow the skier to concentrate on the sounds of the wilderness instead of the sounds of their skis.
4) The wax ski is gentler.
Under many of the same conditions as above, the no-wax ski will make a vibrating feeling on the skiers foot. This may be nice for some people, but for the skier who is looking for a smooth ride, wax skis are the way to go. No-wax skis give the skier a vibrating feeling on their feet. Not a good thing when you're trying to feel the wilds that you are skiing through.
5) No-wax skis are a misnomer.
No-wax, or waxless skis actually require a base treatment at times. A recent ski trip with a no-wax ski user had him "waxing" several times because the snow was sticking to his ski bases. The treatments are usually in a bottle or can whereby the skier spreads the compound over the base of the ski and usually waits for the treatment to dry before putting the skis back on the snow.
The view from Tam McArthur Rim, the edge of Broken Top on the left, South, Middle and North Sister.
Wax skis are the way to go. Applying wax to the base of the ski is not difficult, and the result is a much better ski trip. Try it.
And he will persist in using his wax skis, while his no-wax skis gather dust in the garage.
I was wondering about the prospects of skiing in the Midwest. Ever heard of people doing that? Here is a link that lists a few resorts and attractions: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/snow-ski-resorts-ohio-36256.html I just never heard of anyone skiing there until this year when my sister developed intop a ski bunny!
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ReplyDeleteIrregardless of the polarized and intense emotions that this subject can arouse, I would like to say that I enjoy both waxless and waxable technologies. I appreciate the diagonal glide of a well-waxed ski as much as the next person, but I have to admit to being spoiled by the simplicity of waxless technology. Changeable conditions around freezing and going out for short workout ski ventures have influenced me down the waxless path. Climbing steep without skins is generally easier in my no-wax skis. I do not believe that all waxless skis are equivalent and I think that Mr. Chochaloza may have purchased waxless skis that glide on the slow side (Please give F4 a chance :)! That said, I appreciate that Mr. Chochaloza is so vociferous an advocate for waxable touring/backcountry skis. It would be shame if all that were available in the future were waxless.
ReplyDeleteI have often been super frustrated with my wax skis when conditions are changing by the hour. I don't mind stopping and waxing because I'm usually not in a hurry when cross-country skiing but there isn't a very good way to scrape a warmer wax off when conditions get colder. What do you suggest?
ReplyDeleteSo glad I read the blog entry at an early date, for I fear when word gets out, the market on waxless skis will plummet faster than a nicely waxed skier on steep (but avalanche free) terrain.
ReplyDeleteTo beat the imminent plunge in market value of all things long, skinny, and waxless, I have wisely put Emelie's, Kakki's, McKenna's and my waxless skis on eBay. Shhhhh. I've not told them yet, but getting some hard cash in their hands will be a nice surprise . . . Yes, Father Knows Best!
Wow, what a thoughtful and introspective review of one's life experiences on waxed versus no-wax skis. I would guess this is from one who spends time alone contemplating life's many vagaries. In this case its skis, which in reality, its really about one's life experience while on one's skis. Taken from that perspective, the author is encouraging us to engage our senses of sound and feel to more fully appreciate our experience on the snow. He also implies that the time spent waxing, scraping and re-waxing as snow conditions change are positive in that it also gives one the opportunity to caress and care for one's skis during the journey. In other words, life is a journey to be experienced consciously through our senses.
ReplyDeleteKENTsuke Miyagi says: "wax on, wax off"
ReplyDeleteIf your no-wax skis are gathering dust in the garage, can I have them? Wait, no--they'd be way too big for me! Happy Birthday, Mr. Kent (no matter how you like to count them)!
ReplyDeleteVery wax poetic.
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