General Tips Patience When Waxing Will Pay Off Author: Willi Wiltz - Former World Cup Technician     We, as ski enthusiasts, weekend racers, Masters, Mighty Mite Parents, store techs, garage techs, etc... all know that it's important to wax your skis frequently to enhance the gliding properties and over-all "ski-ability" of the ski. One of the questions I hear most that seems to be the biggest mystery is, "When is the best time to scrape?" Most of us know when we're waxing the ski, heat transferred from the iron to the ski's base expands its pores allowing it to be impregnated by molten wax. Equally important as waxing the ski properly is the "cooling down" phase. Having the ski base cool down slowly at room temperature (about 70? F) for 6 to 8 hours provides the perfect environment for proper wax impregnation. That very porous base you?ve just expanded with the heat of your wax iron starts it?s cooling off stage, curing, marinating, etc? What you?re trying to achieve is a very slow, deliberate closing or contracting of the ski?s base rather than an abrupt contraction such as that caused by sticking your skis outside into temps 20? to 30? lower than your ideal working environment directly after waxing. Dramatic temperature changes like this cause the pores to close too fast which will push wax out rather than allowing it to cool slowly and adhere inside the skis base material. A good rule of thumb is; if you scrape your skis too soon, the base will look very dry and oxidized, sometimes more so than before you waxed them. I realize not every one?s a World Cup Racer trying to shave off hundredths of a second. It would be very hard in a ski shop situation to do this. But, educating the public as to why we do this and the benefits to be realized from something as simple as allowing your skis base to cool slowly after a fresh coat of wax is important if you?re after the best possible wax job you can get and is just one more detail among thousands that help out our tiny little thriving industry?but you do owe it to yourself and your own skis?.trust me. Willi Wiltz Former US Ski Team Tech., Willi Wiltz is a Downhill Specialist with over 15 years of World Cup experience. He has worked with five different ski manufacturers, 3 different nations and over 20 World Class athletes. According to Willi, his career is highlighted by the 5 years he worked with the first ever U.S. alpine skier to win two medals in the same Olympics, Tommy Moe, tons of fun, success and Olympic Gold & Silver. Thanks for the contribution Willi, we appreciate it! Back to Tips