SkiPost Newsletter

Thanks for your great publication, I enjoy the info/tips very much and look forward to reading it. Please sent me/e-mail me a chart illustrating the waxing comparisons for the new and old waxing types for Classic skiing. An example would be what blue or extra- special blue would be compared to what in the new waxes. I have some of the old canisters left but need to buy some of the new type for this season.

Thanks K

There are a few really exciting things that have happened in the past few years with regard to kick wax. One of the most important changes is base binder. Base
binder has been around for a long time, but it seems that it has been relative to klister skiing (i.e. warm klister over a cold 'base klister.'). Swix has a very good hard wax binder called VG 035. This is a green wax that should be applied and then ironed in under any hard wax you hope to have stick around. Almost all of the racing hard waxes you will apply will have a binder layer under them. The truly special part of VG 035 is that if your top layer of wax wears off (read: LONG classic races, training days) you will get kick from the base binder. This can be explained by the number beside the VG - 035. These numbers are how Swix measures hardness of their hard wax, and 035 is very close to 040 (Blue Extra). Therefore, many of the actual kicking properties found in Blue Extra can still be found in VG 035.

The VR line of kick wax is what you will be making the move toward if you are looking to fill gaps, and getting more specific in temp. ranges. These waxes have essentially taken the place of many of the old 'extra special blue'-type waxes, and represent high performance, fluorinated waxes. The fluorination will help with water management and dirt repulsion.

One of the unique properties found in the VR line from VR045 to VR065 & VR075 is the use of a silver additive. This silver additive is actually ground aluminum. The aluminum is finely ground in the colder hard waxes to prevent sharp snow crystals from penetrating the kick wax (this is particularly useful in shady areas on a course where the snow crystals are still sharp when a majority of the course is warming). At higher temperatures the aluminum is less-finely ground and will help keep dirt from sticking to the wax.

Visit these pages to read exactly what the people at Swix have to say about their waxes, and this will certainly allow you to make a very informed decision.
Swix V Line
Swix VR Line

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