Should I lubricate skis with notches? What you need to know about notched skis? How and with what to lubricate semi-plastic skis

When choosing skis with notches, the buyer should know that this is a recreational, not a sports option. They are not designed for rapidly gliding along mountain slopes or achieving high sporting victories. For these purposes, you need to choose professional cross-country skis. So is it necessary to lubricate skis with notches or is it not important for them? It turns out that the lubricant will give improved gliding to this traveling type.

There is an opinion that there is no need to lubricate them, given the structural features of the model. Manufacturers placed a notch in the middle of the sliding surface. This provides this function without pretense of high performance on the track. The sliding effect is present on new equipment until the notch begins to wear off. After this, it will be provided with a knurled ski wax to support an even and fast skiing. Skiing will bring pleasure on a frosty winter day, provided that the surface is treated and there is a supply of ointment during trips.

Which ointment to choose?

How to coat plastic skis with notches for traction on snow? Three types of ointments:

1. The first is soil that firmly holds the product. Without primer, the coating disappears in a few hours.
2. The second includes holding compounds. They are used for lubrication: mountain, running models, and for skating. Professional athletes lubricate their knurled skis for a classic ride.
3. The third includes ointments for grip. They have 2 functions at the same time: to support sliding, to grip at the moment of push.

Ointments also vary in consistency:

1. At positive temperatures, liquid formulations are used. This is enough for a forest walk.
2. For semi-solids, a temperature of about 0 o is suitable. WITH.
3. Solid ones are used in frosty weather.

Air temperature and snow conditions are indicated on the packaging.

The best manufacturers

Manufactured by world famous manufacturers:

1. The Norwegian company SWIX, operating in the sporting goods market since 1946, producing: paraffins, ointments, accessories, clothing, sports equipment.
2. The Swiss company TOKO, founded in 1916, specializes in their production. Currently, the company has a good reputation among skiers and snowboarders.
3. Finnish company Vauhti (which means “Speed”), which has been producing Vauhti since 1937. Currently known as a major equipment manufacturer.

Amateur and professional athletes are well acquainted with the products of these companies.

What is needed to apply the ointment?

In the recent past, there were no types of equipment other than wooden ones. They were protected from exposure to moisture by painting, and the bottom was coated with oil. Today there are two types of skis:

1. Plastic - with the addition of composite materials and alloys. They have a range of positive characteristics (glide perfectly, are not susceptible to moisture).
2. Combined - the base material of which is wood of various species and plastic; they do not require tarring.

But the opinion that you don’t need to lubricate skis with notches is wrong. New plastic devices are lubricated with paraffin before going out on the track or for a walk. This product is available in all sports and online stores. The procedure is carried out as follows:

1. The sliding surface, clean and dry, is rubbed with paraffin.
2. Using a special or home iron, as well as a knife blade, which is heated up for this purpose, the paraffin is distributed over the sliding surface.
3. The pores of the plastic are filled with melted paraffin.
4. Residues are removed with a scraper.
5. The surfaces are polished with a rubbing cloth or a stiff nylon brush.

When heating paraffin, you need to carefully monitor the temperature. It should not exceed +200 o C, otherwise the surface of the skis may burn. It will take at least two hours for the paraffin to dry.

Only after this procedure do they begin to use ointments.

How to lubricate skis with notches?

Owners of such models know that they practically do not need lubrication. But, if the crust has iced over and the notches can no longer cope, and the weather is too warm, the sliding surface will have to be lubricated.

Instructions step by step

Lubricant should be applied immediately when the skis kick back. The instructions offer practical advice on how to properly lubricate knurled skis:

1. Initially, it is necessary to place a small amount of the composition on the loading area.
2. If the problem persists, you need to slightly increase the application area towards the toe.
3. If recoil is not completely eliminated, it must be added to the cargo area. It is designed for -2/-4 o C.

A prudent athlete always has ointment in stock. This way you can avoid problems with recoil and the run will be successful.

Important! Glide ointments are applied to the end and toes, and retention ointments are applied to the middle of the sliding surface. For fans of classic skating and skating - on the gliding surface.

When choosing skis, you need to know for what purpose they are purchased. The type of lubricant depends on this. To avoid the opposite effect, it is important to use for the intended purpose. For skis with notches, either don’t buy them, or just for grip, then a walk through the forest will leave a pleasant impression.

24.07.2013

Advantages and disadvantages.

Cross-country skis with notches are good because they do not need to be lubricated in any weather conditions. The notch allows the skis to cling to the snow when pushing off. In skis without notches, a special one is required to achieve this effect. It is the presence of eternal notches on skis that pushes many people to buy them. A significant disadvantage of such skis is that they ride worse than ordinary skis. In addition, cross-country skis with notches stop clinging to the snow if it is slightly frozen, for example, during frosts after a thaw. When choosing skis, you must determine your priority: slow pleasure skiing, without wasting time on lubrication of skis, or faster and faster skiing, with which you will have to tinker with lubrication. You need to understand that skis with anti-recoil tips are the best option for those who ski on unprepared slopes, ski rarely and leisurely, and who do not like or do not want to monitor the speed qualities of skis.

Types of sliding surface plastic.

Each manufacturer uses two types of plastic for the sliding surface - high molecular weight and low molecular weight. In general, the names of these types of plastic and the differences between them, according to the information presented in this article, are quite enough for a beginner. High molecular weight plastic is expensive and of high quality. Provides good absorption of ski waxes and paraffins, has a special temperature structure that better repels water and snow and, as a result, has better glide. Low molecular weight plastic is much cheaper, simpler, and of course glides worse. The first type of plastic can be processed - structured, treated with paraffin, sanded. It is useless to process low molecular weight plastic. Firstly, slip waxes simply cannot be fully absorbed into the plastic and will wear off faster than those applied to sports skis. Secondly, when scraping such plastic, it can crumble, and you will only ruin your skis with such procedures.

Main classes of skis.

Cross-country skiing is divided into two classes - sports and recreational. Inexpensive recreational skis are 90% low molecular weight plastic. Sports skis are made of high molecular weight plastic and they have a complex design.

Expensive models of recreational skis can be made of high molecular weight plastic. In this class, such skis will cost about 5,000 rubles. For the same money you can buy sports skis for beginners. So why then do many people buy recreational skis? The fact is that sports skis differ from pleasure skis in their purpose and ideology. Walking skis are usually wider and heavier than sports skis - this allows them to move without problems on unprepared slopes or even on fresh snow. Therefore, for that kind of money you can buy either recreational skis (strong, durable, strong, off-road) or sports skis (demanding on the quality of the ski track and the care of the sliding surface of the plastic).

Which skis to choose?

If you really don’t want to spend time preparing and lubricating your skis, and at the same time you don’t need particularly good glide, take recreational skis with notches.

If you want to ski quickly and comfortably, but don’t mind fiddling with preparing your skis, then definitely buy skis made of high molecular weight plastic. When choosing skis, be sure to check with the seller about the type of plastic the skis are made from.

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How to lubricate skis with notches ******************************************** If If you choose skis with notches, then it is understood that you just want skis for walking in the forest. Because these types of skis do not involve sliding to obtain superior results. This requires more professional cross-country skis. But, nevertheless, even simple hiking skis with notches can be given better glide due to lubrication.

You will need - Skis; - a little paraffin; - stick or brush. The structure of skis with notches has its own peculiarity: the notch itself is located in the center of the sliding space of such recreational skis. This promotes smooth gliding on the ski track, but does not guarantee high results on the track. Therefore, this point must be taken into account when lubricating them. In general, it is not customary to lubricate this type of ski. But, do not forget that over time, the notches on the skis wear off, and they may not go so fast and evenly. For these purposes, such a means as paraffin is provided. So, in order for your recreational skis to glide always and in any weather, you should perform the following steps: 1. Buy or find regular paraffin at home. Doesn't have to be in a can. 2. Take a small piece of paraffin wax so that it can fit comfortably in your hand. Place the back side of your skis in front of you. Do not allow moisture to get on their sliding side under any circumstances! 3. Then, from top to bottom, begin to apply thin layers of wax to the entire surface of the skis. Try to do this evenly to lubricate every area of ​​the ski. After this, take a stick, wrap it with a rag and then use the same movements to remove the layer of paraffin from the skis. Just be careful not to scratch the surface of the skis. 4. After this, wipe the skis dry with another rag. 5. Repeat the previous two points at least two to three times. Then run your hand over the surface and feel the difference BEFORE and AFTER. 6. Now the skis are ready for use in real conditions. Try driving 1.5-2 kilometers and look at the result. If you did everything correctly, then your recreational skis will go much faster, especially in weather close to 0 degrees. 7. If not, then do this procedure again. There may only be exceptions if the weather is too frosty. Then your skis may slip. In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it. You may not need to lubricate them with paraffin.

Tip 2: How to lubricate skis with notches Depending on what style of skiing you do, how fast you ski, whether you prefer simple walks in the forest, high-speed descents from pistes, or even running on ski tracks, you choose both the type of skis and their lubrication. Skis with notches are considered the slowest and are intended for walking. You will need - paraffin; - brush 1. Prepare skis, paraffin and a special brush or a simple stick with which to rub the skis. In this case, it is advisable to purchase paraffin in a can. You can buy it at any specialized store. If you use briquetted lubricant, first keep it at room temperature; the substance should be soft. 2. Take the skis and place them in front of you, first turning them over with their backs facing you. Remember, when rubbing your skis, under no circumstances should moisture get on them. The sliding surface must be completely dry. 3. Using progressive movements, begin to apply paraffin from top to bottom one ski at a time, rubbing a thin layer over the entire sliding surface. Do this evenly so that absolutely every area is treated. 4. Remember - it is important to take into account the notches of the skis, which are located in the center, because they contribute to a smooth ride and do not allow the skier to develop speed. Do not try to fill the recess with grease; your goal is not the recess, but its edges. Some experts advise cutting out a piece of paraffin in the shape of a notch and using it to treat the surface, this way you will not leave excess lubricant inside, but will treat the ski efficiently. If you use an aerosol, then no additional actions need to be taken. Just hold the bottle at a distance of 15-20 cm, and the lubricant will lie evenly. 5. Remove the excess layer of paraffin using a stick using the same movements as you applied. At the same time, carefully watch the shine, it should not disappear. Be careful, the surface can be easily scratched. 6. Put the treated ski aside and start working on the second one. 7. Take a small soft, lint-free cloth and wipe the skis dry 10-15 minutes after processing them. During this time, the paraffin should obtain the desired adhesion to the surface. If you notice that the fabric leaves stripes or scratches on the ski, then the procedure will have to be repeated again, but with new lubricant, most likely you got low-quality paraffin.

To run comfortably with a classic stroke, the skis must glide forward and “hold” back. Unsupportive skis are a torment for a skier. We have already covered this in a separate article. Today we will tell you how to wax skis for a classic move so that there is no “recoil”. The process is very similar to preparing skate skis, but you need to additionally lubricate the holding area.

Where is ski holding ointment applied?

Grip ointment is applied to skis to the “pad” area. Last - the area under the boot and forward about 30 cm.

This image shows the approximate last length (based on ski length) for beginner skiers.

When selecting a pad, you should not accurately calculate centimeters and strictly follow the instructions. The ideal holding zone is different for everyone. Start with the recommendations on the diagrams, and then adjust, depending on the glide and grip of the skis.

There is “kickback” on skis - increase the block forward.

Skis glide poorly and slow down with ointment - reduce the block.

Important! Adjust the block only at the front of the ski. At the back, the holding ointment should reach a maximum of the heel of the boot.

Once you find your last length, mark it on your skis with a marker or sticker.

Quick preparation of classic skis

What is needed to prepare skis without an iron and other equipment?

• slip ointment for quick application
• holding ointment for quick application

In this method, everything is simple: the sliding area is smeared with sliding ointment, the holding area is smeared with holding ointment. We wait 2 minutes and you can ride. Learn more about applying liquid gliding ointments.

The method is very convenient and fast. But it is not as effective as preparing skis with solid ointments. Quick ski preparation is enough for an average of 5 km. If you plan to ski more, then you will need a different way to lubricate your skis.

Preparing classic skis with solid ointments

The principle is the same, but holding ointment is applied under the block, and the sliding area is treated with paraffins using an iron. We wrote how to treat skis with paraffin in the article:.

What is needed to apply the holding ointment?

• solid holding ointment
• synthetic rubbing
• masking tape (preferred, but not required)
• 100-grit sandpaper (preferably, but not required)

How to apply grip ointment to skis?

It is advisable to treat the block with fine sandpaper under the holding ointment. Ideal with 100 grit. Carry out this operation only when you find a block that suits you. Rough plastic will hold the ointment better and it will last longer.

To make smearing more convenient, you can mark the area of ​​the block with masking tape. This way you will not stain the sliding surface of the ski with grip ointment when you rub the ointment.

The ointment is applied in thin layers, each layer must be rubbed with a synthetic cork. It is better to apply 2-3 thin layers than one thick one. A thick layer of ointment is difficult to spread evenly.

To increase the mileage covered with one application of holding ointment, the primer layer can be applied under the iron. That is, first sand, then fuse a thin layer of ointment with an iron, and then everything is as usual.

This treatment of skis will be enough for 50 km or more. If the weather has changed, then the old ointment must be removed and a new one applied according to the weather.

How to remove old grip ointment from skis?

The old holding ointment is removed with a scraper. To do this, it is better to have a separate scraper so as not to stain the sliding surface with ointment.

After removing the ointment with a scraper, the residues are washed off with special solvents. The procedure is optional, but after 2-3 treatments it is better to completely clean the holding area using washes.

Play sports, move, travel and be healthy! 🙂
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