Prepare for another season on the slopes by waxing your own skis

Before hitting the slopes this year, get your skis tuned up and save some cash by following this simple DIY guide to the perfect ski wax job.

You don’t have to wait until the last minute to take your skis into the pro shop for a waxing. Almost anyone can wax their own skis with the right materials and this handy guide.

All you’ll need is a flat plastic scraper, a clean rag, a nylon brush, a household iron, a couple heavy duty rubber bands and ski wax. You’ll also need some kind of makeshift work bench. Any flat table with enough surface area to ensure the skis are stable while they lay flat should do. Got an ironing board? That will also do the trick.

The type of wax you’ll need will depend largely on the weather conditions on the slopes. If skiing in colder, icier conditions, look for blue, white and purple-coloured waxes. If skiing in milder conditions with softer snow, go with pink, yellow or orange coloured waxes. Never ever try to cut corners by trying to use candle wax — you’ll damage your skis badly.

Before anything else, get your plastic scraper and start scraping the old wax off, applying firm, even pressure as you slide the scraper down the ski. Make sure all of the old wax is removed before you start to apply the new coat. Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe off excess dirt and dust.

Your household iron will get the job done. Turn the iron on and give it about 15 minutes to warm up, setting it to between 120-140 degrees Celsius (check the instructions on the wax packaging for ideal temperature settings).

While the iron is warming up, using a couple of heavy duty elastic bands, you will want to secure the ski breaks by wrapping the bands around them and setting them so they are lying flush with the ski. This will enable you to run the iron along the bottom surface without any obstacles.

Taking the warmed-up iron, invert it so its nose is facing down and carefully place a piece of wax on the flat base of the iron. Drip three rows of wax along the length of the base of the ski to ensure good coverage. Next, you’ll want to run the hot iron along the base of your ski at a slow and steady pace.

Allow the ski to sit for half an hour to let the wax cool down. Once cool, scrape the excess wax off with the plastic scraper and brush the base with a nylon brush so it’s visibly shiny.
Repeat these steps for the second ski and you’re all set for a great day on the slopes.

With enough time and drive, waxing your own skis is as easy as owning a large enough surface and anticipating the conditions of the slopes.