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The following story first appeared in the February 2025 issue of Silent Sports Magazine.
Jeremy Hecker
Editor’s Note: Jeremy Hecker is Rex’s World Cup technician and product
development lead. Jeremy is also the lead wax technician for Pioneer
Midwest. He will be at the Tour de Ski this year on behalf of Rex, supporting
the US and many of the international teams. Selecting the day’s right wax for your
skis is extremely important. You know the score: If you pick the correct wax, everything is great and skiing is magic. If you choose incorrectly, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. So, the question is — how can you avoid this potential nightmare. Information STAT, but also complete! When selecting waxes, most people immediately look toward a weather app on their phone and the temperature. While this does provide some valuable information, it doesn’t paint the full picture.
For example:
- What would you choose if you were heading to a new ski area that was 25 degrees? With just that limited information, it can be tough to select the correct wax. You need to better understand what the snow conditions look like.
- While the temperature can give you an inkling into the current snow conditions, the most important information is what has happened in the past. When looking into the past, you can get an idea of snow types. When was the last time it snowed? How warm has it been recently? How many people have skied on the trails? Is there any artificial snow mixed in? Has there been any freeze/thaw cycles?
- Putting all of the above together paints a more complete picture and can help select the correct waxes for that day of skiing magic.
Information, Check! Now What?
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Once you get an idea of the snow conditions, you can then start to think about which wax to choose. The lineup of Rex waxes is more based on snow types/conditions than temperature range. Once you learn how one line of waxes works from Rex, you will have an understanding of the entire lineup. Below is a quick description of each of the colors/products and when they work, focusing in on the glide wax line.
• Yellow—G11/NF11/NFX11: These waxes are designed for wetter snow types, primarily around and above the freezing point. If it is actively raining, there are puddles on the track, or if there is fresh, wet snow, these waxes will have a better chance of running.
• Black—G21g/NF21g/NFX21g: If it is currently snowing or has snowed in the last 24 hours and the temperature is above 15 degrees Fahrenheit, the black waxes from Rex are highly likely to feel really good.
• Pink/Green – G41/NF31/NF41/ NFX41: These are specialty waxes that cover two different types of snow conditions. The pink signifies all old/artificial/coarse snow types. The green stands for all cold snow types. The common point between these two types of snow conditions is that they are both very abrasive. You will need an ultra-durable wax to help combat these snow types. There is an additional “UHW” (Ultra Hard Wax) additive in these waxes that helps to extend durability in even the most aggressive snow types.
• Blue – G21/NF21/NFX21: These waxes will cover all of the other snow types not listed above. I like to think of this as almost more of a universal type of wax that can work in most conditions. If you were to guess without having any knowledge of what the snow conditions are, choose one of the blue waxes in the Rex lineup and you won’t have a bad day. And you have a very good chance to have a really good day!
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Choosing Your Level
The only other variable you would need to take into account when selecting a glide wax from the Rex lineup is the desired performance level. As you move through the different lines of waxes (G-series, NF-series, and NFX-series), you will increase both speed and durability. The G-series liquids are affordable and easy to apply. The NF series has both melt-on and liquid paraffin that push the limits of speed. The NFX series uses the newest and fastest raw materials available in the Rex line. The NFX line includes both a powder paraffin application for ultimate durability and an easier-to-apply block system that can be used for top-coats on top of other melt-on waxes.
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Get Kicking!
Now, if we then think about kick wax, can this same process described above be applied? The answer is yes! While the temperature makes a more significant impact in choosing the correct kick wax, the snow type is still by far the most important factor.
If you were to whip out a magnifying glass to look closely at the snow, there are two main types of snow crystals that you would be looking for.
If it looks like sharp crystals shaped like pretty snowflakes, this generally means you will want to use kick waxes that have no klister additives in them. From the Rex lineup, this will be just the main line of grip waxes that come in a little canister and most of the N-series kick waxes.
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If the snow crystals look more rounded and are more reminiscent of an ice crystal, you would need to pick out a more durable kick wax that has some klister added to it. This would be some of the specialty kick waxes such as N41, TK-1814, and the PowerGrip series, or it would mean you should just be looking at a true klister. Sharp snow crystals will unfortunately bind to a klister-based kick wax and cause the phenomenon known as “icing.” This is the biggest pain when kick-waxing a ski. You will suddenly have 3-inch stilts attached to the bottom of your skis causing your glide to go to zero. On the other hand, more rounded ice crystals will also be too abrasive for standard grip waxes, causing your wax to shear from the base, resulting in very quick loss of kick. This is why it is necessary to look at the snow type when trying to choose the right type of kick wax. Remember, if you are going on a trip somewhere new or have an upcoming ski race, try to get an idea of the snow conditions first. If you can narrow in on the snow conditions rather than focus on the temperature, you will set yourself up for a better day of skiing!