Snow skis are expensive and you cannot just afford to use them without care. If you love snow skiing, the first thing you will have to consider is to know how to take care of your own ski. This is the only thing that goes between your feet and the snow, and gives you the opportunity to feel the rush while you enjoy every slope. One thing you should know to maintain your ski is how to wax it on your own. Instead of letting someone do it for you, why don't you follow the steps below and do it yourself?
1. First and foremost, make sure that your ski is in a room temperature. This is very important because failing to do so will lead to "warp" in the base of your ski, it will then destroy the base in no time. If you just came off the snow, then you'll have to wait for 30 minutes under a room temperature to warm your ski up. You can expedite it by using a towel to wipe off the water and the snow.
2. Wipe the base with appropriate base cleaner. Once your ski is in a room temperature already, use a base cleaner to wipe down your ski. A base cleaner is a substance which can help you eliminate dirt, older wax and other objects or substance. Cover the entire base with the cleaner; you must be able to see the areas which are not covered with the base cleaner when because they are dry. After which leave the ski to dry then proceed to the next step.
3. Use appropriate wax. Make sure to use a SKI WAX and not just another ordinary wax. You can find cheaper ski waxes over the internet if you are on a tight budget. If you need more information about ski waxes, check this website.
4. Apply ski wax. Applying ski wax is pretty simple; you just have to take the wax and rub it directly into the base of your ski. Make sure that all spots are covered and try to distribute it evenly. Applying too much will not make your work faster; it will be a waste of ski wax instead.
5. Use an iron to heat up your ski. There are irons especially made to help wax your ski. You can find one of these in your local Wal-Mart stores. If you cannot find one for ski waxing, you can use any iron as long as it does not have holes in its base; choose the flat one. The rule of thumb is to make sure the heat is enough to melt the wax. Iron your ski as if you are ironing your shirt but remember not to do it from side to side, instead iron with the grains. Doing the previous will scratch your ski's base.
6. Let your ski cool down. Put your ski in a place where it cannot be touched while it's cooling down. It may take several minutes as necessary amount of wax is being absorbed by the base of your ski. Do not touch the base while the wax is warm as your fingers have oil not needed or should not be on your ski.
7. Scrape excess wax. When the wax cooled down, you need to scrape off excess wax not absorbed by the base. There are ski wax scrapers available in ski wax stores; they are usually made of plastic. If you can't find one, an ice scraper will do the job for you. Remember not to shave your base too much, a shave or two will do.