Calgary Norseman

[Inspiredcapers]

I’m sure I read somewhere that some manufacturers shipped with what they considered a ‘shipping wax’ to seal the bases. It’s been years since I read that though and there was the mention of ‘some’. Manney raised a few considerations I hadn’t contemplated (particularly the heat related issues in the Seacans during transition and the designer jeans crowd being put off by dirty skis🤣).

To further exacerbate shipping Seacans here on the west coast of Canada there was a two week strike in July that really backed things up- my Aunt does logistics regarding Seacans once they’ve landed and she’s indicated there’s still some delays.

Getting back to Norseman- I’m think that going there is best experienced during the week when it’s quieter as it’s way too busy on weekends. While you won’t find it on the site yet they offer wax and ski clinics. The ski clinics seemed a little more oriented to newer skiers and track skiing when I’ve read them in the past but going to the wax clinics could be insightful.

[Inspiredcapers]

Just changed a setting for attachments and discovered I could post photos. Who knew…

[Lhartley]

They're carrying Voile skis now?! Right on good to see. That's too bad they don't have any mr48 wax, they had a bunch when i was there in the summer I thought

[Manney]

Nice collection of skis. Interesting to see multiple pairs of certain ones… gives some insight into what “moves” in your area.

Wax clinics are good. Lots of ppl fear hot waxing… so they get their skis waxed at the shop and wonder what the big deal is. One size fits all waxing not nearly as good and waxing for a sesh/temperature… brushing things out the way you like them… getting to know that part of skiing.

[Manney]

Pulling my skis from storage tomorrow to see how they handled summer hibernation. Will take a photo of the bases with a coating of storage wax.. so that ppl unfamiliar with how this looks can compare it to what they find in ski shops.

MTF.

[Manney]

Photo of my NATOs, with a coat of storage wax on them. Nothing special… use base prep on the glide zone because it is the softest… allows effective wax application at the lowest temperature… helps with the hot scrape at the beginning of the season before applying my first wax of the day.

Here’s what the bases look like with storage wax applied (but not scraped because that would defeat the purpose by exposing the ptex):

Notice how the groove is filled. And the base looks bumpy, no sign of any of the ptex structure we see in an off the shelf ski. Again, you don’t scrape the groove. Iron in the storage wax and leave it.

Except for the edges. Those get a wipe of liquid glide wax. You can see the run off from that near the skin lock. Looks like $hit, but it’s not supposed to be pretty. It’s supposed to block air and dirt from the structure.

What about the grip zone? Any kind of glide wax isn’t ideal for the grip zone. Grip wax will have trouble staying after that.

That’s why you use a coat of grip wax on the grip zone (see first photo with the wax type recorded). Crayon it in really well but no need to cork it in.

The end result is a base that looks pretty awful but is protected. That grip waxed pocket is very sticky. It’s a dust magnet and would gum up hands and clothes if anyone (like shoppers) came into contact with it. Would look like a fur coat after a few weeks in a storeroom. (Mine are stored in one of my many individual ski bags from old school DH days).

Different visual image of storage wax on white ptex bases…

The cosmetics of storage wax, along with its potential to gather dirt and mar clothing, is why it’s never seen on new skis at the retail level. The work and space needed for its application is a production step that doesn’t contribute to a manufacturer’s bottom line. So the best you can ever, ever expect is for the skis to be individually cling wrapped so avoid edge damage while shipping.

[Lhartley]

Great info thanks for sharing

[Manney]

No problem. Cuts thru the stuff that companies and retailers would like us to believe most of the time. (They don’t commit to anything in print but encourage all kinds of myths to persist about their products.)

Custom ski makers sometimes ship with base prep, but even that is done with prior customer engagement. Why? Because base preps come in different formulations. The soft stuff is good for general use. Harder base prep formulations are used for “cold skis”, which are designed to ski just a bit faster in extreme temps. A competitive DH skier might select skis for this purpose, using a different setup in warmer conditions. That’s what $2k and up buys in terms of prep and service support.

Idk if this is done in professional XC. My guess is that it is when the difference in podium placement can be a ski length.

The main point, however, is that consumer skis are shipped without a base coat of storage wax.

BTW, my preferred is Swix Base Prep 88 (which is red) It’s a colder formulation. Irons in at 130C.

You can also buy Swix Base Prep 99 (straw colored), which is better suited to warmer conditions. That irons in at 110C.

Swix also makes BP77 (purple colored), which would be best for an initial coat on a long distance arctic use like some of you Canadians might do… but a little over the top for any kind of storage (unless you were maintaining an artic setup).

Swix not an obligatory brand… BP88 is the easiest to find in my locale, probably because it’s best for the climate here.

[riel]

Just changed a setting for attachments and discovered I could post photos. Who knew…

Woah, so it looks like Norseman has some (discontinued) Asnes Mountain Race 46, and Asnes Mountain Tour 51 skis for sale.

One of the last places where you can buy those.

[mca80]

@Manney, so you use BP88 as storage wax? What then is your methodology for the approaching ski season? Hot scrape of the existing BP88 to clean, and then reapply that, or something else, as a base? What is the advantage of BP88 vs yellow for storage? What about for an initial wax at start of season?