How much does glide vary in a ski model?
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lowangle al
- Posts: 2771
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
- Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
- Favorite Skis: powder skis
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.
Re: How much does glide vary in a ski model?
I think you will feel the drag more on a no wax ski that is too short compared to a smooth base ski.
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lilcliffy
- Posts: 4202
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: How much does glide vary in a ski model?
Totally agree man- waxless bases really can be a drag....
I much prefer a waxable base even for K&G touring on the flats. I will even grip wax the entire base if I need the extra grip. Even grip wax glides MUCH better than a waxless traction base.
I have been without a waxable-base backcountry ski for a few years...plan on fixing that for next season.
Klister will also outperform a waxless base on both wet snow, and old, hard, icy snow...
However- I do find that backcountry skis with a waxless bases have distinct advantages in highly variable temperature/snow conditions. Especially if you are skiing through the woods.
My good friend has been using klister the last couple of weeks- but has to stay out of the woods because forest debris (e.g. twigs, needles, moss, lichen, etc.) keeps getting stuck to the klister. (this is not a problem with hard grip waxes) No such problems with my waxless-based skis.
So as much as I always yearn for the optimum glide of smooth, waxable bases- I will always want waxless skis in my quiver- when it is just the most practical solution.
I much prefer a waxable base even for K&G touring on the flats. I will even grip wax the entire base if I need the extra grip. Even grip wax glides MUCH better than a waxless traction base.
I have been without a waxable-base backcountry ski for a few years...plan on fixing that for next season.
Klister will also outperform a waxless base on both wet snow, and old, hard, icy snow...
However- I do find that backcountry skis with a waxless bases have distinct advantages in highly variable temperature/snow conditions. Especially if you are skiing through the woods.
My good friend has been using klister the last couple of weeks- but has to stay out of the woods because forest debris (e.g. twigs, needles, moss, lichen, etc.) keeps getting stuck to the klister. (this is not a problem with hard grip waxes) No such problems with my waxless-based skis.
So as much as I always yearn for the optimum glide of smooth, waxable bases- I will always want waxless skis in my quiver- when it is just the most practical solution.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.