Altai Kom Waxing

[yoyoing]

Greetings,

I had my first season on the Koms last year and absolutely loved it. I upgraded from 2 years on the Hoks and it was a huge improvement for my tele turns. I wish I had went for the longer 174cm version though, but that's another matter...

Anyways, I diverge! I went a whole season without waxing them and the base is really dried out now (white'ish), so they're needing a good waxing now.

I am wondering what you guys do through the fish scale section?

I'm thinking of a few options but am not sure what's best:

Wax the whole ski tip to tail as normal; wax just the tip/tail and silicone spray the scales; or wax tip/tail and grip wax the fishscales. What are your experiences? I'm especially curious if grip waxing is possible or if it will completely destroy the ski's glide since there isn't much camber to begin with.

Thanks for your help!

[Woodserson]

First, the glide sections should be glide waxed regularly throughout the season as you would any other ski. Glide wax, iron, scrape, etc.

The scales are another story. You can do two things:

1. Use a paste/liquid glide wax such as Maxiglide, which I use on scales with good results, though it must be applied regularly depending on snow conditions. I even carry a small can of it with me for touch ups on tricky days.

2. Hot wax the scales. This takes technique and is tricky. You do not want to fill the gaps in the scales with wax. I use a soft warm wax when I do this, and I wipe immediately with paper towels/cloth rag while the wax is still wet. I'm trying to work it in there but also remove it so I don't clog the scales. Sometimes I go back with a pick and painstakingly remove the wax from around the scales.

The subject of hot-waxing scales was covered on this excellent thread, please review: https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 55&p=22271

Super happy you love the Koms! they are THE BEST

[voilenerd]

Howdy,

On my fat fish scaled skis I hot wax the tips and tails with temp specific wax depending on conditions. As for the scales, I only use rub on wax in the spring when the snow is sticky. Putting rub on wax on scales really hampers the climbing abilities especially in colder and harder snow. So I would not recommend it until spring/summer rolls around.

[lilcliffy]

I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.

[fisheater]

Gareth, are you using an iron, or just crayoning the kick wax onto the scales? I mounted the S-112 for a friend. Anything I can do to make it easier for him.

[johral]

I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.

So that technique should work with my Sbound 112s...right?

[Rainbow83]

Y'all wax your fischscales? I only ever do glide wax on the glide sections of the base and leave the scales untouched on my skis. Does that have adverse effects? I always kinda figured that if glide was good and grip was good, no need to touch the scale to try to adjust things.

[lilcliffy]

Gareth, are you using an iron, or just crayoning the kick wax onto the scales? I mounted the S-112 for a friend. Anything I can do to make it easier for him.

I cork on a light layer of very hard grip wax over the entire base- then iron- then buff the entire base.
Works like a charm on all snow warmer than ~ -25C.
Below that temp the polar wax starts working as a kick wax...

[lilcliffy]

I have a 162cm Kom.
Central New Brunswick Canada.
200-600m elevation.
Lots of snow.
Very cold for extended periods mid-winter- lots of fresh snow.
Extended skiing on deep, melting spring snow.
I grip wax the ENTIRE base of my Kom with a very hard-grip wax- saved it from the yard sale.
I simply could not get enough grip with this ski except on warm spring snow.
My verticals are typically 50-300m- I do not want to be constantly putting on climbing skins.
Grip wax cured my problem.
And I never need to use a paste/liquid glide wax on the scales.
Love this ski.

So that technique should work with my Sbound 112s...right?

Yes
I use the same method with my Fischer 78/88/E99/E109 Crowns.

[lilcliffy]

Y'all wax your fischscales? I only ever do glide wax on the glide sections of the base and leave the scales untouched on my skis. Does that have adverse effects? I always kinda figured that if glide was good and grip was good, no need to touch the scale to try to adjust things.

Agree- totally.
If what you are doing works for you- where you ski- keep doing it!