HOW TO SELECT THE CORRECT SKI BASE?

 How to Select the Correct Ski Base?

Most of normal skiers - does not matter if alpin skiers or nordic skiers - know the black ski bases which are the standard in the last ca. 30 years.

The black colour of the ski base is caused by soot which is added directly to the ski base material.

Why SOOT and what are the main advantages of the black ski bases?

• soot is cheap
• soot has the correct NANO size
• soot is a type of dry lubricant
• soot as NANO particles is hard
• soot is conductive
• soot improves grinding
• soot can help to repell dirt 

In other words:

• black ski bases are usually harder than the transparent ones
• black ski bases are more suitable for colder conditions due to higher hardness and lower electrostatic charge
• black ski bases can be grinded more efectively and precisely
• black ski bases can repell dirt better that the transparent ones

Special advantage of black ski bases:

If they wear due to intensive using especially on abrasive cold or man-made snow types, they change the surface colour to grey or white gradually. This is a clear sign that they need to be maintained / serviced.

Black ski bases have also some disadvantages

• they abrosb normally less wax than the transparent ski bases
• they can be less hydrophobic or water-repellent than the transparent ski bases
• dirt which is normally dark is hardly visible on the black surface

Conclusions

Black ski bases perform very well especially in cold conditions. They are more universal than the transparent ski bases. In wet and very wet conditions hydrophobity of black ski bases needs to be improved by water-repelling waxes. For normal alpin and nordic skiers the black ski base is usually the right choise.