In the previous article we explained that the right stiffness of the ski for classic cross-country skiing style is the first crucial parameter to achieve a reliable kick.
Today’s part is dealing with the ski base.
We know that the ski base consists of three areas in case of skis for classic cross-country skiing style. In the front and back there is the gliding area, in the middle there is the kick area. In the front and back gliding waxes and agents are applied, in the middle kick waxes or means are used. Alternatives for kick waxes are mohair, kick strip, zero ski base patterns etc.
Ski base is responsible for both gliding and kicking properties.
Kicking features
It can be very surprising but kick waxes or kick means decide not only about how reliable the kick is but also how well or badly the skis glide.
Why?
If a liquid kick wax is freezing or a hard kick wax layer is too thick, this bad kick quality is impacting the gliding qualities so significantly that any gliding wax can compensate this.
If you are a beginner skier or ski tourist you need to concetrate on the quality of the kick agents because they influence both gliding and kicking properties.
Gliding properties of kick waxes depend especially on
- correct position and length of kick area
- thickness of kick layer
- right kick wax needs to be chosen for specific snow conditions
- roughness of ski base in area where kick waxes are applied needs to be increased
Gliding features
If kick wax does not glide well, the ski does not glide well :-) You can improve the gliding features with the application of gliding waxes and agents, but they protect more the ski base than improve the gliding features in case of classic cross-country skiing style.
In addition there are ski base types which are able to absorb and “hold” gliding waxes and there are ski base types on the market which cannot absorb or hold any wax.