Cross-Country Skiing in the Middle of Nowhere – A Beginner's Survival Guide

For beginners who don't want to overthink things.

Would you like to try cross-country skiing, but the last thing you want is a long and complicated preparation process?

You just want to give it a try and see what happens. You have neither the time nor the desire to study theory, different types of ski wax, ski stiffness or the fundamentals of tribology before you even get started?

I understand. Completely.

So let me ask you just one question:

Are you at a ski resort, or somewhere in the middle of nowhere, far away from civilisation?

The Answer: In the Middle of Nowhere!

If you have chosen a remote corner of the mountains for your first adventure on cross-country skis, you will have to rely primarily on yourself.

Unlike those lucky beginners surrounded by civilisation, you probably won't find a ski rental shop, a service centre or a helpful waxing expert waiting around every corner.

But don't worry. I have a few simple suggestions for you as well.

For your very first attempts, I recommend classic cross-country skiing, avoiding traditional hard kick-wax application, and trying one of these options:

• Skin skis with an integrated grip skin.
• Adhesive kick-wax grip tape.
• Easy-to-apply liquid kick wax.

And one more important piece of advice:

If it's snowing and the temperature is around freezing, perhaps leave your adventure for another day!

Or at least read the rest of these recommendations before making your final decision.

A Simple Rule for Getting Started

Remote mountains mean suitable skis of your own, classic technique, the simplest possible grip solution and, ideally, no fresh snowfall around freezing point.

Why?

1. Your Own Skis: Leave Grandpa's Old Skis in the Attic!

Far away from civilisation, you need skis you can actually rely on.

They don't have to be expensive or designed for racing. But they should suit your weight, abilities and the type of skiing you intend to do.

Those old cross-country skis that have been resting in the attic for twenty years may not be the best choice for your first adventure.

Leave the attic treasures where they are! You might be better off simply going for a walk.

2. Classic Skiing, or the Gentle Art of Shuffling Along

Classic cross-country skiing has one enormous advantage for beginners.

You can practise it in a wonderfully relaxed way, something I like to call the cross-country shuffle.

You move slowly through the countryside without any great sporting ambitions.

On flat terrain, you simply shuffle your feet backwards and forwards.

On gentle or steeper climbs, provided your skis have reliable grip, you can do much the same thing, just shortening your steps as necessary.

And when the hill becomes really steep?

You climb using the herringbone technique, again helped by good grip.

If the grip zone doesn't ice up or collect great lumps of sticky snow, your efforts climbing those smaller or larger hills will be rewarded.

By the delightful feeling of gliding downhill on your skis.

The result?

A lovely day outdoors, new experiences on snow, and perhaps a well-deserved stop for refreshments at a mountain hut.

3. Snowing Around Freezing? Maybe Not Today!

Slightly wet or freshly fallen damp snow, combined with temperatures around freezing, creates some of the most difficult conditions for reliable kick.

It is no coincidence that leading manufacturers offer a whole range of different kick waxes for this relatively narrow temperature range.

Finding the right wax under such unstable and constantly changing conditions can be difficult even for experienced professionals.

Which is why I would advise beginners not to tempt fate.

Unless, of course, you firmly believe in the motto:

"It doesn't matter what kind of experience it is, as long as it's unforgettable!"

Trudging along the side of the ski tracks, or even straight through them, with enormous lumps of frozen snow attached to your skis will certainly be an unforgettable experience.

Possibly so unforgettable that you'll never want to see another pair of cross-country skis again.

4. How to Avoid Traditional Kick Waxing

Fortunately, there are alternatives that can make ski preparation considerably easier for beginners.

The following options are worth considering:

• Skin skis: a practical solution that avoids traditional kick waxing of the grip zone.
• Adhesive grip tape: an alternative for skis with a smooth kick zone.
• Liquid kick waxes: relatively easy-to-apply products, although snow conditions still matter.

Each of these options has advantages and limitations, but for your first attempts they may be far more welcoming than experimenting with an entire collection of traditional kick waxes.

And What About Fishscale Skis?

Here I must admit to a certain personal bias.

I've never been particularly enthusiastic about fishscale skis.

Yes, they can work, and for some recreational skiers they offer a convenient solution.

But in my opinion, they come with a few rather annoying compromises.

Grip isn't always as reliable as I would like, and on descents those scales can make a remarkable amount of noise while slowing you down.

Perhaps I'm being unfair, but in my personal ranking of alternatives to traditional kick waxing, fishscale skis don't finish very high.

Long live skin skis!

One Last Piece of Advice

If you simply want to try cross-country skiing, don't turn it into a scientific project.

Choose suitable skis, use classic technique, find a simple and reliable grip solution, and wait for reasonably friendly snow conditions.

And if you are heading into remote mountains, remember appropriate clothing, navigation, the weather forecast and a safe way home.

Then just get out there.

And if your very first trip doesn't go quite according to plan, at least you'll have a good story to tell.

After all, that's exactly why Skiing with a Smile exists.

Jak začít s běžkami v odlehlých končinách – bez vědy a zbytečných starostí

Pro začátečníky, kteří si nechtějí lámat hlavu.

Rádi byste vyzkoušeli běžky, ale to poslední, co byste chtěli, je nějaká sáhodlouhá příprava?

Chcete to prostě zkusit, a pak se uvidí. Nemáte čas ani chuť nejprve studovat teorii, druhy vosků, tvrdost lyží nebo základy tribologie?

Rozumím. A docela vás chápu.

Proto mám pro začátek jedinou otázku:

Jste v lyžařském středisku, nebo spíše někde na samotě, daleko od civilizace?

Odpověď zní: V odlehlých končinách!

Pokud jste si pro své první dobrodružství v bílé stopě vybrali odlehlé končiny našich nebo cizích hor, budete se muset spolehnout především sami na sebe.

Na rozdíl od šťastnějších začátečníků v civilizaci totiž nemusíte mít za každým rohem půjčovnu, servis ani ochotného odborníka na mazání.

Ale žádný strach. I pro vás mám několik jednoduchých rad.

Pro úplný začátek doporučuji klasický styl, vyhnout se tradičnímu mazání tuhými stoupacími vosky a vyzkoušet některou z následujících možností:

• běžky se stoupací srstí (skin),
• samolepicí stoupací pásku,
• tekutý stoupací vosk určený pro snadnou aplikaci.

A ještě jedna důležitá rada:

Pokud je kolem nuly a sněží, raději to nechte na jindy!

Nebo alespoň dočtěte následující doporučení až do konce.

Jednoduché pravidlo pro začátek

Odlehlé končiny znamenají: vhodné vlastní lyže, klasický styl, co nejjednodušší řešení odrazu a pokud možno žádné sněžení při teplotách kolem nuly.

Proč?

1. Vlastní lyže: Erár z půdy nebrat!

V odlehlých luzích a hájích potřebujete především lyže, na které se můžete spolehnout.

Nemusí být drahé ani závodní. Měly by však odpovídat vaší hmotnosti, schopnostem a zamýšlenému způsobu lyžování.

Staré běžky, které dvacet let odpočívaly na půdě, nemusejí být zrovna nejlepší volbou pro první výpravu.

Erár z půdy nebrat! To se jděte raději jen tak projít.

2. Klasika aneb „paní radová“

Pro začátečníky má klasický styl jednu obrovskou výhodu.

Dá se totiž provozovat i způsobem, kterému s oblibou říkám „dupák“ nebo „paní radová“.

Pohybujete se krajinou pomalu, bez velkých sportovních ambicí.

Na rovině prostě šoupete nohama dopředu a dozadu.

Do mírného i prudšího stoupání můžete díky dobrému odrazu dělat v podstatě totéž, jen více či méně zkrátíte délku kroku.

A do opravdu prudkého kopce?

Tam se vyškrábete stromečkem, opět s pomocí dobrého odrazu.

Pokud vám přitom nebude stoupací zóna namrzat a lepit, čeká vás za námahu spojenou s výstupem na menší či větší vrcholek zasloužená odměna.

Příjemný pocit z klouzavého pohybu při sjezdu.

Výsledek?

Pěkně strávený den, nové zážitky v bílé stopě a třeba i občerstvení na Hřebínku.

3. Kolem nuly a sněží? Raději ne!

Lehce vlhký až mokrý nový sníh a teploty kolem nuly patří k vůbec nejsložitějším podmínkám pro spolehlivý odraz.

Není náhoda, že renomovaní výrobci nabízejí pro toto malé teplotní rozpětí celou řadu různých stoupacích vosků.

Trefit správnou mázu za proměnlivých a nestabilních podmínek může být složité i pro zkušené profesionály.

A proto bych vám jako začátečníkům doporučil takové podmínky raději nepokoušet.

Pokud ovšem nepatříte k vyznavačům hesla:

„Nezáleží na tom, jaký zážitek. Hlavně že byl silný!“

Hamtání podél běžeckých stop, nebo dokonce přímo ve stopách, s bakulemi namrzlého sněhu na lyžích totiž rozhodně silným zážitkem bude.

A dost možná tak silným, že už běžky nikdy nebudete chtít vidět.

4. Jak se obejít bez klasické mázy?

Naštěstí existují možnosti, které začátečníkům přípravu běžek výrazně usnadňují.

Za vyzkoušení stojí především:

• Lyže se stoupací srstí: praktické řešení bez tradičního voskování stoupací zóny.
• Samolepicí stoupací páska: alternativa pro lyže s hladkou stoupací zónou.
• Tekuté stoupací vosky: poměrně snadno aplikovatelné přípravky, u nichž je však stále nutné respektovat sněhové podmínky.

Každá z těchto možností má své výhody i omezení, ale pro první pokusy může být mnohem přívětivější než experimentování s celou sbírkou tradičních stoupacích vosků.

A co lyže se šupinami?

Tady přiznávám jistou osobní zaujatost.

Lyže se šupinami mě totiž nikdy příliš nenadchly.

Ano, mohou fungovat a pro některé rekreační běžkaře představují jednoduché řešení.

Jenže z mého pohledu mají nepříjemné kompromisy.

Odraz nemusí být vždy tak spolehlivý, jak bych si přál, a při jízdě z kopce dokážou šupiny pěkně hlučet a brzdit.

Možná jsem k nim nespravedlivý, ale v mém osobním žebříčku alternativního mazání příliš vysoko nestojí.

Zlatá srst!

Na závěr

Pokud chcete běžky jen vyzkoušet, nedělejte z toho vědu.

Vyberte vhodné lyže, zvolte klasický styl, zajistěte si jednoduchý a spolehlivý odraz a počkejte na rozumné sněhové podmínky.

A když vyrážíte mimo lyžařská střediska, nezapomeňte také na vhodné oblečení, orientaci, předpověď počasí a bezpečný návrat.

Pak už stačí vyrazit.

A pokud se vám první výlet tak úplně nepovede, alespoň budete mít o čem vyprávět.

Ostatně právě proto existuje Skiing with a Smile.

Ski Wax, Gifts and Independent Thinking – A Story of a Mercedes and a Lada

What do ski wax, a luxurious Mercedes, a brand-new Lada and independent thinking have in common? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

A Partnership Where Everyone Wins?

Anyone involved in ski preparation knows how important cooperation with ski wax manufacturers has become.

Preparing racing skis is now so complex that the research, development and testing carried out by wax manufacturers are almost indispensable.

Their enormous investment in time, money and resources benefits not only elite athletes hoping to gain another few seconds next season, but also recreational skiers who simply want their skis to glide properly and avoid snow sticking to the grip zone.

The benefits for skiers seem obvious.

The benefits for manufacturers are equally obvious: better products, technological advantages, greater prestige, increased sales, higher profit margins and, ultimately, more money.

Invest wisely, and you can earn more!

It looks like a perfect win-win situation.

But is this seemingly harmonious relationship really as perfect as it appears?

To answer that question, we should first ask another:

Are the goals of ski wax manufacturers truly aligned with the goals of skiers?

I am afraid the answer is not quite so straightforward.

A Mercedes, a Lada and Plenty of Ski Wax

Enough general discussion. Let me tell you a story from my youth.

I grew up in a former communist country. Surprisingly, even under socialism, ski waxes and accessories from a leading Western manufacturer were available.

I was about fourteen years old at the time.

My uncle was an important official in an organisation responsible for training young competitive athletes.

I can still remember how, at every major competition, the local representative of that leading manufacturer arrived from Prague in his big Mercedes, bringing small and not-so-small gifts.

Naturally, the value of the gifts depended on one's position within the hierarchy of the socialist sports organisation.

The lower-ranking officials received the familiar BE kick wax.

The really important gentlemen, however, had to open the boot of their brand-new Ladas in a dark corner of the car park.

Their presents were simply too large to fit into their pockets.

Anyone imagining that the Western company was merely trying to help poor athletes behind the Iron Curtain would probably be mistaken.

Elite athletes were a showcase for socialist countries and received substantial support.

My uncle had a budget for ski waxes and accessories that many modern sports organisations could only dream of.

And that generous budget was probably exactly what the manufacturer's representative had in mind.

Once again, our familiar principle:

Invest wisely, and you can earn more!

Different Times, Different Scenery

Anyone who believes these practices disappeared together with socialism may be mistaken once again.

Sometimes I have the impression that only the scenery has changed.

In the old days, waxes, brushes, waxing irons, gloves, jackets, hats, ski poles and various other items were transferred from the boot of a large Mercedes into the boot of a brand-new Lada in a deserted car park.

Today, things might look considerably more sophisticated.

Perhaps a training seminar, a product presentation or a research meeting at a sunny ski resort in one of the most beautiful corners of Europe or America.

Naturally, the exhausting journey requires arriving several days early.

And after an equally exhausting two-hour presentation of the latest glide wax, a few additional days of recovery are surely necessary.

Preferably with the whole family.

After all, who would want to spend so much time away from their loved ones?

And because the new wax still needs extensive testing under various snow conditions, every participant takes home a few complimentary packages.

Times change. The scenery changes. But do the mechanisms behind it really change as much?

When Cooperation Replaces Independent Thinking

What consequences can arise when ski service technicians become too closely involved in manufacturers' research and testing programmes?

In my view, the consequences can be serious. Perhaps more serious than we might initially imagine.

Let me offer another example.

Some time ago, I read an online survey concerning the ban on fluorinated ski waxes.

Among those interviewed were leading Czech ski service technicians, including heads of national service teams and specialists working for national teams abroad.

What troubled me most was the striking similarity between their statements and the recommendations published by wax manufacturers.

Reading their responses, I had the impression that even highly experienced professionals sometimes simply repeated what manufacturers had told them.

Where was the independent verification?

Where was the critical question of whether a particular product or application was actually necessary, effective or reasonable?

That, to me, is the real problem.

Close cooperation between manufacturers and ski service technicians can undoubtedly generate valuable knowledge.

But it can also create an environment in which manufacturers' recommendations gradually become accepted as unquestionable technical truths.

Independent experiments, personal observations and critical questions may then fade into the background.

And the greatest beneficiaries may be those whose primary objective is to sell more products.

Possible consequences include excessive wax consumption, unnecessary application of certain products and additional risks to the environment and health.

I find it particularly troubling when potential health risks for ski service technicians and other people involved receive less attention than commercial interests.

Conclusion: What We May Really Lose

An excessively close relationship with ski wax manufacturers may eventually cost us something far more valuable than money:

our ability to think independently.

For a little gold, we may allow ourselves to be guided like puppets, without even noticing that we are gradually surrendering our independence.

My uncle accepted plenty of presents in those days.

But as far as I remember, there was one thing he never gave away:

his own judgement.

He still knew how to distinguish between what was right and what was wrong.

And perhaps that was the most valuable thing he possessed.

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SKIING WITH A SMILE · FOUR-PART SERIES

The Secret of a Reliable Kick

PART 1 OF 4

The Secret of a Reliable Kick – Part 1: Choosing the Right Ski Length and Stiffness

There are many things that determine whether a classic cross-country ski will provide a reliable kick.

Unfortunately, not all of them can be fixed with another layer of wax.

Some factors are beyond the control of an ordinary recreational skier. Others, such as choosing the correct kick wax, are at least theoretically within everyone's reach.

So what do we actually need for a reliable kick?

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SKI GLIDE PHYSICS · RESEARCH SERIES

Why Ski Base Matters

PART 2 OF 2

Why Ski Base Matters – Part No. 2

What Actually Touches the Snow?

At the very beginning of sliding, assuming a freshly prepared and fully waxed ski base, the ski-base material itself may have little or no direct contact with the snow.

Instead, the initial contact takes place primarily between the snow surface and the additionally applied wax and coating layers. During the first several hundred metres, the outermost contact material may be a topcoat or a so-called speeder.

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SKI GLIDE PHYSICS · RESEARCH SERIES

Why Ski Base Matters

PART 1 OF 2

Why Ski Base Matters – Part No. 1

If ski waxes and surface coatings worked exactly as they are often presented to work—that is, if they formed a continuous layer covering the entire ski-base surface, regardless of how complex the structure pattern is, and if this layer survived for several tens of kilometres—then the ski-base material itself should matter very little during a race.

Under such conditions, the ski base should hardly ever come into direct contact with the snow. The actual sliding interface would be formed primarily between the snow surface and the wax/coating layer.

In reality, however, the sliding interface and the associated wear processes are considerably more complex.

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SKI GLIDE PHYSICS · FIELD TESTING

Liquid Ski Gliders: Wax Base vs. ISANTIN Coating

GLIDE PERFORMANCE & DURABILITY

Liquid Ski Gliders: Wax Base vs. ISANTIN Coating – Glide Performance and Durability

Does the performance of a liquid ski glider depend on the underlying base layer?

We compared complex liquid glide products, often referred to as topcoats or speeders, applied over two different preparation systems: a conventional wax base and an ISANTIN coating.

The initial glide performance was similar in both cases. However, after repeated runs, the liquid gliders applied over the conventional wax base retained their performance more consistently than those applied over ISANTIN.

Ski Wax Removal: Three Wax Reservoirs and Brushing – Part 5

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WAXING & SURFACE TREATMENTS · RESEARCH SERIES

Wax Layers & Ski Base Preparation

PART 5 OF 5

 1.11 The Boundaries Between the Individual Reservoirs Are Not Sharp

The three reservoirs described above form a useful working model, not three perfectly separated layers.

In reality, continuous transitions exist between them.

Wax filling a deeper groove in the ground structure is geometrically located above the polymer surface, but it may simultaneously be retained very strongly by mechanical interlocking.

Ski Wax Reservoirs: Surface Films and UHMWPE Absorption – Part 4

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WAXING & SURFACE TREATMENTS · RESEARCH SERIES

Wax Layers & Ski Base Preparation

PART 4 OF 5

 1.8 First Reservoir: The Macroscopic Wax Layer Above the Surface

The first and most clearly visible reservoir consists of wax that remains as a continuous layer above the original ski-base surface after ironing.

Its thickness may be locally relatively high, particularly where a large amount of wax has been applied or where the wax has not been distributed uniformly by the iron.

How Ski Base Additives Affect Wax Absorption and Penetration – Part 3

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WAXING & SURFACE TREATMENTS · RESEARCH SERIES

Wax Layers & Ski Base Preparation

PART 3 OF 5

 1.6 Effect of Additives on the Ski Base’s Capacity to Absorb Wax

Various additives and solid lubricants are commonly incorporated into UHMWPE intended for ski bases, including carbon black, graphite, and other carbon-based materials. The use of carbon particles and solid lubricants in ski-base materials is well documented in the technical literature.

How Does UHMWPE Ski Base Material Absorb Wax? – Part 2

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WAXING & SURFACE TREATMENTS · RESEARCH SERIES

Wax Layers & Ski Base Preparation

PART 2 OF 5

 1.3 Which Regions Can Absorb Wax

Under normal conditions, wax molecules cannot freely penetrate perfectly ordered crystalline regions of UHMWPE.

In the crystalline phase, polymer chains are tightly packed and there is insufficient free volume between them for the easy diffusion of paraffin-wax molecules. Crystalline regions therefore represent effectively closed or very poorly accessible parts of the material with respect to wax penetration.

Ski Base Structure and Wax Reservoirs – Part 1

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WAXING & SURFACE TREATMENTS · RESEARCH SERIES

Wax Layers & Ski Base Preparation

PART 1 OF 5

Hand or Rotary Brush – That Is the Question?

Service People Version – Understanding Ski Wax Layers

Ski waxing is often presented as a relatively straightforward process: apply wax, allow it to cool, scrape off the excess and finish the ski base with a hand brush or a rotary brush.

But what exactly are we removing during scraping and brushing? Where does the wax actually remain? And how do the properties of the ski base material and its structured surface influence the final result?

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SKI PREPARATION · RESEARCH SERIES

Hand or Rotary Brush?

PART II OF II

Hand or Rotary Brush? Part II – How Rotary Steel Brushes Remove Ski Wax

In Part I, we examined the three principal types of wax reservoirs and the relatively slow, cumulative mechanical action of a hand-held steel brush.

Rotary steel brushes serve the same general purpose, but their construction, wire stiffness and operating speed produce substantially different contact conditions.

The following analysis examines these differences and compares the practical characteristics of both brushing methods.

Ski Base Stiffness and Structure Stability on Wet Snow – Part 2

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SKI GLIDE PHYSICS · RESEARCH SERIES

Ski Base Material and Structure Quality

PART 2 OF 2

 The Importance of Dimensional Stability in Wet Conditions

Some ski base manufacturers consider dimensional stability to be one of the decisive material properties, particularly for bases intended for warm and wet snow conditions.

In colder conditions, contact occurs predominantly between the ski base and individual ice grains, whose surfaces are covered by a very thin quasi-liquid layer, referred to as the QLL. At the points of actual contact, this layer can act as a highly effective boundary lubricant.

How Ski Base Material Affects Stone Grinding and Structure Quality – Part 1

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SKI GLIDE PHYSICS · RESEARCH SERIES

Ski Base Material and Structure Quality

PART 1 OF 2

 Effect of Ski Base Material on Structure Quality

Ski base material affects the quality of a stone-ground structure primarily in two ways:

1.     through the formation of unwanted fibres and hairs during grinding,

2.     through the dimensional stability of the material during machining and subsequent loading.

A conventional racing ski base consists of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) matrix reinforced and modified with functional particles, most commonly carbon black, lamellar graphite and/or graphene.