Hello everyone!

I'm new to the forum here and also new to the sport of XC skiing. I live and work in Leesburg VA and picked a pair of used XC skis off Craigslist in Dec. What a great year to do that, right?! I've been having a blast with all the snow recently, but I'm running into a problem with my skis and I can't find an answer anywhere.

FYI my skis are Madshus, 215 cm (I think) and have the fish-scale bottoms. I'm finding that they don't glide as well as I pictured them gliding. All of my skiing so far has been 'back country' - I break the trail. But after turning back and heading home, my skis will slide a little bit sometimes, but it is inconsistent. One session I went out after 4 inches fell, and it was a wet, sticky snow. It got to the point that I had huge clumps of snow sticking to the bottom of my ski. I was just walking around on the skis at this point, feeling much taller as the snow built up to maybe 6 inches high sticking to the bottom of my ski. It was kind of humorous, actually. I thought maybe the difference in temp between the skis and the snow was the problem; I had been storing them in the garage, which is a few degrees warmer than it is outside. So this last storm, I got out again and broke trail, turned around and my skis still did not slide, I had snow sticking to the bottom again. It was only a small thickness, but it prevented me from gliding.

So, any insight as to what's going on? Is it possible that there is wax on the bottom that is causing problems? I was under the impression that these fish-scale skis did not need, in fact should not have, wax. I still really enjoy it, but I think I would like it even more if I could get them working like they should!

Thanks very much for your help!

Welcome to DCSKI.com
Sounds like you did in fact choose the near-perfect year to make a purchase, but it also sounds like you are having a few issues. Of course, it'd be a whole lot easier to look at your skis and solve the "problems" but until you make your way to Canaan Valley, I'll simply give you a few pointers that may help in your case.

1. Clean your skis (use a clean rag, and warm water, though a base cleaner can also be purchased)
2. Purchase glide wax - in a paste formula. You will need very little! Usually, you apply a "film" on the skis, let it dry and buff.
3. Always carry a scraper with you - usually a small plexiglass will work well, though a hard piece of plastic will do the trick. Some models are available for super cheap at a place like White Grass in Canaan Valley.
4. Make sure that your skis are at the same temperature as the outside air. Leave them on the porch for an hour before heading out.
5. Avoid any sort of water unless you want to stop several times during a short trip.
6. Check the base of your skis - are they badly damaged?

Chances are, if your skis are clean, waxed for gliding, free of marks, and you do not go into water, you should be gliding well.

My best recommendation is to ski with someone who has experience - and learn quickly all the tricks. Before you know it, you will enjoy the 8-mile trips a whole lot more.

Hope this helps.

"waxless" is a bit of a misnomer. Since your skis have scales on the bottom you don't need Kick Wax (klister) to allow you to grip the snow. You do still need glide wax to keep the skis from sticking to wet snow. It shouldn't hurt the climbing abilities of the skis but will help you glide more smoothly. Something like Swix F4 paste wax works well or maybe Zardoz NotWax in a pinch. Try to avoid skiing through obvious wet areas if you can.

Ludovic types faster than me apparently!

Thanks for the quick replies!

I figured out #4 by myself, so I guess I was on the right track. Avoiding water will make a difference, too. there is one low-lying area that I think was wet during at least one of the incidents.

I will clean them off for sure, and get some glide wax. I am looking to get out to Whitegrass, that sounds like a great place. I'd like to take some lessons out there to learn the finer points. I am going to be at Snowshoe on the weekend of the 19th, is there anywhere in that area that you all would recommend - both for trails and for shops to stop in and get some help? If it makes a difference, I'm in good shape and can go long, but not confident coming downhill on these babies yet.

One more question regarding the wax - it should be applied to the entire surface, even the scales?

Thanks again for your kind help. I'd love to get out to Canaan sometime soon!

By the way, if any of you can make it to the Snowshoe area that weekend, I'd love to have you join us on the trail.

Yep, wax the entire length. That way snow doesn't stick to the scales and build you a set of stilts.
Its just a thin film so it won't fill in the scales.

Stilts are exactly what I had that one time!

Elk River Touring Center is the local XC area, just about 10 minutes South of Snowshoe's access road, on 219. You may want to check them out, although they don't have nearly the operation Whitegrass has, I hear that it is pretty nice there.

F4 paste works very well but it wears off quickly. I hot wax the entire ski, scales and all. While the wax is still hot and liquid brush the scales vigorously with a stiff bristle brush using side to side strokes. It costs a little grip but really helps the glide and will last many days of XC. When the entire ski is cool scrape and buff well, just as you would an alpine wax. I use Swix CH4 wax. You can apply F4 or Zardoz over the CH$.