The Slalom Problem Part 3 – Even Hotter Stuff!

This weeks skiing was cancelled because of some strange virus that attacked my stomach. Nice.

However my cheap ten quid iron from Argos arrived and I had a spare hour this evening.

So having seen the Ski Racing Supplies’ ‘how to wax your dryslope race skis’ video, I flicked on the iron and tried to copy the video masterclass.

After a couple of attempts my skis looked nothing like the YouTube presenters highly polished affairs. But my skis were now protected properly for the first time since I bought them. And now they should glide better too. [It will be another week or so before I find out.]

I am missing some polishing brushes but I have a wire jalopy which I used carefully to give the bases a clean and some scrapers from my decorating kit took the wax off the edges. I also had various rags of graded scuffness [is that a word?]. Yes, my garage is that sad!

The idea is to drip hot wax down the middle of the ski melting it from the iron – in two halves – front then back or whatever. Then you spread that wax evenly across the ski using the iron, take the wax off the edges, then buff it up.

On the video the man had a lovely perfect finish. Mine was all cracked at the edges. Of course, he did his video in one go, course he did!

I made a dangerous error, spilling molten wax [this is not candle wax, it sets like plastic] onto the fingers of my left hand. I stood there watching it burn my skin!

My fingers are now running under the cold tap. I am hoping there are no serious blisters.

Tune in soon for the next episode of ‘The Slalom Problem’ where we discuss ski racing Fitness and Toning, hopefully with some advice from an expert!