How are Waxes Different for Temperature?
The wax choice for a day of skiing is very important. Choosing
a "warm" or sticky glide wax on a cold day can result in too
much friction between the snow and ski. Instead of the skier and
the skis moving quickly only the skier moves quickly... Onto
their face. Conversely, choosing a "cold" or hard wax on a
warm snow day can result in too little friction between the
ski and snow. Without the friction between the ski and snow a
skier cannot use their skis to push them forward.
Glide wax is paired with the snow in order
to mimic the water created under the ski from the transfer of
kinetic energy to thermal energy.
Colder dry snow needs wax that reduces the
friction to mimic the minimal water layer. A harder wax is
chosen to put on the bases of the skis. The hard wax is not
soft enough to form and distort to the high friction ice
crystals.
Warm wet snow does not need less friction on the ski bases. Instead, a softer wax is selected. The soft wax is more malleable and is better able to push off smaller ice crystals. However, warm snow can sometimes be too wet causing "suction". Suction is combated by putting "structure" into the ski.
To read more about structure click here.
Image from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/skiing/11423251/Watch-Mass-pileup-in-Estonia-cross-countryski-race.html
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