The other factor that contributes to deciding what wax to use is moisture content. Before going further, it is important to understand that as a ski passes over snow, the friction at the tip melts a very small amount of snow and creates a little water under the ski. The warmer the snow is, the wetter the snow is and the more water is in contact with the base of the ski. Water content in the snow affects the ski speed in several ways:

 

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1. Liquid water is attracted to the paraffin. This can be seen when water beads on wax paper or other waxed surfaces.

The attraction between the water and the wax is overcome by mixing fluoro into the paraffin. This additive makes a fluoro carbon wax, which now repels snow and water.

2. The liquid water under the ski has surface tension, which creates a suction force between the ski and the snow/ water beneath.

 

    Stamping or grinding small groves in the base of the ski can counter the suction force. These groves provide tinny channels that shed water from beneath the ski keeping it from building up and sucking the ski to the snow thus increasing the force countering the ski movement. The two pictures depict how structure is applied and what patterns there are to use.

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