Wax Smart, Ski With Confidence
My name is Annika Hunt. I’m a TOKO athlete, and I want to share a few practical tips on taking care of your skis with the help of TOKO. You never want to stand in the start gate wondering whether your skis are fast. That doubt is distracting—and avoidable.
Taking care of your equipment is a huge part of alpine skiing. Today, I want to walk you through waxing habits that help keep your bases hydrated, protected and consistently fast.
Wax Every Time You Ski
Waxing your skis before every training or race day is essential. If skis sit without wax—or if you ski on them multiple days in a row without re-waxing—they will dry out and eventually burn.
Personally, I tune and wax my skis the same day I train on them. If I’m not skiing that discipline the next day, the skis sit in my tuning room with wax on them, keeping the bases hydrated. When I need them again, they’re already waxed and nearly ready to go.
Leaving skis unwaxed even for a day allows dust to collect in the base and dries out the material. Wax is protection, not just speed.
The Waxing Process Matters
When you start waxing, the preparation matters just as much as the wax itself.
I always begin by brushing my skis thoroughly. I like using a steel wire base brush to remove old wax, dirt, and grime. After brushing, I wipe the base with a paper towel for a final clean.
Next, I rub a thin layer of wax directly onto the base with the wax bar. This step adds protection and helps prevent burning when the iron touches the base. Make sure the wax matches the snow temperature you’ll be skiing.
Once your iron reaches the correct temperature, drip wax onto the ski in a zig-zag pattern to distribute it evenly. I love my TOKO T18 Digital Racing Iron because it spreads wax efficiently without requiring high heat. That consistency makes a big difference.
One important reminder: More wax is better than too little. Skis should be mostly covered in dripped wax before the iron ever touches the base. Too little wax is one of the easiest ways to burn a ski.
Before ironing, I quickly scrape wax off the edges while it’s still hot. Wax is meant for bases only. Leaving it on the edges can dull or even warp them.
Take Care of Your Iron
You have to take care of your iron if you want to take care of your bases.
Choose one consistent direction when passing the iron over your skis. Moving randomly back and forth increases the chance of scratches on the iron surface, which can transfer damage to your bases.
Scratches can still happen—from edge burrs or leftover grime—but limiting direction changes helps reduce wear. I also wipe my iron with a towel before and after every use. Keeping the iron clean ensures nothing abrasive gets trapped between the iron and the base.
A clean iron protects your skis. It’s that simple.
Extra Tricks for Healthier Bases
If you ski on salty or especially dirty snow—or your skis just need extra care—I highly recommend hot scraping. Drip on warm wax and scrape it off immediately while it’s still hot. You’ll actually see dirt being pulled out of the base in the wax.
Wax rollers are another great option. They’re quick, convenient, and limit heat exposure. Less heat is always better for base longevity. That said, hot waxing remains essential and should be performed regularly.
Liquid waxes, such as TOKO Liquid Paraffins, are useful between hot wax days. They reduce heat contact and save time, but they shouldn’t fully replace hot waxing. I like using liquid wax in between, while still hot waxing every few days to keep the base properly hydrated.
Confidence Starts in the Wax Room
I hope these tips help you feel more confident in your waxing routine. You never want to worry about your skis in the start gate. Confidence comes from preparation.
Take care of your bases, wax consistently, keep your tools clean, and mix up your routine with hot scraping, wax rolling, and liquid wax as needed. This will give you one less thing to think about—and that’s exactly where you want to be on race day.
About the Author: Annika Hunt
