You know Jeff - the big bearded guy with the apron.  Jeff is one of our go-to ski technicians and he's got some friendly advice for making sure your cross country skis are snow-ready before the first flakes fall.

Step 1: Assess the Damage

Be honest—how did you store your skis?

• Covered in dust or worse (mouse droppings) from the garage?
• A thick buildup of grip wax that hasn’t seen daylight in years?

Don’t stress. Jeff’s seen it all, and he can bring even the roughest pair back to life.

Step 2: Refresh the Bases with a Glide Wax

According to Jeff, every pair of skis should get a glide wax at least once a year. Ideally keen skiers should re-wax every 50–100 km, but for most recreational skiers a yearly pre-season tune-up is enough.

Why glide wax?

• Protects your ski bases and helps repel dirt.
• Reduces friction between your skis and the snow.
• Makes skis glide faster so you don't have to work as hard.
  

Pro tip: Late fall is the best time to do it, so your skis are fresh and ready the moment the snow arrives.

Step 3: Choose Your Wax Service

When you bring your cross country skis to us, we'll offer you three levels of glide waxing:

Standard Glide Wax

Skis are cleaned, treated with an all-around liquid wax, and polished with a roto-brush. Your bases will look shiny and glide beautifully in most conditions.

Performance Glide Wax

Everything in the Standard service, plus a higher-quality wax for improved speed and durability.

Premium Glide Wax

The top tier. Includes a base wax plus your choice of high-quality liquid or ironed-in glide wax treatment, with expert base finishing for maximum glide. This service is usually in preparation for an event and the wax is temperature specific.

For full pricing, see our Services page.

Step 4: DIY Waxing at Home

Want to save money over time? Investing in your own liquid waxing kit can pay off:

• A single bottle of liquid wax will do 15 or more glide wax jobs.
• Easy-to-use hand brush helps you polish for that smooth, fast finish.
• Only takes a few minutes to do yourself (plus drying time).

For those who love going deeper:

• Waxing iron and/or roto brushes + solid glide wax blocks let you hot wax at home.
• More tools and know-how are needed, but it’s rewarding to keep your skis race-ready yourself.

Shop glide waxes & accessories.

Jeff’s Final Word

Getting your skis tuned before the season starts means you'll not only beat the rush - you'll be ready to enjoy the first snows when they come.

Drop your skis off for a quick wax or set yourself up with the gear to do it at home. You’ll thank yourself the first time you hit the trails this winter.