It is believed that, unlike plastic ones, wooden touring skis absolutely do not need any additional lubrication. They say that tarring perfectly protects them from water, a paraffin primer provides the necessary slip, and homemade know-how protects them from sticking - silver ointment. This is not entirely true. If ski trip will take place at low temperatures and many long climbs are expected on the route, then the kickback of wooden skis can bring a lot of trouble, exhausting hikers, reducing the speed of the group.
So, in this article we will talk about what to lubricate wooden skis and how this procedure is carried out. We bring to your attention instructions for lubricating wooden skis. By default, it is assumed that the skis have been pre-tarred and have been left in a warm place for at least a day.
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Lubricating wooden skis: applying the “base”
You need to prime your ski in advance, at home. To do this, either use special paraffin or a paraffin (not stearic) candle, preferably a tablet candle in a metal cup (also called a floating one), because the paraffin content in it is higher.
- Before lubricating wooden skis with ointment, rub them with paraffin and iron them using something hot, for example, a spatula heated on the stove.
- Remove with a scraper (a special scraper) any unabsorbed excess melted, smeared paraffin.
- “Wax” your ski regularly, before each trip to the snow. This is a good remedy for lipstick. But it’s even better to use “homemade” silver ointment for this.
“Serebryanka” sticks well to skis without preheating (unlike paraffin). Since she gray, you can clearly see where the skis are coated with it. Another advantage of “serebryanka” is its resistance to abrasion by snow.
Ointment for wooden skis “serebryanka”. Recipe.
- Melt paraffin or a paraffin candle in a metal container that you don’t mind throwing away (a tin can).
- Add, stirring, aluminum powder (silver powder) in a ratio of 1:2. Add a little ski resin left over from resinizing the skis. It will soften the ointment, which is especially important if you apply it to your skis in the cold.
- Pour the mixture into a pre-prepared plastic cup that holds the temperature of boiling water. After half an hour or an hour the ointment will harden.
- Cut the cup with scissors. Ready!
When the aluminum hardens, it will settle a little and on one side the block will turn out to be grayer. This part of it can be used in warm weather, and the reverse part (with the resulting recess) can be used during frost.
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Published: December 19, 2012.
How to properly lubricate skis? Do you even need to lubricate your skis? These and many other questions arise for those who buy skis and plan to run or walk on them. In fact, why lubricate skis?
Why lubricate your skis?
Why lubricate skis? Lubricating skis, both plastic and made of wood, is necessary. The fact is that no matter how soft the snow is, friction arises between it and the ski. The friction force depends on the material from which the skis are made. In addition, the friction force depends on the quality and condition of the snow. Plastic skis glide better on snow. Plastic has less frictional force than wood.
In any case, the friction force is present. In order to reduce it, skis are lubricated. Ski wax reduces friction between ski and snow. Try to check it yourself. Ski on ungreased skis. Another time, apply wax to your skis depending on the weather. Lubricated skis will glide better. This is if the weather is approximately the same.
After all, the friction force also depends on the temperature and condition of the snow. And to eliminate these factors, apply lubricant to one ski and not to the other. Then you will clearly see the benefits of lubrication. And lubrication of cross-country skis, that is, skis for running and walking, is of particular importance.
Have you ever watched a skiing competition? If you’ve watched it, you’ve probably heard that sometimes athletes complain about improperly selected ski lubricant. In any case, skis glide better with lubrication. Only someone was able to choose a better lubricant and his glide was better. Accordingly, the result is better. After all, it was rolling faster!
Lubrication is used not only for sliding. Sometimes when pushing, the skis slip backwards. After all, a ski can roll forward and backward. And we only need to move forward. To prevent the ski from slipping back, ointment is also used. A warmer ointment is applied under the ski block and during a push, the middle part of the ski sticks to the track and does not slip.
Well, there is no need to exclude the purely practical benefits of lubrication. Lubrication reduces friction. And this means only one thing - lubricated skis wear out less. If you feel sorry for your skis, then lubricate them. And they will repay you with the best gliding!
How to lubricate skis
What ointments should I use to lubricate my skis? If you are an athlete, you already know this. Athletes use a wide variety of ointments and paraffins from different manufacturers. From inexpensive to very expensive in price. For ordinary ski enthusiasts this is not so important.
What kind of ski lubricant is there?
There are different types of ski lubricant. There are many manufacturers of ski wax. Everyone has their own recipes. IN general view This is the schedule. There are solid ointments, liquid ointments, paraffins, gels and sprays. Gels and sprays are more for professionals. But hard ointments and paraffins are enough for us.
Don't bother with the choice. Over time you will understand what you need. To get started, preferably buy two sets. This is a set of ointments for temperatures from several degrees Celsius to minus thirty degrees below zero. And at the same temperature a set of paraffins. And don't forget the stopper for rubbing and smoothing ointments.
Paraffins are more often used to lubricate plastic skis. Ointments are used to lubricate wooden skis and as grip ointments for plastic skis.
How to use ski wax
How to properly lubricate plastic and wooden skis, or rather what paraffins and ointments to use for this, is written in the instructions for them. Read the instructions carefully, everything is described in detail there. It's simple. For starters. If you want to lubricate your skis with paraffin according to the instructions, then buy another iron for leveling ointments and paraffins.
Ointments will be used up over time. You will use some ointments more often, others less often. The consumption of ointments will vary. The most popular ones can be purchased in the form of separate tubes at the desired temperature as they are used up. If you want, you can even experiment. Buy ointments of the same temperature from different manufacturers. Very often, they differ in glide.
How to properly lubricate skis
How to properly lubricate skis? Carefully read the instructions for ointments or paraffins. The words “block” and “ski ends” appear there. Those who read my previous article know, but for the rest I’ll say it. The last is the middle part of the ski, and the ends of the skis are the tip and tail.
How to determine where to apply which ointment
Determining where the last starts for your skis and your weight is quite simple. Stand on both skis on a flat surface. Place a piece of paper under the middle of the skis. Under There should be clearance in the middle of the skis, the sheet should move freely. It shouldn't be pinched. If it is clamped, then, unfortunately, your skis are not selected correctly. How to choose the right skis by following the link.
Move the sheet of paper forward towards the toes of the skis. Where it gets stuck, mark this place on the side surface of the skis with a marker. Move the piece of paper back towards the heels of the skis. Where the sheet gets stuck, also mark this place with a marker. Then place the skis side by side and make marks on the same level on the other ski. Ski surface from one mark to another will be the block.
Paraffins are gliding lubricants. In principle, you can do without them, just with ointments. But if you have plastic skis, then it is advisable to use paraffins. If you use paraffins, then the general principle for lubricating skis is as follows. We apply paraffin to the ends of the skis, and ointments to the last. Naturally we apply it to the sliding surface of the ski.
How to choose the right ointment for skis
We apply lubricant (paraffins or ointments) to the ends of the skis, choosing according to the air temperature outside. Athletes, for a more accurate selection, measure the temperature of the snow with a thermometer. For example, if the temperature outside is minus ten degrees, then we use an ointment with a temperature range of -5-12 degrees Celsius.
You may have other ointments and temperatures. I gave this example using my ointments. It is important that the outside temperature falls within the temperature range of the ointment or paraffin. The temperature for using this ointment or paraffin is written on each tube.
We only apply ointment under the block. Moreover, we apply the ointment warmer than on the ends of the skis. This is done in order to prevent the ski from slipping when pushing. That is, so that you can push with your foot. If you lubricate the ends with the same ointment, then most likely, when you push with your foot, the ski will slip back. It will be very difficult to walk, let alone run.
Warmer - this means that the temperature of application of the ointment should be higher than the temperature of application of the ointment that was applied to the ends of the skis. For example, if ointment with a temperature of -5-12 was applied to the ends, then under the block you need to apply ointment with a temperature range of -2-8 degrees Celsius. That is, the next, warmer one from your set of ointments. I give an example with my ointments (you may have different temperature values).
From my experience, I will say that it is also important to take into account the actual air temperature. That is, if the temperature outside is minus ten degrees Celsius, then an ointment with a temperature range of -5-12 should be applied to the ends. And under the block it is advisable to be five degrees warmer than the coldest temperature in the ointment range. In this case -10+5=-5.
That is, -2-8 may not hold your skis at this air temperature. Since -8 is colder, the resulting temperature is -5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, under the block we will use the following from the set of ointments. And the next temperature is 0-2. Apply it in a thin layer or mix it with ointment at -2-8.
In order to mix the ointment, apply a thin layer of different ointments one by one to the sliding surface of the skis. For example, five centimeters of skis with one ointment, the next five centimeters another. And, so, the entire part of the block. It is better in a checkerboard pattern, alternating to the right and left of the groove. Then take the cork and thoroughly rub the ointment with the cork. They will mix. After you have applied ointment or paraffin to the sliding surface of the ski, it must be smoothed with a hot iron. Excess paraffin must be removed with a special scraper.
Just don't use an iron to iron clothes. You'll probably burn your skis. Use special irons to lubricate your skis. They are for sale. You can do without ironing. To do this, rub the skis very vigorously with a cork. Friction heats up the surface of the ski and softens the ointment or paraffin. Rub until the sliding surface of the ski has a uniform shine. There should be no clots of ointment. If they still remain, then they are rubbed. Then rub the entire surface. Lubrication of skis and their preparation takes about ten to fifteen minutes.
Adjusting ski lubrication on the track
Do you understand how to lubricate skis? But, unfortunately, the temperature on the thermometer may differ significantly from the air temperature in the place where you will be skiing. Therefore, for insurance, you need to take with you both a warmer and a colder ointment than the one that was used to lubricate the skis. And of course, a traffic jam.
If the skis slip back when you push with your foot. In this case, remove the skis and wipe the sliding surface of the ski with a mitten. Prepare ointments. Under the block you need to apply a layer of warmer ointment than you applied earlier. Rub the ointment with a stopper. If the skis are frankly “stupid”, well, they don’t move and that’s all, then apply a layer of colder ointment to the ends of the skis than you applied here earlier. Level the ointment with a stopper.
These simple tips will help you have a pleasant time on the ski slopes. And using various movement techniques, which I will talk about in the following publications, you can also feel like a real skier. Anyway, physical exercise on fresh air will only benefit you. Let's go to the ski slopes and get healthy!
Ski waxes (paraffins) help speed up gliding or prevent kickback when moving backwards. There are expensive and budget options, but the price is not main criterion upon purchase. More important are the type of skis (wood, plastic), air temperature, and snow conditions.
Ski ointments and paraffins
By type, the ointment can be a solid bar, spray, gel, paste or liquid. Solid compositions are applied heated. In addition to paraffin ointments, there are compositions based on microcrystallins.
Universal ski wax (wax) is suitable for large temperature ranges. Solid ointments are applied at sub-zero temperatures, semi-solid ointments - during a thaw, zero temperature, liquid ski ointments are needed when the air is heated above zero degrees. The colder it is outside, the thinner the layer of holding ointment should be. During a thaw or spring, the adhesive composition is applied to a small part of the sliding surface under the block (deflection).
Rex ski waxes are used by pros
The best solution is Swix and Briko. In second place are Toko, Ski Go, Rex. These ointments are made by Swiss, Norwegian and Finnish companies. The domestic manufacturer Dynamo (Visti, Marathon-XXI, Temp ointments) is cheaper, but the technologies developed since 1956 allow it to maintain its brand. Since 2002, the Russian company has updated its range and released ointments for speed running to new requirements.
Russian ski ointment MARATHON-XXI
Ski paraffin ointments come in low-fluoride, high-fluoride and plain. Paraffins with a high fluorine content are much more expensive, but they are needed for spring snow. The composition may contain graphite (relieves static stress) and iron oxides.
Applying ski wax
In the instructions, the process of applying ointment to skis looks complicated. Required ski machine, tools, skills in such operations as peeling, priming, applying “weather” paraffin. Work for 30-60 minutes, and you also need to ventilate the smell.
Sometimes everything is very simple: stick a wax strip and remove the protective layer
Everything in life is simpler. Moreover, if you just want to ride, and not race with.
Experienced skiers first sand the pad with fine sandpaper. Then apply the ointment in two layers. Each layer is prepared as follows:
- hard paraffin is applied using a hot iron;
- when the ointment has cooled, rub it with a stopper.
And sometimes you have to work with an iron!
Ski ointment should not be applied in a thick layer, otherwise lumps will appear on the surface of the ski after rubbing.
Ski wax for plastic skis
Plastic skis must be lubricated before skiing, otherwise they will “give away”. Moreover, two compounds are needed under the plastic: “sliding” (usually paraffins) and “holding” (adhesion). For classic move the nose and heel of the ski are treated with sliding ointment. The holding compound is needed to prevent sliding back (kickback). Before skating, the entire surface of plastic skis is lubricated with paraffin.
Temperature conditions ski waxes
The color of the ointment from any manufacturer usually indicates a certain temperature regime. For example, red liquid VISTI is used at +4, and light green at -20 g.
Ski wax for wooden skis
Today, wooden skis are becoming a thing of the past. Although they have an advantage: you can drive them even without lubrication. But it’s still better to lubricate old skis with ointment for gliding. In this case, you need to apply ski wax to the central part of the deflection (that is, under the block). Camber is the main sliding part of the ski. The length of the last is 50 cm from the heel of the boot in the mount towards the toe of the ski.
Good old VISTI has been known to skiers since 1956
You can buy ointment for wooden skis inexpensively. For example, “Luch” and MVIS are well suited for wood. Ideally, choose the composition at the temperature so that the ointment “rolls.” Apply a thin layer and rub in with a rubbing brush. “One layer is enough, but two layers are better” - this skier’s saying should also be remembered.
How to wash off ski wax
You need to remove the remaining pulp from the surface of the skis with a plastic scraper or a cloth with a solvent. Old ointment is removed as follows: rub the skis with a thin layer of paraffin, rub, and then wash off with a rag soaked in solvent.
Going to ski resort relaxing or preparing for professional competitions, it is important to take care of your equipment. After all, the success of skating depends on the quality of his preparation. Properly selected ski wax for plastic skis will provide high speed driving and holding on snow, and will also prevent rapid wear.
Cross-country, hunting and alpine skiing usually do not need lubrication while new. Experts recommend using ointments after the first season of skiing or as needed. When plastic skis begin to glide worse, paraffins are applied to them. They come in different consistencies - liquid, hard and soft. The longest-lasting effect is provided by hard ones, which are applied using a special tool - an iron. Good compositions capable of staying on the surface at distances of up to 20 km.
You need to choose paraffin lubricants based on the temperature of the snow. All of them are divided into 3 types:
- for cold skiing on snow with temperatures below -12 degrees;
- for snow with temperatures from -12 to -2 degrees;
- warm lubricants for snow temperatures above -2 degrees.
The products contain silicone, salts, oxidized metals, and the main component responsible for good gliding in warm weather is fluorine. Ointments with a high content of this substance are designed for mild and humid weather, while ointments with a low content are designed for frosty and dry weather. There are also universal paraffin compositions designed for use in wide range temperatures from 0 to -30 degrees.
Lubricant for plastic skis
For classic skiing, skis are also treated with anti-slip agents, reducing recoil. Beginners are advised to select a holding ointment whose minimum temperature is 3-4 degrees higher than the current temperature. Example: if it is -5 degrees outside, composition -1+1 or -2-0 will do.
The choice of lubricants is also influenced by the terrain.
If you plan to move on flat terrain, apply several layers of sliding ointments. If the route runs through hilly terrain, you will need skis that will hold well. In this case, a soft holding ointment should be placed under the cargo area.
Applying ointments - technique
Equipment must be cleaned and thoroughly dried. Otherwise, dirt particles and water droplets will clog into the micropores of the sliding layer. Lubrication is carried out at room temperature.
Instructions on how to properly coat plastic skis with paraffin:
- If the composition is soft, spread it over the surface. Fuse hard paraffin in “droplets” from the iron onto the surface to be treated, without allowing the lubricant to smoke. The optimal layer thickness is from 0.3 to 1 mm.
- The principle of application depends on the riding style. For classics, only the toe and heel are waxed, leaving the middle part untouched; for skating, the entire surface is treated evenly.
- Leave the prepared skis in the cold for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove all wax with a plastic scraper.
- Go over each ski 3-4 times with a nylon brush, moving from tip to tail.
- The heated paraffin will fill the pores of the plastic, creating a smooth, slippery surface. Simply remove excess wax with a brush.
The waxing cycle must be repeated several times, ideally up to 10.
When cleaning with a brush, not only the excess surface layer is removed, but also some of the ointment that has filled the microcracks in the plastic. When waxing is repeated many times, the composition “compacts” unevenness better and fills them better.
If necessary, you can use liquid gliding ointment and apply it without an iron. This will significantly save time, although the effectiveness of cold waxing cannot be compared with hot waxing. Procedure:
- Apply a small layer of ointment.
- Let the skis sit for 3-5 minutes.
- Rub the applied composition with a stopper.
- Let stand for another 10 minutes.
If the grease layer turns out to be too large, you should remove the excess using a brush. Manufacturers assure that final cleaning during cold waxing is not of fundamental importance. However, it is necessary to dry the equipment for at least 1 hour, preferably in natural conditions under sunlight.
For skating, skis are lubricated with gliding agents alone; for classic skiing, they are also lubricated with grip ointment. Instructions:
- Walk the sandpaper over the cleaned central part of the ski, lifting the pile slightly.
- Smooth out the solid ointment with an iron so that it penetrates into the pores. Cool the ski, then smooth out the grease with a special stopper.
- If the snow is hard or icy, melt the soil with an iron and cool it outside. Then place the semi-solid ointment on the ground and rub the layer on the street.
- Apply the liquid ointment in droplets at intervals of 2 cm, leveling it indoors with a scraper.
- If the weather is wet or the temperature is near zero, you can extend the holding zone by 5 cm along the upper border and by the same amount along the lower border.
Important! Holding ointment should not be mixed with gliding ointment. After applying the first layer, you need to let the skis stand in the cold for a while, only after that can you apply the second one.
Common mistakes that newbies make
If after lubricating plastic skis slow down or slip, the reason may lie either in poor-quality ointment or in violation of the application technique. Common beginner mistakes:
- Skiers, succumbing to advertising, often apply cold lubricant on the slope, in between skiing. The equipment must be dried and cleaned, otherwise the pores of the plastic will remain clogged with dirt, so waxing will not bring the expected result. After the slightest contact with moisture, the lubricant will freeze. Therefore, appropriate processing is required.
- Incorrect selection of composition, without taking into account the current temperature and humidity. In changeable weather, it is better to use universal lubricants designed for a temperature range from 0 to -30 degrees.
- Applying a new layer of ointment to the old one. Before waxing, it is necessary to clean the surface so that the lubricant penetrates freely into microcracks and fills all irregularities well.
- Improper storage. In order for the equipment to last a long time, you need to keep it in a dry, dark and cool place. Before putting your skis away for long-term storage, be sure to lubricate them - this will help protect against premature wear.
Regular ski cleaning is only required professional athletes. For those who skate for pleasure, it is enough to lubricate the equipment when they feel a deterioration in gliding. Usually such a need arises once a year. When choosing ski waxes, you should consider temperature and humidity: the colder and drier the weather, the lower the fluoride content should be.
The method of application depends on the style of skating: for classic skating, a gliding lubricant is applied to the nose and heel, a grip lubricant is applied to the middle part to reduce recoil, and for skating, the surface is covered only with paraffin. Follow these rules - and your skis will last a long time, giving you only positive emotions from skiing.
Ski paraffin is necessary to improve the sliding moment. Whatever skis we ski on - classic or for skating– without additional lubrication, the skis will give too good traction to the snow. But good grip is only needed when the wheels are moving on asphalt. In order to develop speed on a snowy slope, it is better to have minimal grip on the surface. In the case of flat skiing, reducing friction helps to reduce the effort a person makes when moving.
What are paraffins
Paraffins are hydrocarbon mixtures formed as a by-product of petroleum refining. Paraffin compounds have different degrees of viscosity. There are:
- soft (liquid) paraffins that melt at room temperature;
- solid - melt when heated within 70 ° C;
- crystalline - turn into a liquid state at temperatures above 70 ° C.
Functionally, paraffins are, in most cases, lubricating, water-repellent substances. They are added to various mixtures to give the appropriate consistency and properties. For example, Vaseline is made from petroleum hydrocarbons.
Paraffins are used in technical lubricants. These substances have found their use in skiing as a means of improving the glide of skis and snowboards.
Ski wax
Ski waxes are traditionally divided into:
- lubricants for cold skiing at snow temperatures below -12 ° C;
- lubricants for skiing at snow temperatures of -12 ° C…-2 ° C;
- warm lubricants for snow temperatures above -2 ° C.
The key substance that provides better gliding at high temperatures is fluorine. The less fluorine, the more severe frost (and low humidity) the paraffin is designed for. Conversely, high fluoride greases are designed for mild and wet weather.
There are universal lubricants, the composition of which ensures good gliding on any snow. For example, TOKO Irox Fluoro spray, although low-fluoride, is designed for use in a wide temperature range 0 °
C…-30 °
C. In addition to fluorine, ski lubricants include: silicone, various salts, oxidized metals.
Using wax on plastic skis
It would seem that plastic is good sliding material and without lubricants. Unlike, for example, traditional wooden skis, which, due to the low density of the material, provided better grip and, accordingly, rode worse.
The new skis actually glide great. But as you ride, microcracks appear on the sliding surface and edges. Ice and snow particles damage plastic. And although these changes are not noticeable to the human eye, under a microscope the surface of such a ski resembles a mountain landscape. Sliding properties deteriorate due to such a landscape.
In order to fill all these microdamages and restore the perfectly slippery surface of the ski, hydrocarbon lubricants are used.
Why choose liquid paraffins?
It should be noted right away that paraffins in liquid form do not have any advantages over solid waxes in terms of functionality. The purpose of all paraffin waxes is to impregnate the sliding surface of the ski. To ensure the most effective rolling, all waxes, including liquid ones, require heat treatment after application.
Liquid paraffins are available in 2 types:
- liniment;
- aerosol.
Paraffin in the form of a cream-ointment, in general, from the user’s point of view does not have any differences from solid types.
The aerosol form provides additional convenience in terms of application. True, part of the product is sprayed past, which is why the consumption of paraffin aerosols is always greater.
Application of liquid paraffins
To apply liquid paraffin, the ski must be clean and dry. Particles of dirt, water, ice that become clogged in the micropores of the sliding layer will not allow you to apply paraffin correctly.
With heat treatment
Waxing of skis with heat treatment, as a rule, is carried out during the periods between skiing in home-garage conditions. This initially assumes that the skis have been cleaned and dried.
- Heat the iron to 150 ° WITH.
- Spray liquid paraffin onto the sliding layer of the ski. We mean that different types skis, require a different model of lubricant application. For skating skis, the entire sliding surface is lubricated. Classic skis are waxed, bypassing the central part.
- Iron the ski from toe to heel.
- Let the ski cool and dry at a temperature not lower than 0 ° C for at least 10 min.
- We pass the layer with the applied lubricant with a brush.
As a result of these manipulations, heated paraffin penetrates the pores of the plastic, fills them, and the microscopic “landscape” of the sliding surface is leveled. The wax remaining on the surface is excess. We remove it with a brush.
Ideally, this cycle should be repeated up to 10 times. The fact is that brushing, in addition to removing the surface layer, also removes part of the “useful” paraffin that filled the microcracks. When we repeat waxing several times in a row, we better “compact” the uneven skis with paraffin, filling in unevenness and microcracks more efficiently.
No heat treatment
Often we do not have the opportunity to use an iron, we are limited in time, and we need to lubricate our skis because they glide poorly. Manufacturers of liquid paraffins offer the theoretical possibility of using their lubricants without heat treatment.
- Drying the ski.
- We clean the sliding layer with a brush to remove dust and dirt from the pores of the plastic.
- Wipe and let dry a little.
- Apply a SMALL layer of lubricant.
- Let stand for 3-5 minutes.
- We rub it with a cork, a pad or whatever we are used to using.
- Let stand for 10 minutes.
If you still put too much lubricant, you should use a brush and remove the excess layer. However, lubricant manufacturers warn that with the cold method of applying paraffin, brushing at the final stage is not significant.
And if it does, it will last no more than 5 minutes. For proper cold lubrication it takes about 1 hour. It is advisable to have sun or some room for drying.
You should be aware that, even if all of the above conditions are met, cold waxing is always an emergency measure, which in its effectiveness can never be compared with the classic heat treatment option.
Cost of liquid paraffins
Paraffins in the form of ointments cost about $5 per 25 g. Sprays, especially high-fluoride ones, can cost up to $40 per 50 ml bottle.
The types of skis do not influence the choice of one or another wax. However, it should be remembered that, unlike skating, the sliding surface of classic skis requires lubrication with additional holding ointment. Since traditional skiing requires pushing off and, accordingly, requires better adhesion of the ski to the snow at the point of application of force, the holding ointment is applied to the center of the ski.