Fine Structure for Ski Base on Cold Dry Snow

When it comes to skiing, having the right base structure on your skis is crucial for maximizing performance, especially in varying snow conditions. Like treads on a tire, ski bases need structure to reduce drag and enhance glide. Before you sharpen your edges or wax your skis, it’s important to understand how different snow conditions affect the structure of your ski base.

Understanding Ski Base Structure

Your skis need to ride on a thin film of water produced from the friction of your base and edges cutting through the snow. The type of snow you're skiing on—whether cold and dry or warm and wet—will dictate the best base structure for optimal performance.

Cold, Dry Snow

In cold, dry snow, the structure should be fine and shaped to hold water a little longer under your ski since so little is available in these conditions. On cold crystalline snow, the ski base should be as smooth as possible to minimize friction points. This allows your skis to glide more efficiently over the snow.

Warm, Wet Snow

On the other hand, in warm, wet snow, a coarser structured ski base is better. The goal here is to move water away from the base and reduce suction. The pockets of air between the ski base and the snow help repel water from the ski base, reducing drag—much like how a beer glass slides more easily across a bar when there’s an air pocket underneath.

For snowboarders in wet conditions, using a big thick cross structure with a deep cut helps wick away moisture. After waxing, make sure to use a hard brush (such as brass) down the board and at 45-degree angles to open up the structure.

When to Grind Race Skis

If you're preparing for race season, it's essential to have your skis professionally ground at the beginning of the season based on expected race conditions. Most new skis come with a medium to coarse structure that works well for wetter snow but may not perform as well in dry conditions.

In-Season Grinding

During the season, grind your skis when drastic changes in snow conditions are expected (e.g., transitioning from dry to wet snow or vice versa). For late-season races in spring when snow tends to be wetter, prepare your skis with a coarser structure that will handle these conditions better.

Pro Tip:

Consult with a coach or local race shop for advice on which structure is running best in your region. Each area has unique conditions that can affect how your skis perform.

Check out this Video from Sidecut for reference: 

Base Structure: General Advice

When it comes to maintaining your ski base structure, there are some important tips to keep in mind:

• Avoid Belt Grinding: Don’t belt grind race skis. Belt grinding does not produce a flat base like stone grinding does.

• Test New Grinds: Before experimenting with new grinds, have someone test their performance.

• Stone-Grinding Process: Stone-ground skis will run slower immediately after grinding. You’ll need several days of waxing or hot boxing before they hit peak performance.

The idea is to have your bases professionally structured by stone grinding and maintain them as long as possible. Your skis will get faster as you increase wax cycles over time.

Terminology:

• A more aggressive structure has more depth/width.

• A shallower, tighter structure is less aggressive.

• Coarser structures are harder to turn because they make the ski want to track more.

Structure for Different Conditions

• Cold/Dry Conditions: Use a fine structure that you can see but not feel with your fingers. This helps hold water under the ski for better glide.

• Warm/Wet Conditions: A coarser structure that you can feel under your fingers works best here because it helps move water away from the base and reduces suction.

Keep in mind that even if temperatures are high, chemically treated courses may still have harder snow where a fine structure is more appropriate.

How to Prepare Skis After Stone Grinding

After applying a stone-ground structure, it's essential to properly prepare your skis before hitting the slopes:

1. Remove Shop Wax: Remove any wax applied by the shop using a gray fibertex pad from a 3-pad fibertex set. Brush over it with even pressure about 50 times in both directions.

2. Repeat with Red/Brown Fibertex Pad: Repeat this process using the red/brown fibertex pad another 50 times.

3. Waxing Cycles: Wax and scrape at least three times (five is better) before skiing on them. For racers, consider repeating this process 10–15 times before racing quality is achieved.

4. Minimize Heat: With each wax cycle, heat the base surface as little as possible to lift and stiffen micro hairs so they can be cut away with the scraper.

Pro Tips for Racers:

• Run 5–6 times with re-waxing between runs before they are considered training quality.

• Run 10 times with 10–15 waxings for racing quality.

For World Cup racers, waxing cycles can go up to 30–50 times before hitting the snow!

Notes on Snowboards

For snowboarders:

• In wet/warm conditions, use a thick cross structure with deep cuts and brush thoroughly after waxing.

• In cold/dry conditions, stick with a thin linear structure and brush well using cold harder waxes.

The key is always ensuring that water moves efficiently out from under your board or ski for maximum speed.

 

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