On Dec 17, 3:16 pm, Novice Skier wrote:
I am skiing with 200cm Fischer waxless country crown skis
and weigh 152lbs.

On Dec 8 I was skiing Hubbard hill in New Hampsire and
my skis climbed well. The temperature was 30 deg F.

On Dec. 16 I skied the Kilburn Pond loop and the skis gave
little or no grip leading me to take them off and walk some
of the steeper portions of the trail. The temperture was 22 deg F
that day with 8 to 10 inches of powder snow.

What can I do to make these skis climb better? Is the poor grip
a chacteristic of this ski? The grip pattern is cut into the base
of the ski. Can you put grip wax on this ski and not spoil
the waxless grip when the temp gets to 32?

George in New Hampshire

I have never used waxless skis, so I'm not really qualified to make
any comparisons, but dealing with wax isn't that hard. And wax gives a
wider total range of usable conditions.

Like anything, it can be taken to an extreme and become a subtle
artform indistinguishable from magic, but for normal use, all you need
is 2-3 different waxes. Just look at the temp, rub the one that makes
sense on and go. In 0C conditions, no wax and a herringbone pattern in
the sole with sandpaper works well enough.

Joseph