The way I do it is remove the remains of the previois wax/tape with
SWIX orange solvent (read: any wax solvent), sand it just a bit, to
make it look mat, then apply the tape. I'd say, 75% of tape stays after
2 hrs of skiing - much better than any "real" kick wax I've ever
applied.

I agree that a real kick wax job, well done, will perform much better,
but for me the tape gives the highest value of the equation (of
pain-of-waxing)*(fun of skiing)