How to define the grip zone on classic cross-country skis

The correct determination of the grip zone on classic cross-country skis, as well as the hardness of the skis and how much grip wax we should apply to our skis is usually a very big problem that lovers of classic technique encounter. An error in this aspect, almost in most cases, means that we cannot ski with the skis as we would like and that our technique is very compromised.

There are different ways to determine the grip zone and to know the hardness of our classic skis and if they adapt to our weight, our way of skiing or the type of snow where we are going to use them. As you can see, it is not as easy as going to the store and looking for some classic skis to wax, you have to dig a little deeper and find that they are truly suitable for us.

What should be the length of the grip zone?

Initially, a rather short wax-up zone (usually several zones are marked by the manufacturers) could be applied rather short and test if we have enough grip and see if in tired conditions and in the same conditions we will be able to maintain our technique. With fatigue, the grip will not always be the same and that is why trying the skis for a short time will not guarantee the goal.

The important thing here would be to determine the length of the grip zone in the snow and see if we achieve the balance between grip and slide.

In many types of snow, the grip area when we talk about using klister is usually about 45-50cm and 50-55cm when it comes to using a stick. The grip zone determined by many manufacturers generally ranges from the end of the fixation to about 20-30cm in front of it.

When it comes to competing in classical technique, the grip zone could be the most important component to be able to take a start with certain guarantees of victory. Nowadays, grip and slide has changed a lot, but when the slopes are really steep many athletes prefer to sacrifice a little speed in the slide to achieve a secure grip.

How can we determine the grip zone?

There are many types of tests to determine the grip zone and each of them offers us certain guarantees of having an optimal zone for our weight and conditions. The oldest and known to all fans of classical technique is the paper test that was widely used for years but continues to be relatively reliable.

Currently the use of machines to determine the hardness of the skis and the correct grip area are the method most used by amateurs and professionals of this sport.

Always remember that the test that we can perform on our skis always has to be with the aim of improving our technique and therefore the better the material is adapted to our possibilities, the more options for improvement we will have. Factors such as the force that we are going to apply, our resistance capacity, the snow conditions, the physical condition of the skier and the technical level, also play an important role in determining the grip zone on classic skis.

Find out more in depth what different types of tests we can use.

1. The paper test

Prueba del papel

  1. Place both skis on a completely flat surface where the ski sole is in contact with the surface and there is no roughness or deformation of any kind.
  2. Get on the skis with your boots on as if you were going to ski with them and distribute the weight of the body on both skis.
  3. An assistant should slide a piece of paper under the fixture as far as it can no longer slide in front of it and behind it.
  4. We must mark these limits on the side of the skis.
  5. Then the person who is on the skis will try to load all his weight on one of the skis and we repeat the measurement by sliding the paper under the binding until we find the limits again.
  6. When a ski is to be used with Stick-type waxes, the paper should be able to move it 10cm or not at all and when the ski is to be used with Klister-type waxes, this displacement of the paper should be approximately 15-25cm.

If we have carried out this check and we think that the ski we have bought is for our weight, we can reach the approximate conclusion that the waxing area should be around:

  • 50-55cm for new snow and powder ( Wax Stick ).
  • 45-50 for wet and transformed snow ( Cera Klister ).

2. Measurement by dynamometer

Dinamómetro para medir esquís

This measurement method is precise and offers more guarantees to fans and professionals of this sport who seek to improve their classic technique.

With a dynamometer it is possible to measure the exact pressure that we must apply on the skis to achieve grip with the wax. In addition, you can also:

  • Determine the grip zone of the ski with great precision using the athlete’s real weight,
  • Measure the distance from the grip zone, the sliding zone,
  • Determine the amount of wax to apply and the type of snow on which the tested skis can be used,
  • Know what is the ideal weight of the ski in question.

With this measurement system it is also possible to determine all the characteristics of the ski that we are analyzing.

It is clear that technology and science applied to sport is always to seek to improve our limits and achieve maximum performance. Here we have another clear example of how a sport has evolved and that every time the demands to be able to practice it are greater.