Every major ski manufacturer, including Rossignol, Fischer, Madshus and Atomic, have come out with a classic ski that bridges the gap between a waxable ski and a traditional fish scale-based no-wax ski. For difficult waxing conditions, Nordic skiers have previously turned to performance-based skis that are wax-free, with the kick zone containing the underfoot pattern, aka fish scales. However, these skis tend to be slow due to the drag caused by the flakes, but they do work in rough conditions, especially when you don’t want to apply klister. For many, difficult or changing conditions make it difficult to determine the right wax. Under certain conditions, this new line of classic zero-based or rubber-based skis works well. It works best at zero degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as in wet snow. In zero degrees or in wet snow, this may be the ski that works best for racing or just training. Several national skiers have grown up on this type of equipment and have done well. But these skis don’t work in all conditions, so understand their limitations when hitting the trails.
Rossignol has called their skis rubber based skis while Fischer calls them zero based skis, but essentially different manufacturers offer these alternatives to having to wax regularly. Skiing without wax requires a bit of specialized preparation in the wax area to maximize kick. The shooting area should be roughened up and then treated with some anti-icing fluid, like the new Swix Zero spray. Another manufacturer recommends roughing the base with 120-180 grit sandpaper and advises not to apply anything to the material, not to apply wax or any other treatment. Just leave him alone. By using sandpaper, you can adjust the grip based on how wet the snow is. It will be up to you to determine which is best for your particular climate and conditions. Everyone who has used these classic rubber based skis finds that they need to test the skis in different conditions to see when they perform best. Most also play around with the roughness of the kicking area to get the perfect kick. However, in exceptionally icy conditions or dry snow, this may not be the right tool for the job.
Rossignal offers the classic, high-performance, rubber-based World Cup series ski for racers and technical skiers. The new carbon tip reduces the weight of the ski between 20 and 30 grams. The shorter, lower nose allows for lower swing weight and better maneuverability. The honeycomb core is lightweight and provides excellent compression and strength. Each rubber based ski comes with the NIS (Nordic Integrated System) plate, allowing for easy mounting of the bindings. Excellent glide can be achieved by adjusting the position of the bindings to the rear to move the grip zone away from the snow. By using sandpaper, the grip can be adjusted according to the wetness of the snow.
The Fischer RCS Classic zero base ski comes with glide zones pre-waxed with Swix fluoro. Fischer’s ground zero kick material is well placed. It stopped just where the back of the wax pocket would end. This makes the Fischer a fast and easy ski to ride right out of the box. Madshus and Atomic also make similar technology.
Most invest in these types of no-wax skis after they’ve bought other classic skis. Since these skis work best in zero degrees or wet conditions, these can be the perfect skis for training or racing if your area frequently has these types of conditions. At zero degrees Celsius, or in wet snow, these may be the fastest skis around. You can simply say no to Klister with zero-based technology if the conditions are right.