Req 7a1 — Wax, Bindings & DIN

Before your first run, you need to know how to care for your equipment. Well-maintained skis slide faster and turn better. Properly set bindings protect your knees and legs when you fall. This is a show-and-tell requirement — bring your skis (or access to a pair) and demonstrate these tasks.

Waxing Alpine Skis

Alpine skis are waxed on the base — the smooth plastic surface that contacts the snow. Wax reduces friction, protects the base material, and can be tuned to different snow temperatures.

Hot Wax (Most Thorough Method)

1. Clean the base — Use a plastic scraper to remove old wax and any dirt.
2. Choose your wax — Wax is sold by temperature range. Check the package for the appropriate snow temperature. Cold, hard snow needs a harder (lower-temperature) wax; wet spring snow needs a softer wax.
3. Melt and apply — Hold a wax iron set to the correct temperature (check wax packaging) and touch the wax bar to the iron above the ski base. Let the melted wax drip along the length of the base.
4. Spread the wax — Run the iron slowly along the ski, spreading the wax in a thin, even layer. Keep the iron moving — never let it sit still (this can damage the base).
5. Let it cool — Allow the wax to harden fully (10–15 minutes).
6. Scrape — Use a plastic ski scraper to remove the excess wax. Scrape from tip to tail. The goal is a very thin, even layer; excess wax slows you down.
7. Brush — Use a nylon or horsehair brush to polish the base and open the structure. This step dramatically improves glide.

Rub-On Wax (Quick Method)

For a quick wax, rub-on or paste wax can be applied by hand and polished with a cork. It is less durable than hot wax but fine for a day of casual skiing.

Ski Maintenance Beyond Wax

Edge sharpening — The metal edges on each side of the ski allow you to carve into hard snow and ice. Dull edges slide sideways instead of gripping. A simple file or edge tool held at 90° to the base sharpens the edge. Ask your counselor or a ski shop tech to demonstrate proper edge angle maintenance.

Base repairs — Small gouges in the base can be filled with P-Tex (base repair candles). Melt the P-Tex into the gouge, let it cool, then scrape flush. Deep gouges or core shots (damage reaching the wood/foam core) require professional repair.

Storage — At the end of the season, apply a thick coat of wax and do not scrape it. The wax layer protects the base from oxidizing. Store skis in a cool, dry place.

Release Bindings: Use and Maintenance

Release bindings serve two critical functions: they hold your boot securely during normal skiing, and they release your boot when a fall generates forces that could injure you.

Using your bindings:

• Step in at the toe first, then press the heel down firmly until you hear a click.
• Check that the boot is fully engaged before skiing.
• To release, press the heel bail lever with your pole or a boot.
• Regularly test the release: step in, simulate a rotational fall, and confirm the binding releases cleanly.

Maintaining your bindings:

• Keep pivot points and moving parts clean and lightly lubricated.
• Inspect for cracks, corrosion, or bent parts before each season.
• Have bindings tested and certified by a qualified technician every year — or whenever you switch to new boots. Only a certified technician should adjust the release setting.

The DIN Standard

DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization), the organization that established the international standard for ski binding release settings.

A DIN number on your binding represents the force required to release your boot. It is not simply “how tight” the binding is — it is a calibrated setting based on your height, weight, boot sole length, skier type (beginner through advanced), and age.

• Lower DIN settings release more easily — appropriate for children, lighter skiers, beginners, or anyone who prefers quicker release.
• Higher DIN settings require more force to release — appropriate for heavier, more aggressive, or advanced skiers who generate greater forces in turns.

Why it matters to you: Setting your own DIN without a certified technician is dangerous. A DIN that is too low causes “prerelease” — the binding releases during normal skiing when it should not, causing falls. A DIN that is too high prevents release during a real fall, putting your knee and leg at risk.

Official Resources

Your skis are waxed and your bindings are set. Next, learn the teaching system that organizes the entire ski learning progression.