Wax troubleshooting
SQUEAKY CHEESE AND THE HERKY JERK
You ever skied on Squeaky Cheese? You know, when it's so cold out the snow literally squeaks under your feet and feels slow and sticky. You will run into these snow conditions when it's really cold (< 10°F, and especially at or below zero).
At temperatures above 14°F, snow "heats up" when you ski or snowboard on it. The pressure of your body on the snow produces a thin layer of water between you and the snow, which keeps the snow "quiet." However, as the air temperature drops below 14°F, the pressure of your body on the snow does not produce enough heat to melt the snow and produce water. Instead, the ice crystals rub against each other, and the snow "squeaks" when you ski on it. It reminds some of us of eating Cheese Curds. . .that rubbery cheese that sometimes squeaks in your mouth when you chew it.
Sometimes, when first starting out the day the snow acts like squeaky cheese, but goes away after just a few minutes. That's normal temperature acclimation—and that's good. Unfortunately for some, when you run into these conditions on the slopes ALL DAY, it can mean your choice in ski wax isn't ideally suited for that specific day's snow conditions.
Don't despair, here's how to adjust:
Check your weather forecast before your next trip. You can combat the Squeaky Cheese by adding TPW Nitro or TPW Polar Hammer Hardeners to your chosen wax for enhanced cold weather performance and improve your glide and restore speed; even for 'the other guys' wax.
If you're racing, you can add more TPW Nitro, at any temperature, for an extra speed boost, often 3-7+ MPH or more on Green Circle runs using TPW waxes. We expect to see even greater speed boosts on steeper slopes.
PSA: WHAT IS THE INVISIBLE HERKY JERK?
We are referring to spring skiing conditions when the ski run fluctuates between frozen and slushy snow, making for dangerous skiing & snowboarding conditions.
Watch for those transitions between shaded and sunny areas and back again. That's where the sneaky invisible Herky Jerk lives! And he's not nice...
When is Herky Jerk Season?
It can vary, but it's usually late April, early spring, on a bright sunny day. You begin the day skiing along smoothly. As the day progresses, air temperatures heat up above freezing and the snow starts to melt. It instantly gets sticky and grabs your skis, slowing you down, jerking your upper body and center of mass forward as your skis literally hit the breaks (the Herky). Then you hit a spot on the ski run shaded by trees. The air is cooler here and the snow is still frozen, so your skis and feet speed up, jerking your upper body and center of mass backwards (and the Jerk).
Conditions like this in the spring or on warmer days, destabilize the rider, throwing them off balance (violently at times, especially at high speed) and can lead to early binding release, loss of control, unexpected crashes, and needless injuries. Some know this as being bit by a "snow snake." Doesn't matter who's wax you're riding—it's a problem for all of them. Especially, hard, colder waxes. But know, TPW has developed a solution for these conditions, and we now offer a true, late-season warm, spring and summer skiing wax line, that effectively reduces, and even eliminates this situation. Instead of feeling the abrupt suction drag leading to a rider crash, you actually speed up through these warm snow areas with a wonderful and fast glide, keeping you safe and stabile in motion.
Watch for those transitions between shaded and sunny areas and back again. That's where the sneaky invisible Herky Jerk lives! And he's not nice...
When is Herky Jerk Season?
It can vary, but it's usually late April, early spring, on a bright sunny day. You begin the day skiing along smoothly. As the day progresses, air temperatures heat up above freezing and the snow starts to melt. It instantly gets sticky and grabs your skis, slowing you down, jerking your upper body and center of mass forward as your skis literally hit the breaks (the Herky). Then you hit a spot on the ski run shaded by trees. The air is cooler here and the snow is still frozen, so your skis and feet speed up, jerking your upper body and center of mass backwards (and the Jerk).
Conditions like this in the spring or on warmer days, destabilize the rider, throwing them off balance (violently at times, especially at high speed) and can lead to early binding release, loss of control, unexpected crashes, and needless injuries. Some know this as being bit by a "snow snake." Doesn't matter who's wax you're riding—it's a problem for all of them. Especially, hard, colder waxes. But know, TPW has developed a solution for these conditions, and we now offer a true, late-season warm, spring and summer skiing wax line, that effectively reduces, and even eliminates this situation. Instead of feeling the abrupt suction drag leading to a rider crash, you actually speed up through these warm snow areas with a wonderful and fast glide, keeping you safe and stabile in motion.
EMBRACE GRAVITY...
NOT THE EARTH!
We read one man's story last year on social media who ran into the elusive Herky Jerk under the chair lift at White Pass in Washington. We don't know who's wax he was using, but he had enough speed that when his skis and feet stopped abruptly, he flew forward, causing him to crash and break his collar bone AND his helmet. Ski Patrol had to peel him off the mountain. It ended his ski season, hosed up his summer activities and put his next ski season in jeopardy. Many ski resorts in Utah, like Snowbird and Alta, recognize these kinds of dangerous spring conditions and will often shut down the chair lifts as early as 1pm in the late season, as the snow warms up and conditions worsen.
Just know your ski wax isn't the problem in this case or the resort... the problem is Mother Nature. The weather. And it's a sure sign the ski season is near it's end. Remember, you're on snow skis, not water skis.
When the Herky Jerk is lurking...
It's a big red flag that you need to slow down immediately to avoid personal injury!!
Please be aware of warming trends, and sun & shade transitions that awaken the Herky Jerk. It's time to protect your body, slow down for your final run, call it a day (even at noon) and head back to the lodge for a Hot Tottie and the company of good friends! It's only 6 short months until ski season returns! ☺