Traction surface

Skis designed for classic technique, both in track and in virgin snow, rely on a traction zone, called the kick zone, underfoot. This comes either from a texture designed to slide forward, but not backwards, from applied devices, e.g. climbing skins, or from kick waxes. Kick waxes are classified according to their hardness: harder waxes are for colder and newer snow. An incorrect choice of kick wax may cause slipping (too hard for the conditions) or sticking (too soft for the conditions) of the kick zone.Kick waxes generate grip by interacting with snow crystals, which vary with temperature, age and compaction.Hard kick waxes dont work well for snow which has metamorphosed to having coarse grains, whether icy or wet. In these conditions, skiers opt for a stickier substance,