TEMPERATURE

As the world’s first wax company, HOLMENKOL has taken not only the air temperature
but more importantly the snow temperature and snow type, snow texture as well as
snow moisture content and relative humidity into consideration during the development
of its waxes. For this reason, HOLMENKOL indicates the corresponding snow
temperatures as the application temperatures for its racing waxes. Due to its greater
density, snow changes its temperature far more slowly than the air; this means that
the snow temperature remains more constant even under extreme weather conditions
(such as High Dry Winds) than the air temperature. As a result, significant differences
in temperature between air and snow can occur.

SNOW TEXTURE

The snow texture gives the most important indication as to the choice of the optimum
wax. The corn size of the snow influences the abrasion resistance (friction effects) and
the snow moisture content the glide properties (suction effects). HOLMENKOL
differentiates between new snow and fine corn/coarse corn old snow and artificial snow.
These snow types can also occur as dry, damp or wet snow. Each of these combinations
influences the choice of the ideal wax, under certain conditions the snow can be very
damp, while at the same time consisting of sharp, hard crystals. In this case a very
abrasion-resistant wax is needed which also offers excellent water-repellent properties.epustnost.

SNOW MOISTURE

HOLMENKOL has taken the importance of snow texture as an important factor in the
wax development with the introduction of the Hybrid Technology. This technology
permits an unrivalled combination of abrasion-resistant materials which nevertheless
exhibit the best possible water-repellent properties. For this reason the otherwise
problematical artificial snow no longer presents any difficulties for the choice of wax.

WIND

Furthermore, the snow texture is significantly affected by the wind. New snow or damp
old snow is quickly dried out by the wind. The snow becomes more aggressive and
harder wax mixtures are needed although the snow temperature remains the same. In
addition, strong wind breaks down the finde crystalline structures of new snow and the
snow surface. This leads to a compaction of the snow and higher friction effects
between snow and ski/board base.