Pink Snow Conditions (Saturated, New Snow, +20°C to 0°C)
Pink conditions occur when fresh snow becomes thoroughly saturated with water. This happens at temperatures at and well above zero Celsius or in rare circumstances when the ground radiates heat up through the snowpack. The fresh snow is melting, turning into slush and hanging on to almost all its moisture as it melts. The snow is weighty, and sticks to tree branches as it falls. Pink conditions are the slowest conditions. It takes a lot of energy to force a ski through the high levels of suction friction.
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Friction Characteristics
In pink conditions, the layer of fresh snow acts as a seal to keep all the water on the surface. This means the only type of friction to worry about in pink conditions is suction friction. The best way to counteract suction friction is to get some aggressive structure into your ski base with a rill tool or an aggressive stone grind. Highly hydrophobic waxes or fluorinated waxes help a lot as well. Using a stiffer ski will also counteract suction friction by propping up most of the ski - giving space for water to vacate from the bottom of the ski.
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Kick Waxing
Unfortunately, finding a kick wax in pink conditions requires klister - the softest, goopiest klister, to be precise. It is difficult to find a substance that will get a grip on what is essentially liquid water, so what will generally be the best option in these conditions are hairys or zeros. The hairs and burrs on skis set up this way are able to penetrate below the film of water on top of the snowpack and dig into the more frozen layer beneath. Skin skis are also fantastic in these conditions for the same reason.
Products for Pink Snow Conditions
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Optiwax Glide Tape 1 (5C/-10C)
Regular price From $17.50 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $17.50 CAD -
Rode R100G RACING GLIDER GRAFITE MELT WAX (-5C/-30C)
Regular price From $33.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $33.96 CAD -
STAR NEXT WARM Fluoro-Free Racing Powder (0C/-5C)
Regular price From $74.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $74.96 CAD -
Vauhti Anti-Ice Liquid For Crown & Zero Skis | 80ml (2C/-5C)
Regular price $27.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $27.96 CAD -
Rex Universal Klister | 55mL (10C/-30C)
Regular price $21.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $21.00 CAD -
Vauhti KS Universal Liquid Klister | 80ml (10C/-1C)
Regular price $28.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $28.96 CAD -
STAR NEXT WARM Fluoro-Free Racing Wool-Apply BLOCK (0C/-5C) | 28g
Regular price $83.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $83.96 CAD -
Gallium GIGA SPEED Maxfluor Jet Wipes (10C/-5C)
Regular price $29.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$36.00 CADSale price $29.00 CADSale -
Rex Tape Grip Universal Gold (5C/-20C)
Regular price $35.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $35.00 CAD -
Rex Red Special Klister | 55mL (10C/0C)
Regular price $21.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $21.00 CAD -
Toko Nordic Base Grip Wax Green
Regular price $15.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $15.96 CAD -
Red Creek Fluoro-Free Warm Melt Wax (10C/-2C)
Regular price From $47.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price From $47.95 CADSold out -
Vauhti GW Universal + Liquid Discontinued Version From 2021 Or Earlier (5C/-2C)
Regular price From $17.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$23.00 CADSale price From $17.96 CADSale -
STAR NF WARM Fluoro-Free Liquid (Sponge Application) | 100mL (0C/-5C)
Regular price $39.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $39.96 CAD -
Save $9.00
Ski*Go HF Universal Klister | 60g (10C/-5C)
Regular price $36.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$45.00 CADSale price $36.00 CADSale -
Rex Red Special Liquid Klister | 60mL (10C/0C)
Regular price $29.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $29.00 CAD -
Rex Base Klister | 55mL
Regular price $21.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $21.00 CAD -
Start Universal Wide Klister (10C/-5C) | 55g
Regular price $25.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $25.96 CAD -
Swix VP70 Yellow Kick Wax 2°C/-1°C
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $29.96 CAD -
Rode Base Klister Spray | 100mL (0C/-20C)
Regular price $29.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $29.96 CAD -
Vauhti RACE LDR Klister | 60g (5C/-10C)
Regular price $45.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $45.96 CAD -
Guru Red Klister | 55g (5C/15C)
Regular price $39.95 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $39.95 CAD -
Rode Silver Klister K50 | 60g (5C/1C)
Regular price $23.96 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $23.96 CAD -
Rex 30GB Fluor-Free `New Snow` Grip Wax | 45g (1C/-8C)
Regular price $45.00 CADRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 CADSale price $45.00 CAD