54 Years of Ski Waxing Knowledge: Tips from Terry Hertel
I started making ski wax in 1971. Back then, waxing was a complicated art — temperature charts, multiple wax layers, and a lot of guesswork. Over the next 54 years, I made it my mission to simplify that process without sacrificing performance. This is what I've learned.
Who is Terry Hertel?
I'm the founder of Hertel Ski Wax, and I've spent more than five decades studying snow chemistry, ski base materials, and wax formulation. Our waxes have been used by Olympic gold medalists at the 1988 and 1994 Winter Games, by competitive racers, and by millions of everyday skiers and snowboarders who just want to enjoy the mountain.
I'm 84 years old, still passionate about skiing, and still working to make the best wax on the planet. That's not a marketing line — it's just the truth.
The Most Important Thing I've Learned About Ski Wax
Most skiers overthink waxing. They worry about getting the exact right temperature rating, the perfect iron temperature, the ideal scraping technique. And while those details matter for competitive racing, the truth is this: any wax is better than no wax.
An unwaxed ski base oxidizes, dries out, and creates friction. A freshly waxed base glides, protects, and lasts longer. The single biggest improvement most recreational skiers can make is simply waxing their skis more often. Not sure which wax to use? See our complete ski wax guide.
My Top Waxing Tips
1. Start with a clean base
Before applying any wax, clean your base with a proper ski base cleaner. Dirt, old wax residue, and oxidation all reduce how well new wax bonds. Hertel Base Clean removes all of that in minutes.
2. Don't skip the brush
After scraping, always finish with a brush — nylon for general use, horsehair for a finer finish. Brushing opens the base structure and dramatically improves glide. It's the step most people skip, and it makes a bigger difference than most people realize.
3. Wax more often than you think you need to
Most skiers wax once a season. I recommend waxing every 3–5 ski days, or whenever your skis start feeling slow. With Rub N Go, there's no excuse — it takes less than a minute and fits in your pocket. Learn more about rub-on vs. iron-on wax.
4. Match your wax to the season, not just the temperature
Spring snow is fundamentally different from winter snow — it's wetter, heavier, and more abrasive. A universal wax like Super HotSauce handles most conditions, but for spring skiing, SpringSolution gives you an extra edge. Read our Spring Skiing Wax Guide for more.
5. Store your wax properly
Keep wax at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Extreme heat or cold can affect the wax chemistry. A cool, dry drawer or cabinet is ideal.
6. Don't use a clothes iron
I've seen it done. A clothes iron doesn't maintain consistent temperature and can burn your base. Use a proper wax iron with temperature control — it's worth the investment.
Why I Started Hertel Ski Wax
In the early 1970s, I was frustrated with the waxes available on the market. They were complicated, inconsistent, and often required you to carry multiple products for different conditions. I believed there had to be a better way — a wax that performed across a wide range of conditions without the complexity.
That belief led to Super HotSauce, our flagship all-temperature formula. It took years of chemistry and field testing to get right, but the result was a wax that genuinely works everywhere — and that's been proven at the Olympic level. Read more about why Super HotSauce is the best all-temperature ski wax.
What I'm Most Proud Of
Honestly? It's not the Olympic medals or the Amazon rankings. It's the emails and letters I get from skiers who say Hertel wax made their ski day better. A grandmother who can finally keep up with her grandkids on the slopes. A weekend warrior who discovered that waxing isn't complicated after all. That's why I've kept doing this for 54 years.
One Last Tip
If you're new to waxing and don't know where to start, grab a Rub N Go. Apply it before your next ski day. See how your skis feel. That's all it takes to understand why waxing matters — and why Hertel has been doing it since 1971.