Wax provides key moisture by filling in the micro-pores on the sliding surface of a ski, which is similar to skin. When these pores are warm, they open and ironing fills them with wax. When they hit cold snow, the pores contract and secrete the wax. Swiiiisshhh, speed, and smiling skiers. Good wax is so critical to speed on snow that pro skiers bring a wax-technician entourage with them, often overseas, because wax wins or loses races.
Nordic skiers live and die by it.
For recreational skiers and snowboarders, it is the difference between getting stuck on the flat spots or riding a magic carpet. Marston never gets ironing-bored, especially when customers report how they cruised through the flats and carved as never before on his wax savvy. This is a fun sport but tuned equipment is everything. Wax brings life back to a ski or board. You can see a dry board really soak up the wax.