To keep from slipping backwards waxless skis have a pattern cut into the bottom hat allows them to slide forward more easily than backwards. Unfortunately Waxless Skis have been mis-named , although they don't need kick wax they do need glide wax to slide easily. If you don't want to wax at all, buy skis with an extruded not a sintered base. Extruded bases don't absorb wax well and also don't absorb as much dirt.

• Waxless skis are slow especially in cold weather which means you have to work hard to make them slide.

• No kick wax to figure out. They work best when the snow is around 32 ^o F (0^oC)
• Great for toddlers. What parent wants to wax multiple pairs of skis along with finding mittens, getting kids in snow suits, and loading kids into and out of child carrier seats.
• Great for groups of people in the back country. Who wants to stop every few minutes as yet another group member changes there wax?

Skate skis like waxless skis don't need kick wax . Skate skiing uses momentem and the side of the ski to keep from slipping backwards. However they do seem to wear off glide wax quickly.

• Skate technique can only be used on packed snow at a running pace.
• Equipment costs more than a waxless setup.
• You need good balance.

To go uphill you can glue a strip of fabric to the bottom of your ski which basically turns it into a snowshoe. The skins can be taken off at the top of the hill befor you ski down..

• Skins cost about $80-$100 per pair.
• They take time while you ski to take on and off, so they are the most useful for long steep uphills followed by long downhills. they are not useful for rolling terrain.

Make sure you use a pulling harness not the dog's collar.

You can get a ride up the hill on a chairlife, a car, a helicopter, a snow cat or a snow machine. You can use nordic(cross country) skis at an alpine ski area if you pay for a lift ticket and use ski leashes.

If you ski in below zero temperature you will find you get plenty of traction without kick wax.