Which Grip Wax Are You?
By:  Stephanie Rees   (2013/11/27)

Long time friend of XC Ottawa, Stephanie Rees, contributed the following quiz. Enjoy, we did!

Snow is the air… or it will be soon. Either way, it’s time to start thinking about ski season. And at this time of year, what’s the number one of a skier’s list of things to do? Analyze the content of your wax collection. To help make this task easier, below you will find the ‘Which Grip Wax Are You?’ quiz.

Please note that this quiz won’t help you figure out which wax to buy or what works best in certain conditions! But what it will do is make you feel more connected with and empathetic toward your grip wax collection. Well.. maybe.

But before we begin: As author of this quiz, I would like to state the following:

• At no time have I been sponsored by a company that produces ski wax. Nor have I received any piece of wax for free, except for those I have found lying around seemingly ownerless and any I’ve received as door prizes, Christmas gifts or an early inheritance.
  
  
• This quiz is based on my personal opinion about grip wax and does not reflect anyone else’s opinion, thoughts or ideas. Sort of. Really my personal opinion could not have been developed without the help of others. So I would like to acknowledge all my friends, family, acquaintances and strangers from whom I have purloined information to form my personal opinion.
  
  
• Finally, special thank you to my focus group for helping me perfect this quiz: Peter, Andrew, Megan, Alicia, Val, Karl, Steve in abstentia and last but not least, my mom.
  
  

Now for the fun! To determine which grip wax you are, choose the answer that best fits you:

1. Your ski fashion style can be best described as:

1. As far as you’re concerned, the more layers the merrier.
2. You’ve got your standard outfit and it’s stylish without being overly-trendy.
 
3. Your look is eclectic - it’s a true blend of function and comfort.
 
4. Nothing outrageous, you always match your surroundings.
 
5. You’re wearing the tuque your sister gave you for Christmas, the jacket you won as a door prize and the scarf your mother knit you last year.
 
6. A stain on your sleeve? A rip in your pants? You keep wearing and repairing.
 
7. If you had your way, everyone would still be wearing knickers and knee-high socks.
 
8. You’re not only keenly aware of the new fashion trends, you’re the first one wearing them.
 
9. More than one of the above.
 
10. None of the above.
 

2. There’s a post-race party. You can be found….

1. Outside chopping wood for the fire.
2. Striking up a conversation with one and all.
 
3. Playing piano, serving wine, cooking food, telling a joke, settling an argument…
 
4. Sitting in the corner, sipping your wine, happy to listen and people watch.
 
5. Making sure everyone’s having a good time.
 
6. Always talking about your favourite topic.
 
7. Reminiscing about the good old days.
 
8. In charge of figuring out the cutting-edge sound system.
 
9. More than one of the above.
 
10. None of the above.

3. Your race philosophy can best be describe as:

1. Be tough.
2. We’re all in this together. May the best man/woman win.
 
3. Sprint vs. distance? Cold vs. warm? Rain vs. snow? Doesn’t matter. I’m in!
 
4. Subtle and smooth will prevail.
 
5. There’s no ‘I’ in team.
 
6. Persistence pays off.
 
7. Build on success. Learn from failure.
 
8. Every race is a blank slate. Do something new!
 
9. More than one of the above.
 
10. None of the above.

4. If you were forced to admit to it, your least endearing quality would probably be:

1. You can be emotionally distant.
2. Others take advantage of your honourable nature.
 
3. You’re a jack of all trades, but sadly master of none.
 
4. You’re so quiet that people don’t know what to do with you.
 
5. You enable your loved ones’ strengths AND weaknesses.
 
6. You cling to things well past their ‘best before’ date.
 
7. Living in the past, you rest on your laurels.
 
8. The risks you take don’t always pay off.
 
9. More than one of the above.
 
10. None of the above.

5. In the off-season, you can be found:

1. Rollerskiing, ski-striding and ski-bounding – anything with the word ‘ski’ in it.
2. Racing in another sport.
 
3. Doing some of this and some of that.
 
4. Who knows? Secret training.
 
5. Helping others with their training.
 
6. Doing whatever everyone else is doing.
 
7. Doing what you’ve always done.
 
8. Trying the latest training craze.
 
9. More than one of the above.
 
10. None of the above.

Click here for the results..