Latest Wax update#2 released via newsletter, Jan 28th 2025. For further updates, sign up here Birkie 2025 Wax update#1 WARNING: Take everything you are about to read with a grain of salt. We are still three weeks away from the 2025 Birkie and no forecast is yet reaching that far. So it is important to focus on the trends, rather than specifics. FORECAST: Normal temperatures for this year’s Birkie weekend are: Overnight low: -15 Daytime high: -6 The long range forecast (at least as long as it currently goes) is in that vicinity. It is also good to see few days with temperatures above freezing, as well as some snow here and there. Things are looking good! GLIDE: Waxing for glide should be straightforward. Good options may include: - Rode RL/RXL Cold - Rex G/NF 21 or RG 22 - Star Next Cold For the long distance races (30km/55km), you might want to consider a base liquid first. Good options would include Star Next Durable or Vauhti Polar. GRIP: With the forecast temperatures and snow conditions, finding grip shouldn’t be a problem. It will be a matter of deciding which grip wax is running the fastest while still providing the necessary kick. Base Binder: As is always the case for the Birkie, a strong binder will be a must-have to ensure longevity of your grip wax. Our preferred option for hardwax conditions is always Vauhti Super Base. This binder is unmatched for both speed and durability. If you are concerned about durability, you might consider a klister binder. Swix Spray Klister Binder (KB20) or Vauhti KS Liquid Base Klister would be good choices. Kick Wax: The Birkie course can be misleading. You will often hear people talk about how flat it is. But don’t believe it! There are plenty of hills to climb and it can be a long day if you don’t have enough kick. Probable options for kick will include: - Rode B310 - Rode B17 - Swix VP30 - Swix VP40 - Etc. Lots of cold waxes should provide enough kick. The trick will be figuring out which one is the fastest. UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS: We'll post further updates as we get closer to race day & forecast becomes more accurate. Author: Patrick Moore is a wax tech for the US National XC ski team, his knowledge helps make fast skis for the rest of us!
Wax Testing Results and Recommendations Event info here January 24th Update We completed on-snow glide testing on the racecourse. This consisted of running test skis through the timing lights, four passes per pair, for a statistically significant and very accurate result. We tested the skis on the downhill just past the top of Retaining Wall Hill. This was a location representative of conditions on other parts of the course: at the time, it was a mixture of natural and man made snow, skied-in well by the weekend recreational skiers (though not glazed). THE WEATHER: The temperature was approximately -4 at the time of our test. The track was a mix of natural and artificial snow, as it will be on the weekend. Based on our preferred forecast (via Weather Underground), that temperature should be quite representative of morning race times on Saturday. However, Sunday appears to be warmer. Saturday - morning low -6, 10:00am -4, afternoon high +1 Sunday - morning low -3, 10:00am +1, afternoon high +4 GLIDE RESULTS: Overall glide ranking from today's test: 1. Star Next Cold (also won our test from Saturday, Jan 20) 2. Rode RXL Cold (virtually tied with Star Cold, trivial difference) 3. Vauhti Pure Race Cold 4. Rex G21 5. Star Next Mid (realistically, it was too cold tonight for this wax) Depending on your start time for Saturday, you may wish to consider the mid (as opposed to the cold) version of your selected wax. Certainly, for Sunday we would suggest starting with the mid version of your selected wax. Depending on your start time and how much the sun comes out, it may be necessary to move to wet waxes. Keep in mind that, as always, the application of the product is as important (or even more important) as the product selection. Using a rotowool and proper brushing continues to be a big part of making fast skis. GRIP: The race course will end up being a mixture of natural and artificial snow. So base binder application will be very important. Our favourite base binder for this condition is Vauhti Super Base. Given changes in temperature and grooming to come, it is too early to complete grip testing for Saturday. It will be necessary to complete testing the morning of the race. Our favourite grip waxes for this condition are: - Rode Top Line - VXPS, VO, and VPS will all be worth testing. These waxes are reliably great in warm conditions on mixed snow. - Guru Red - Swix V/VP range Based on history, we would be shocked if something other than Rode Top Line is the best grip wax this weekend. January 20th Update **Note: We debated whether to post these test results or not. Obviously the conditions from Saturday night to today have changed very substantially. And the conditions from today to next weekend are likely to change dramatically again. But we thought folks might find these results interesting & educational nevertheless; it never hurts to have more data points. So take this as that - a good test for the conditions on Saturday evening, but not necessarily a guide for what is going to work this coming weekend. THE TEST: On Saturday evening (January 20), we completed on-snow glide testing on the racecourse. This consisted of running test skis through the timing lights, four passes per pair, for a statistically significant and very accurate result. We tested the skis on the downhill just past the top of Retaining Wall Hill. This was a location representative of conditions on other parts of the course: at the time, it was a mixture of natural and man made snow, skied-in well by the weekend recreational skiers (though not glazed). THE WEATHER: The temperature was approximately -13 at the time of our test. The fresh snow that came down overnight on Sunday had not yet started to fall. Note that the forecast, via Weather Underground is significantly warmer for next weekend: Saturday - morning low -4, afternoon high +1 Sunday - morning low -3, afternoon high +3 GLIDE RESULTS: Overall glide ranking from Saturday evening test: 1. Star Next Cold 2. Rex G21 3. Rode RXL Cold 4. Vauhti Pure Pro Cold 5. Swix HS6 Interesting to note that Star continues to produce good results in Edmonton snow. So that may be something to keep in mind as we continue to test closer to the weekend. Keep in mind that, as always, the application of the product is as important (or even more important) that the product selection. Using a rotowool and proper brushing continues to be a big part of making fast skis. GRIP: This will depend largely on what happens over the next few days. Likely, the race course will end up being a mixture of natural and artificial snow. So base binder application will be very important. Given changes in temperature and grooming to come, it is too early to complete grip testing for Saturday. It will be necessary to complete testing the morning of the race. Assuming the Weather Underground forecast remains stable and comes to fruition, possible kick options to test may include Rode VXPS, Star M2 Beta, or other similar warm violet waxes. NEXT STEPS: We will do another substantial glide test later this week - likely Wednesday or Thursday. Stay tuned for those results. AuthorPatrick Moore is a wax tech for the US National XC Team. SUMMARY: The summary of our final testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below. - Glide - Rex G41 - Star Next Warm, Swix HS8, Rode RXL Warm, Rex G11 - Base binder - Swix KB20 Base Klister Spray - Kick wax - see below SNOW CONDITIONS: Entirely, 100%, man made snow. FORECAST: https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/edmonton/IALBERTA207 Expect +1C at the start of the race and a daytime high of +2C. GLIDE: Reasonable options include: - Rex G41 (for sure the #1 best choice, a wax specific to artificial and old snow) - Star Next Warm - Swix HS8 - Rode RXL Warm - Rex G11 GRIP: The grip situation for Saturday is actually very tricky. Until Friday, no track has been set and no classic skiing has taken place. Not to mention we have 100% artificial snow and temperatures likely above zero. So the below is entirely theoretical for now! Given that tracks don’t even exist yet, and the forecast temperatures, it is impossible to know if hardwax or klister will be the best bet. If you have skin skis, you might strongly consider that option! Coach Ulf will be on snow Friday evening to test some wax and, depending on the track conditions, we may have more information available at that time. Base Binder: As is always the case, even for short races, you are going to want a base binder. The best choice in this case will be the Swix KB20 Base Klister Spray. This will set you up well whether the grip ends up being klister or hardwax. Grip Wax: Some hardwax options to consider may include: - Swix VP65 - a great wax in variable conditions and can also be used to cover klister - Rode VXPS - always good on old snow in warm conditions - Rex N41 - hardwax that includes a klister mix - Vauhti GS Red - a great wax in variable warm conditions - Rex Power Grip Purple - hardwax that includes a klister mix Some klister options to consider may include: - Rex Gold - Swix K22 - Rode Rossa or KR3 AuthorPatrick Moore. Wax Tech for the US National XC Team. Having waxed for some of the best skiers at multiple Olympics & World Cups, he teaches the rest of us how to make fast skis. Editors Note: updated December 2024 Winters here are tough. And long. And while that's great for skiers, it can be tough for runners given the snow/ice/windchill/insert another excuse not to do it here! But, lots of folks get on with it & you can too. And once you're outside more often than not it's great! Before you start some dynamic stretching is a good idea, then start out slowly until you’re warmed up. Multiple layers and sometimes poor footing mean paces are slower than summer, and that’s ok - focus on effort. Here’s a few other pointers:
AuthorSimon Stewart |
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