Wax Blog
Info courtesy of Patrick Moore/Paul Moore
2024 Alberta Winter Games Zone 5 & 6 Cross-Country Qualifier & Orange Crush Time Trial Stage Event
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
Canadian Birkebeiner
2023 Wax Service (Glide & base binder):
Drop off Tues 7th, pick-up Thurs 9th PM
Drop off Wed 8th, pick-up Fri 10th PM
FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY, Feb 10th:
The summary of our final testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
Glide - Star Next Med liquid or Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquidOther options include: Rode RXL Med liquid, Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid, or Swix HS7 spray
Base binder - Vauhti Super Base
Kick wax - Rode VXPS
Other options include Swix VP/VR 55 (or VR60), Rode Super Blue (or Violet Extra)
Other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick
SNOW CONDITIONS:
We tested on snow Friday morning on the Birkie course, starting from Waskehegan. The tracks were in very good condition and not icey. Hard wax was working great!
FORECAST:
No significant change in forecast for Birkie day.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
Expect a morning low of -5 and afternoon high of +3.
GLIDE:
Our two winning glide waxes were:
Star Next Med liquid
Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
Other reasonable options include:
Rode RXL Med liquid
Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid
Swix HS7 spray
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We have tested a LOT of grip wax over the past week (see our previous posts for full details). In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip.
In our final test today, we tested the following:
Rode VXPS - still the best kick with high speed, completely dependable everywhere
Swix VP/VR 55 - enough kick but felt like it was releasing slightly early, a short layer of VP/VR60 might be a good idea for the early starters, and perhaps straight to VP/VR60 for the later starts
Rode Super Blue - enough kick but felt like it was releasing early, a short layer of Rode Violet Extra might be a good idea for the early starters, and perhaps straight to Violet extra for the later starts
Ultimately, everything we tested today was working well and other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
This is our final recommendation for the 2023 Birkie. Good luck and have a great ski! See you on the trails!
Wax Recommendation #4
February 8, 2023
RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY:
The summary of our testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
Glide - Star Next Med liquid or Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquidOther options include: Rode RXL Med liquid, Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid, or Swix HS7 spray
Base binder - Vauhti Super Base
Kick wax - Rode VXPS
Other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick
SNOW CONDITIONS:
We have it on good authority from people setting up the course that the snow is in good condition throughout. Additionally, there has been lots of work snow farming to fill in any icy and/or dirty spots.
We understand that grooming will start Thursday night and continue Friday night, working from the Ukrainian Village back to Waskehagen. The groomers need to work when it is coldest, so in the evening and early morning.
The tracks should be in great condition!
FORECAST:
No significant change in forecast from our Sunday update.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
As I write this (Wednesday evening), the forecast for Birkie day is a morning low of -4 and afternoon high of +3.
Those temperatures are very similar to what we experienced during testing last weekend. Additionally, Friday morning should be in the same range, making for a good final kick test.
GLIDE:
Our two winning glide waxes were:
- Star Next Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
Other reasonable options include:
- Rode RXL Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid
- Swix HS7 spray
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We tested a LOT of grip wax over the past weekend (see our last post for full details). In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip.
Although the classic tracks were icy luge tracks on Tuesday, based on the forecast and when grooming will occur, we continue to think that hardwax will be the preferred choice.
Our recommended kick wax is Rode VXPS, which is one of our favourite waxes in warm, mixed conditions; exactly like we are seeing on the Birkie trails.
As an alternative, other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will make a final on-snow kick test on Friday morning and post the results as soon as they are available. If you are keen to start waxing skis, a good idea could be to start working on glide wax and then finalize your grip wax later on Friday when our final kick test results are available.
Wax Recommendation #3
February 5, 2023
TESTING SUMMARY:
This was a marathon weekend of testing for the Birkie, all on snow at Islet Lake. Fast Trax completed significant glide testing on Saturday. On Sunday we made a confirmation test for glide, but largely focused on kick.
The summary of our testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
FORECAST:
I’ve discovered that there is a Weather Underground (my preferred forecast network!) station right at Islet Lake. This is central to the Birkie course and is a perfect location.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
As I write this (Sunday afternoon), the forecast for Birkie day is a morning low of -4 and afternoon high of 0. A morning temperature in that range is remarkably similar to the weekend we’ve just had, which will make for extremely useful test data.
In the days leading up to the Birkie, daytime highs will be +- a couple degrees of zero. It appears that we should probably avoid any significant melt and conditions should be relatively stable.
GLIDE: Our two winning glide waxes were:
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We tested a LOT of grip wax over the weekend. In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip. It really became a question of which waxes were the fastest.
The grip waxes we tested broke down into three categories.
Rode VXPS is one of our favourite waxes in warm, mixed conditions; exactly like we are seeing on the Birkie trails. And it didn’t disappoint in testing on both Saturday and Sunday. We found this wax to be fast and with excellent kick. As it stands, this would be our primary recommendation.
Rode Super Blue was also extremely good. The temperature range for this wax is MUCH wider than indicated on the tin (-1/-3). This wax is a little less tacky than VXPS and could be a very good choice in the colder end of the forecast temperature range. We found that it was still providing excellent kick well into Sunday afternoon.
Rode VPS is similar to VXPS, but for colder conditions. It was on the edge of kick on Sunday and was too slick in some places. We will keep this in mind as a go-to option iif temperatures end up a bit colder than expected.
Rex N41 is very different to any of the other waxes tested. This is a kick wax/klister combo, specific for old snow. The sensation of skiing on this wax is very different from traditional hardwax. Whereas normal hardwax has a very linear build into grip as you kick, klister mixes like N41 are much more of an off/on feeling. The grip goes from 0 to 100% like flipping a switch as you complete your kick. We wouldn’t suggest this wax as the primary choice for most people. But, if you have a couple of pairs of skis, this might be an interesting option for your B pair. IMPORTANT NOTE –> this wax is for old snow only… no goofing around. If any new snow falls in the days leading up to the Brikie, this wax will ice like crazy and would be a very bad choice!
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will continue to carry out on-snow testing through the days leading up to the Birkie, and will provide updates if the situation changes due to test results or forecast. At a minimum, we will post a final recommendation on Wednesday to allow you to prepare your skis for the weekend.
Wax Recommendation #2 February 2, 2023
WARNING:
Continue to take everything you are about to read with a grain of salt. We are still eight days away from the 2023 Birkie. And that is still in the long range territory for any forecast. But, as a person who spends an inordinate amount of time looking at and thinking about forecasts, Weather Underground is the best (by far). And we are now in that forecast window.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/strathcona-county
FORECAST:
We are likely looking at significantly warmer conditions than what was initially predicted by The Weather Network at the time of our last update. It looks like temperatures for Birke day will be in the range of:
Overnight low: -7
Daytime high: -3
(10 degrees warmer than initially expected, updated wax thoughts follow)
GLIDE:
Good options may include:
Depending on how much freeze/thaw there is in the days leading up to the event, we may also look at:
GRIP:
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 is always Vauhti Super Base. This binder is unmatched for both speed and durability.
Kick Wax:
Probable options for kick will include:
Depending on how much freeze/thaw there is in the days leading up to the event, we may also look at the Start Oslo waxes.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We plan to complete significant on-snow testing this coming Sunday as morning conditions look to be quite similar to Birkie day on the following weekend. We will have detailed results and an updated recommendation posted by Monday. Updates will follow in the days leading up to the Birkie.
Long Range Wax Recommendation (Jan 30th, 2023)
WARNING:
Take everything you are about to read with a grain of salt. We are still two weeks away from the 2023 Birkie and the only weather forecast reaching that far is from The Weather Network. It is the case that 14 day forecasts are notoriously unreliable. And The Weather Network also happens to be my LEAST favourite forecast. So it is important to focus on the trends, rather than specifics. 14 day forecast here
FORECAST:
It appears that temperatures will remain cold through to Thursday (Feb 2) and then, as the polar vortex dissipates, temperatures start to warm for Friday and especially through the weekend (Feb 3-5). Next weekend’s daytime high temperatures may be in the range of -5 or warmer.
These warm conditions won’t last, however, as the temperature drops the following week and all the way through to the Birkie. It looks like temperatures leading up to and including race weekend will be in the range of:
Overnight low: -11
Daytime high: -8
There also seems to be a high likelihood of snow on several days between now and the race. With minus degree temperatures all the way through, this should do a great job of mostly eliminating the effects of the freeze/thaw from last week.
Things are looking good.
GLIDE:
Waxing for glide should be straightforward. cold temperatures are going to require cold glide waxes.
Please note that in keeping with modern waxing, and our supply of product, our glide recommendations are going to be flouro-free. However, the Birkie is not subject to the normal flouro rules for racing in North America. So if you have flouro waxes at home that you wish to use, in some cases you will be able to substitute our NF recommendation with the HF equivalent.
Good options may include:
Rode RXL Cold
Vauhti Pure Cold
Star Next Polar
Some other strong possibilities may include the following. Although, conditions might be borderline too cold for these waxes:
- Rex G21/RG22 spray
- Star Next Cold
- Swix HS6 spray
Some waxes that I don’t think will be in the mix:
- Vauhti Pure LDR (suspect there will be too much new snow for this to run)
- Rex G41/RG42 (suspect there will be too much new snow for this to run)
- Rex G21G/RG21G ((suspect there will not be enough new snow for this to run)
For the long distance races (30km/55km), you might want to consider ironing/scraping/brushing a layer of cold glide wax first (e.g. Swix PS5) before applying the liquid. You may also want to consider applying 2-3 layers of liquid… apply, allow to dry, roto-fleece (optional), brush, repeat.
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 is always Vauhti Super Base. This binder is unmatched for both speed and durability. Other options would include Swix VG35, Toko Base Green, etc.
The Swix spray binder (VGS35C) would also be a reasonable choice. But don’t confuse this with the spray klister binder (KB20). Based on current conditions and the forecast, you definitely won’t want any sort of klister as a binder; spray or otherwise.
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 VP/VR 30
- Etc.
Lots of cold waxes should provide enough kick. The trick will be figuring out which one is the fastest.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will plan to post an updated recommendation after next weekend. We will plan for this to be a testing based recommendation, but will evaluate as necessary based on the conditions and outlook at the time.
Edmonton Alberta Cup (Jan 21/22) Special Waxing Update
SUMMARY:
Glide - Rode RXL Med
Base binder- Vauhti Super Base
Grip options to test on Saturday - Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M21 Beta.
THE TEST:
On Thursday evening (Jan 19), we completed on-snow glide testing on the racecourse.
The course is a mixture of natural and man made snow. But more so mixed in sections, rather than together. In other words, there is a stretch of mostly man made snow, a stretch of mostly natural snow, more man made snow, etc.
THE WEATHER:
The temperature was approximately -7 at the time of our test. However, the weekend is looking warmer.
Saturday - morning low -4, afternoon high +1
Sunday - morning low -2, afternoon high +1
Our recommendation reflects the difference in temperature between this evening and race time.
GLIDE:
Overall glide ranking was:
Based on these results, we are suggesting Rode RXL Med as the best option for the weekend. We don’t expect the snow to get significantly wet, so this wax will continue to work even with the warming temperatures. In the event that a lot of moisture starts coming out of the snow, Rode RXL Warm will be a good option.
GRIP:
Thankfully, the precipitation which had been forecast for during the day on Saturday has shifted to the evening. This will make grip waxing a lot more straightforward.
Due to the man made snow and old natural snow at the venue, a strong base binder will be necessary.
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.
Possible kick options to test may include Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M2 Beta.
January 16-23 - Wax Ideas for the week & Alberta Cup
This coming weekend (January 21 and 22), Edmonton Nordic Ski Club will be hosting Alberta Cup races at Goldbar Park. We will plan to complete wax testing during the middle part of the week to have a race specific recommendation posted for the weekend.
THE WEATHER:
For the early part of the week, temperatures hold steady with overnight lows in the range of -8 and daytime highs of -2. As of Friday, however, things seem to change (just in time for racing) with much warmer temperatures for Saturday and Sunday.
GLIDE:
Throughout the week, anything in the mid or purple range will be great (e.g. Rode RLX Med or Swix 7, etc.). Although the daytime high will be above zero on Saturday, the sun is still relatively low in the sky and we would not expect significant melting. So, despite the temperatures, it will likely not be the appropriate condition for the warmer red (and certainly yellow) waxes.
GRIP:
There was some freezing rain on Saturday in Edmonton and, while that will likely be groomed away during the week, the snow is going to be a bit more abrasive. A base binder will be a good idea to ensure the durability of your classic wax.
Throughout the week, Rode VO or VPS will be good options. Swix VR45 could also be a good possibility for some additional grip.
ALBERTA CUP - EARLY THOUGHTS:
Some early thoughts for the Edmonton Alberta cup based on the forecast alone.
There is significant man made snow at Goldbar Park. That, combined with the rain this past weekend, and the fact that we haven’t seen much new snow in many weeks, will mean the snow will be acting old.
Best guesses for glide would include: Vauhti Pure LDR (wide temperature range and great on old snow), Rex G41 (same idea), or Rode RLX Med (Saturday) or Cold (Sunday).
Best guess for grip would include: strong base binder, best choice is Vauhti Superbase. Possible kick options may include Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M26 Beta.
Stay tuned for a specific race wax recommendation later in the week!
January 8-15th
Here are some wax ideas from Paul Moore, as Patrick Moore makes his way back from Europe and a successful Tour de Ski
THE WEATHER:
Temperatures seem to be holding steady with daily highs of -6 and lows in the range of -11 until Thursday. After that, it looks like things will warm up a bit, with highs reaching around -3 over the weekend. So here are some ideas to enjoy the great skiing we have in the Edmonton area right now.
(You’ll note that, given the fairly consistent temperatures, there’s not a huge variation from last week. But let’s get to it!)
COMPLICATED GLIDE:
Similar to last week, here’s what I’d do if you have a bit of time, the tools and are willing to put in a bit of effort to get the best glide possible.
Again, I’d start with ironing (iron at 155 as recommended on the package), cooling, scraping and brushing two layers of Swix CH4 paraffin. This is going to be your glide base wax, which will likely help with durability of your final layer of wax. This is certainly an optional step.
I would then apply Rode RLX Blue. We have found the Rode non-fluoro liquids to be a really good option and very consistent, and the blue has a nicely wide range.
When the weather warms up a bit towards the weekend, pay attention to the snow temperature and - if you have the option - for sure stick a thermometer in the snow. The snow might get warm enough to move into the Rode RLX Med type of range.
Here’s a secret, though.
At this past weekend’s Alberta Cup skate races in Canmore, the snow temperature was right around -4, which is warm enough for Med. But the snow was super dry and old, so the Cold was also running well.
So I got a bit creative. On the front half of my skate skis, I applied the Rode RXL Blue as per normal. On the back half of my skis, though, I applied a 50/50 mix of Blue and Med. It’s a bit unconventional, but that combo really seemed to boost the speed and was testing faster for me than either the Blue or the Med on their own.
Whatever you decide to put on, after applying the liqiud, let it dry for at least 20 minutes (or longer if you can). Then, if you have one, I would use a roto fleece to spread the wax on the ski.
After that, it’s a simple brush and you’re done.
SIMPLE GLIDE:
Again this week, things are pretty simple. Just about anything blue is going to be right in your wheelhouse when it’s colder in the earlier part of the week.. If you have it, a Swix 5 or 6 liquid or paraffin would be a good guess.
When it gets a bit warmer later on, reach for something purple - something in the Swix 7 series, for example.
COMPLICATED GRIP:
Enjoy these days where we’re not yet into the freeze/thaw cycle and you don’t have to even start to think about klister yet.
To get rollerski grip, I would start with Vauhti Super Base as a binder.
On the colder days earlier in the week, Then, depending on the camber of your skis, I would go with three light layers of Rode B17 (of course corking each layer), covered by two layers of Rode B310.
By the weekend, I bet Rode VO is going to be almost impossible to beat. We’ve raced on that stuff a ton (including at the Pyeongchang Olympics) on older snow and when the temperature is in that -4 type of range. It’s honesty one of my favourite waxes.
SIMPLE GRIP:
Swix blue or extra blue when it’s cold on Monday - Thursday.
Swix violet or extra violet once it gets warmer. We used to call that stuff “all purpose purple” for a reason. 🙂
2024 Alberta Winter Games Zone 5 & 6 Cross-Country Qualifier & Orange Crush Time Trial Stage Event
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
Canadian Birkebeiner
2023 Wax Service (Glide & base binder):
Drop off Tues 7th, pick-up Thurs 9th PM
Drop off Wed 8th, pick-up Fri 10th PM
FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY, Feb 10th:
The summary of our final testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
Glide - Star Next Med liquid or Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquidOther options include: Rode RXL Med liquid, Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid, or Swix HS7 spray
Base binder - Vauhti Super Base
Kick wax - Rode VXPS
Other options include Swix VP/VR 55 (or VR60), Rode Super Blue (or Violet Extra)
Other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick
SNOW CONDITIONS:
We tested on snow Friday morning on the Birkie course, starting from Waskehegan. The tracks were in very good condition and not icey. Hard wax was working great!
FORECAST:
No significant change in forecast for Birkie day.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
Expect a morning low of -5 and afternoon high of +3.
GLIDE:
Our two winning glide waxes were:
Star Next Med liquid
Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
Other reasonable options include:
Rode RXL Med liquid
Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid
Swix HS7 spray
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We have tested a LOT of grip wax over the past week (see our previous posts for full details). In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip.
In our final test today, we tested the following:
Rode VXPS - still the best kick with high speed, completely dependable everywhere
Swix VP/VR 55 - enough kick but felt like it was releasing slightly early, a short layer of VP/VR60 might be a good idea for the early starters, and perhaps straight to VP/VR60 for the later starts
Rode Super Blue - enough kick but felt like it was releasing early, a short layer of Rode Violet Extra might be a good idea for the early starters, and perhaps straight to Violet extra for the later starts
Ultimately, everything we tested today was working well and other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
This is our final recommendation for the 2023 Birkie. Good luck and have a great ski! See you on the trails!
Wax Recommendation #4
February 8, 2023
RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY:
The summary of our testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
Glide - Star Next Med liquid or Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquidOther options include: Rode RXL Med liquid, Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid, or Swix HS7 spray
Base binder - Vauhti Super Base
Kick wax - Rode VXPS
Other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick
SNOW CONDITIONS:
We have it on good authority from people setting up the course that the snow is in good condition throughout. Additionally, there has been lots of work snow farming to fill in any icy and/or dirty spots.
We understand that grooming will start Thursday night and continue Friday night, working from the Ukrainian Village back to Waskehagen. The groomers need to work when it is coldest, so in the evening and early morning.
The tracks should be in great condition!
FORECAST:
No significant change in forecast from our Sunday update.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
As I write this (Wednesday evening), the forecast for Birkie day is a morning low of -4 and afternoon high of +3.
Those temperatures are very similar to what we experienced during testing last weekend. Additionally, Friday morning should be in the same range, making for a good final kick test.
GLIDE:
Our two winning glide waxes were:
- Star Next Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
Other reasonable options include:
- Rode RXL Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid
- Swix HS7 spray
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We tested a LOT of grip wax over the past weekend (see our last post for full details). In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip.
Although the classic tracks were icy luge tracks on Tuesday, based on the forecast and when grooming will occur, we continue to think that hardwax will be the preferred choice.
Our recommended kick wax is Rode VXPS, which is one of our favourite waxes in warm, mixed conditions; exactly like we are seeing on the Birkie trails.
As an alternative, other waxes in the warm purple / red range should provide sufficient kick.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will make a final on-snow kick test on Friday morning and post the results as soon as they are available. If you are keen to start waxing skis, a good idea could be to start working on glide wax and then finalize your grip wax later on Friday when our final kick test results are available.
Wax Recommendation #3
February 5, 2023
TESTING SUMMARY:
This was a marathon weekend of testing for the Birkie, all on snow at Islet Lake. Fast Trax completed significant glide testing on Saturday. On Sunday we made a confirmation test for glide, but largely focused on kick.
The summary of our testing results and recommendation follows with full discussion below.
- Glide - Star Next Med liquid or Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
- Other options include: Rode RXL Med liquid, Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid, or Swix HS7 spray
- Base binder - Vauhti Super Base
- Kick wax - Rode VXPS
FORECAST:
I’ve discovered that there is a Weather Underground (my preferred forecast network!) station right at Islet Lake. This is central to the Birkie course and is a perfect location.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/beaver-county/IBEAVE40
As I write this (Sunday afternoon), the forecast for Birkie day is a morning low of -4 and afternoon high of 0. A morning temperature in that range is remarkably similar to the weekend we’ve just had, which will make for extremely useful test data.
In the days leading up to the Birkie, daytime highs will be +- a couple degrees of zero. It appears that we should probably avoid any significant melt and conditions should be relatively stable.
GLIDE: Our two winning glide waxes were:
- Star Next Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race Mid liquid
- Rode RXL Med liquid
- Vauhti Pure Race LDR liquid
- Swix HS7 spray
For the longer events (31km and 55km), we suggest 2-3 layers. Apply, allow to dry completely, fleece (optional), repeat. Brush well with a soft/medium nylon brush after the final layer.
GRIP:
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.
We tested a number of base binders, including various mixtures to try for additional speed, and Vauhti Super Base was the best. Although I prefer the traditional hardwax option here, either the hardwax version (crayon very thin in grip zone, melt in with heat gun or iron, cork smooth, allow to cool) or the liquid option (follow the directions on the bottle) are reasonable choices.
Grip Wax:
We tested a LOT of grip wax over the weekend. In general, we found that most grip waxes which would fall within the appropriate temperature and condition range were providing enough grip. It really became a question of which waxes were the fastest.
The grip waxes we tested broke down into three categories.
- Our Favourites
- Rode VXPS - fast, really solid kick, excellent
- Rode Super Blue - fast, really solid kick, excellent
- Rex N41 - similar speed and kick to VXPS, but very different qualities (more on this below)
- Rode VPS - fast, but on the edge of kick; would be a good option if temperatures end up being colder than expected
- Good kick but too slow / draggy
- Rode BV15 - wax was catching
- Guru Red - good kick but started to pick up some ice
- Swix VP60 - slower than the favourites without any improvement in kick
- Swix VX53 - slower than the favourites without any improvement in kick
- Too slick / not enough kick
- Swix VP55 - fast, but not enough kick
Rode VXPS is one of our favourite waxes in warm, mixed conditions; exactly like we are seeing on the Birkie trails. And it didn’t disappoint in testing on both Saturday and Sunday. We found this wax to be fast and with excellent kick. As it stands, this would be our primary recommendation.
Rode Super Blue was also extremely good. The temperature range for this wax is MUCH wider than indicated on the tin (-1/-3). This wax is a little less tacky than VXPS and could be a very good choice in the colder end of the forecast temperature range. We found that it was still providing excellent kick well into Sunday afternoon.
Rode VPS is similar to VXPS, but for colder conditions. It was on the edge of kick on Sunday and was too slick in some places. We will keep this in mind as a go-to option iif temperatures end up a bit colder than expected.
Rex N41 is very different to any of the other waxes tested. This is a kick wax/klister combo, specific for old snow. The sensation of skiing on this wax is very different from traditional hardwax. Whereas normal hardwax has a very linear build into grip as you kick, klister mixes like N41 are much more of an off/on feeling. The grip goes from 0 to 100% like flipping a switch as you complete your kick. We wouldn’t suggest this wax as the primary choice for most people. But, if you have a couple of pairs of skis, this might be an interesting option for your B pair. IMPORTANT NOTE –> this wax is for old snow only… no goofing around. If any new snow falls in the days leading up to the Brikie, this wax will ice like crazy and would be a very bad choice!
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will continue to carry out on-snow testing through the days leading up to the Birkie, and will provide updates if the situation changes due to test results or forecast. At a minimum, we will post a final recommendation on Wednesday to allow you to prepare your skis for the weekend.
Wax Recommendation #2 February 2, 2023
WARNING:
Continue to take everything you are about to read with a grain of salt. We are still eight days away from the 2023 Birkie. And that is still in the long range territory for any forecast. But, as a person who spends an inordinate amount of time looking at and thinking about forecasts, Weather Underground is the best (by far). And we are now in that forecast window.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/strathcona-county
FORECAST:
We are likely looking at significantly warmer conditions than what was initially predicted by The Weather Network at the time of our last update. It looks like temperatures for Birke day will be in the range of:
Overnight low: -7
Daytime high: -3
(10 degrees warmer than initially expected, updated wax thoughts follow)
GLIDE:
Good options may include:
- Rode RXL Med
- Vauhti Pure Mid
- Star Next Med
- Rex G21/RG22 spray
- Swix HS7
Depending on how much freeze/thaw there is in the days leading up to the event, we may also look at:
- Vauhti Pure LDR
- Rex G41/RG42
GRIP:
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 is always Vauhti Super Base. This binder is unmatched for both speed and durability.
Kick Wax:
Probable options for kick will include:
- Rode B17
- Rode B15
- Rode VO
- Swix VP/VR 45
- Etc.
Depending on how much freeze/thaw there is in the days leading up to the event, we may also look at the Start Oslo waxes.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We plan to complete significant on-snow testing this coming Sunday as morning conditions look to be quite similar to Birkie day on the following weekend. We will have detailed results and an updated recommendation posted by Monday. Updates will follow in the days leading up to the Birkie.
Long Range Wax Recommendation (Jan 30th, 2023)
WARNING:
Take everything you are about to read with a grain of salt. We are still two weeks away from the 2023 Birkie and the only weather forecast reaching that far is from The Weather Network. It is the case that 14 day forecasts are notoriously unreliable. And The Weather Network also happens to be my LEAST favourite forecast. So it is important to focus on the trends, rather than specifics. 14 day forecast here
FORECAST:
It appears that temperatures will remain cold through to Thursday (Feb 2) and then, as the polar vortex dissipates, temperatures start to warm for Friday and especially through the weekend (Feb 3-5). Next weekend’s daytime high temperatures may be in the range of -5 or warmer.
These warm conditions won’t last, however, as the temperature drops the following week and all the way through to the Birkie. It looks like temperatures leading up to and including race weekend will be in the range of:
Overnight low: -11
Daytime high: -8
There also seems to be a high likelihood of snow on several days between now and the race. With minus degree temperatures all the way through, this should do a great job of mostly eliminating the effects of the freeze/thaw from last week.
Things are looking good.
GLIDE:
Waxing for glide should be straightforward. cold temperatures are going to require cold glide waxes.
Please note that in keeping with modern waxing, and our supply of product, our glide recommendations are going to be flouro-free. However, the Birkie is not subject to the normal flouro rules for racing in North America. So if you have flouro waxes at home that you wish to use, in some cases you will be able to substitute our NF recommendation with the HF equivalent.
Good options may include:
Rode RXL Cold
Vauhti Pure Cold
Star Next Polar
Some other strong possibilities may include the following. Although, conditions might be borderline too cold for these waxes:
- Rex G21/RG22 spray
- Star Next Cold
- Swix HS6 spray
Some waxes that I don’t think will be in the mix:
- Vauhti Pure LDR (suspect there will be too much new snow for this to run)
- Rex G41/RG42 (suspect there will be too much new snow for this to run)
- Rex G21G/RG21G ((suspect there will not be enough new snow for this to run)
For the long distance races (30km/55km), you might want to consider ironing/scraping/brushing a layer of cold glide wax first (e.g. Swix PS5) before applying the liquid. You may also want to consider applying 2-3 layers of liquid… apply, allow to dry, roto-fleece (optional), brush, repeat.
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 is always Vauhti Super Base. This binder is unmatched for both speed and durability. Other options would include Swix VG35, Toko Base Green, etc.
The Swix spray binder (VGS35C) would also be a reasonable choice. But don’t confuse this with the spray klister binder (KB20). Based on current conditions and the forecast, you definitely won’t want any sort of klister as a binder; spray or otherwise.
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 VP/VR 30
- Etc.
Lots of cold waxes should provide enough kick. The trick will be figuring out which one is the fastest.
UPCOMING RECOMMENDATIONS:
We will plan to post an updated recommendation after next weekend. We will plan for this to be a testing based recommendation, but will evaluate as necessary based on the conditions and outlook at the time.
Edmonton Alberta Cup (Jan 21/22) Special Waxing Update
SUMMARY:
Glide - Rode RXL Med
Base binder- Vauhti Super Base
Grip options to test on Saturday - Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M21 Beta.
THE TEST:
On Thursday evening (Jan 19), we completed on-snow glide testing on the racecourse.
The course is a mixture of natural and man made snow. But more so mixed in sections, rather than together. In other words, there is a stretch of mostly man made snow, a stretch of mostly natural snow, more man made snow, etc.
THE WEATHER:
The temperature was approximately -7 at the time of our test. However, the weekend is looking warmer.
Saturday - morning low -4, afternoon high +1
Sunday - morning low -2, afternoon high +1
Our recommendation reflects the difference in temperature between this evening and race time.
GLIDE:
Overall glide ranking was:
- Rode RXL Med
- Star Next Med liquid
- Star Beta Med liquid
- Rex G41 spray
- Swix HS7 spray
- Vauthi Pure Race LDR
Based on these results, we are suggesting Rode RXL Med as the best option for the weekend. We don’t expect the snow to get significantly wet, so this wax will continue to work even with the warming temperatures. In the event that a lot of moisture starts coming out of the snow, Rode RXL Warm will be a good option.
GRIP:
Thankfully, the precipitation which had been forecast for during the day on Saturday has shifted to the evening. This will make grip waxing a lot more straightforward.
Due to the man made snow and old natural snow at the venue, a strong base binder will be necessary.
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.
Possible kick options to test may include Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M2 Beta.
January 16-23 - Wax Ideas for the week & Alberta Cup
This coming weekend (January 21 and 22), Edmonton Nordic Ski Club will be hosting Alberta Cup races at Goldbar Park. We will plan to complete wax testing during the middle part of the week to have a race specific recommendation posted for the weekend.
THE WEATHER:
For the early part of the week, temperatures hold steady with overnight lows in the range of -8 and daytime highs of -2. As of Friday, however, things seem to change (just in time for racing) with much warmer temperatures for Saturday and Sunday.
GLIDE:
Throughout the week, anything in the mid or purple range will be great (e.g. Rode RLX Med or Swix 7, etc.). Although the daytime high will be above zero on Saturday, the sun is still relatively low in the sky and we would not expect significant melting. So, despite the temperatures, it will likely not be the appropriate condition for the warmer red (and certainly yellow) waxes.
GRIP:
There was some freezing rain on Saturday in Edmonton and, while that will likely be groomed away during the week, the snow is going to be a bit more abrasive. A base binder will be a good idea to ensure the durability of your classic wax.
Throughout the week, Rode VO or VPS will be good options. Swix VR45 could also be a good possibility for some additional grip.
ALBERTA CUP - EARLY THOUGHTS:
Some early thoughts for the Edmonton Alberta cup based on the forecast alone.
There is significant man made snow at Goldbar Park. That, combined with the rain this past weekend, and the fact that we haven’t seen much new snow in many weeks, will mean the snow will be acting old.
Best guesses for glide would include: Vauhti Pure LDR (wide temperature range and great on old snow), Rex G41 (same idea), or Rode RLX Med (Saturday) or Cold (Sunday).
Best guess for grip would include: strong base binder, best choice is Vauhti Superbase. Possible kick options may include Rode VXPS, Swix VX63, Star M26 Beta.
Stay tuned for a specific race wax recommendation later in the week!
January 8-15th
Here are some wax ideas from Paul Moore, as Patrick Moore makes his way back from Europe and a successful Tour de Ski
THE WEATHER:
Temperatures seem to be holding steady with daily highs of -6 and lows in the range of -11 until Thursday. After that, it looks like things will warm up a bit, with highs reaching around -3 over the weekend. So here are some ideas to enjoy the great skiing we have in the Edmonton area right now.
(You’ll note that, given the fairly consistent temperatures, there’s not a huge variation from last week. But let’s get to it!)
COMPLICATED GLIDE:
Similar to last week, here’s what I’d do if you have a bit of time, the tools and are willing to put in a bit of effort to get the best glide possible.
Again, I’d start with ironing (iron at 155 as recommended on the package), cooling, scraping and brushing two layers of Swix CH4 paraffin. This is going to be your glide base wax, which will likely help with durability of your final layer of wax. This is certainly an optional step.
I would then apply Rode RLX Blue. We have found the Rode non-fluoro liquids to be a really good option and very consistent, and the blue has a nicely wide range.
When the weather warms up a bit towards the weekend, pay attention to the snow temperature and - if you have the option - for sure stick a thermometer in the snow. The snow might get warm enough to move into the Rode RLX Med type of range.
Here’s a secret, though.
At this past weekend’s Alberta Cup skate races in Canmore, the snow temperature was right around -4, which is warm enough for Med. But the snow was super dry and old, so the Cold was also running well.
So I got a bit creative. On the front half of my skate skis, I applied the Rode RXL Blue as per normal. On the back half of my skis, though, I applied a 50/50 mix of Blue and Med. It’s a bit unconventional, but that combo really seemed to boost the speed and was testing faster for me than either the Blue or the Med on their own.
Whatever you decide to put on, after applying the liqiud, let it dry for at least 20 minutes (or longer if you can). Then, if you have one, I would use a roto fleece to spread the wax on the ski.
After that, it’s a simple brush and you’re done.
SIMPLE GLIDE:
Again this week, things are pretty simple. Just about anything blue is going to be right in your wheelhouse when it’s colder in the earlier part of the week.. If you have it, a Swix 5 or 6 liquid or paraffin would be a good guess.
When it gets a bit warmer later on, reach for something purple - something in the Swix 7 series, for example.
COMPLICATED GRIP:
Enjoy these days where we’re not yet into the freeze/thaw cycle and you don’t have to even start to think about klister yet.
To get rollerski grip, I would start with Vauhti Super Base as a binder.
On the colder days earlier in the week, Then, depending on the camber of your skis, I would go with three light layers of Rode B17 (of course corking each layer), covered by two layers of Rode B310.
By the weekend, I bet Rode VO is going to be almost impossible to beat. We’ve raced on that stuff a ton (including at the Pyeongchang Olympics) on older snow and when the temperature is in that -4 type of range. It’s honesty one of my favourite waxes.
SIMPLE GRIP:
Swix blue or extra blue when it’s cold on Monday - Thursday.
Swix violet or extra violet once it gets warmer. We used to call that stuff “all purpose purple” for a reason. 🙂