Swix: American Birkebeiner Wax Recommendation – UPDATED

IMPORTANT RACE WAXING CONSIDERATIONS

Forecast

Friday night cold and partly cloudy. 0% chance of snow. Low 1F / -16C. 1-3mph NE wind. Saturday partly cloudy. High of 32F / 0C. Temps around 14F / -10C by 9:00 a.m., and 25F / -4C by noon.

Humidity near 80% overnight, and dropping through the day. 5-7 mph N wind. 0% chance of snow.

Course Conditions

Track has firm base. Snow is moderately abrasive due to the sharp new snow crystals and transformed snow that is being brought to the surface by the tilling of the grooming machines. Some dirt is present.

WAXING CONSIDERATIONS

1. BASE PREPARATION

Clean glide zones with Swix Base Prep 99 using the “hot scrape” method. Scrape and brush using Swix Fine Steel brush (T192). This is very important to “open” up the base pores to receive race wax. If you are going to be using Swix Cera F, you may want to try our new base cleaner & conditioner, I0084 to enhance flouro base bonding. After cleaning, apply one layer of Swix MB77 base conditioning wax. Scrape and brush with the Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R).

2. DURABILITY

For a race of this length it is very important to use several layers of wax and make sure the base pores are 100% saturated and proper base hard- ness is achieved. We are recommending HF, HFBW and Cera F waxes because of their strength, durability, and wide temperature ranges.

3. BRUSHING

Be sure to treat each wax layer as if it is a final race layer. We recommend using the Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R) as the first brush after scraping. This is by far the best brush to use for removing excess wax from fine structure. Final polish with a Blue Nylon Brush (T0160) is recommended.

4. SKI SELECTION & STRUCTURE

Use a medium flex ski with a fine structure. If you need to add structure, use the Swix T401 Super Riller and apply a .50mm linear rill, and/or, use the new Swix T403 Structure Tool and apply a .3mm broken structure. Do a final brushing after applying rill with your blue nylon polishing brush.

GLIDE WAX APPLICATION

Note that we have (3) levels of glide wax choice based on your wave position and how you classify yourself.

Glide Wax:

SPEED-AT-ALL-COST WAVES Elite & 1-5

Base Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF4BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T1790/T179R) Race Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF4 or HF4BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Overlay: Apply Swix FC07 Cera F Powder. Iron in with one pass (5-7 seconds) w/ iron temperature at 155C. Let cool 5 minutes. Brush up powder using Swix Black Nylon brush (T0194). Iron second time as above. Let cool 5 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164B) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

SPEED-AT-ALL-COST WAVES 6-10

Base Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF4 or HF4BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T1790/T179R) Race Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF6 or HF6BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Overlay: Apply Swix FC07 Cera F Powder or FC78 SuperCera. Iron in with one pass (5-7 seconds) w/ iron temperature at 155C (165C for FC78). Let cool 5 minutes. Brush up powder using Swix Black Nylon brush (T0194). Iron second time as above. Let cool 5 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164B) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

PERFORMANCE PRO WAVES 1-5

Base Wax: Apply a layer of Swix LF4 OR HF4BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T1790/T179R) Race Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF4 or HF4BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Overlay: Apply Swix FC7BS Turbo Solid. Rub on layer & lightly cork in. Rub on 2nd layer. Iron in with temp. at 150C, one pass length of ski. Let cool 5 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164B) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

PERFORMANCE PRO WAVES 6-10

Base Wax: Apply a layer of Swix LF6 or HF6BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T1790/T179R). Race Wax: Apply a layer of Swix HF7BW. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Overlay: Apply Swix FC7BS Turbo Solid. Rub on layer & lightly cork in. Rub on2nd layer. Iron in w/ temp. at 150C, one pass length of ski. Let cool 5 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164B) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

PERFORMANCE WAVES 1-5

Base Wax: Apply one layer of Swix LF4. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Wax: Apply two layers Swix HF4 Scrape & brush out using Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

PERFORMANCE WAVES 6-10

Base Wax: Apply one layer of Swix LF6. Scrape and brush with Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R). Race Wax: Apply two layers Swix HF7. Scrape & brush out using Swix Steel Brush (T179O/T179R) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).

KICK WAX

KICK WAX APPLICATION

You will have to decide between two options for kick based on the abrasiveness of the snow (additional testing will happen in the next two days to help you make this decision): hardwax or a klister & hardwax combination. See details below. Swix will be at the Expo for waxing advice, tips & clinics.

KICK ZONE PREPARATION

Remove old kick wax and clean base with Swix wax remover and Swix fiberlene. Let base dry. Use 80-100 grit sandpaper and sand kick zone in a manner parallel to the ski base, not cross hatching! The Swix T0011 Cork & Sandpaper combi tool works great for this! A typical adult hardwax kick zone is 60-75cm from the heel forward. A typical adult klister kick zone is 60-65cm in length. You will now have to choose your kick wax binder from the 2 options below.

BASE KICK WAX-hardwax binder (if surface is mainly new snow)

Apply a generous layer of Swix VG35 Base Wax. Iron in @ 110C. Let cool. Apply a layer of Swix V40 Blue Extra. Iron in @ 110C. Let cool. Cork smooth if needed. You are now ready to apply final race hardwax wax (see below).

BASE KICK WAX-klister binder (if snow is abrasive and more durability is needed)

Apply a layer Swix KR20 Base Klister. Iron in smooth, 110C. Or, try our new KB020 base klister spray! Let cool until hard (set outside). Apply 3-5 layers of Swix VR40. Cork very smooth between each layer. Be gentle. This ski is ready to race on. Waves 6-9 use VR45.

RACE KICK WAX (for hardwax)

Waves Elite & 1-5: Apply 5-7 thin layers of Swix VR40. Waves 6-9: Apply 5-7 thin layers of Swix VR45 HardWax. Cork smooth after each layer. Do not “drag” all the wax down or up the kick zone. Cork in both directions: pulling up from the heel & down from the high point. Build the wax in the middle of the kick zone which is directly under the ball of your foot in a pyramid fashion.