Preliminary American Birkebeiner Wax Recommendations

SwixFebruary 19, 2014

Wednesday , FEBRUARY 19TH 9AM

 

FORECAST- NOAA SITE

Wednesday Feb 19th:  mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Thursday Feb 20th. Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 35. Friday Feb 21st:  A chance of snow and/or rain, high of 37F, low near 18F.

Friday Feb 21st. A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 19.

Friday night. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -1.

Saturday Feb 22nd:  Partly sunny, with a high near 13.

 

 COURSE CONDITIONS

Given the new weather forecast, it is very likely that the track surface will be soft.  With the snow event on Thursday day leading into the evening, expect softer conditions on race day.  However, with the new snow, normal CH, LF and HF waxes will be the wax of choice.  BW and Moly/Graphite waxes will not run well in these new snow conditions.

 

WAXING CONSIDERATIONS

1.  Base Preparation

Clean glide zones with Swix I84 Flour Glide Wax Cleaner.  Apply I84 Cleaner with Swix Fiberlene.  While the I84 is still wet on the ski base, scrub the ski base with the Swix T161 White Nylon Brush.  Wipe excess I84 off the base with Fiberlene.  Brush out the ski with Swix T179 Steel Brush.  Next, apply one (1) layer of Swix CH10.  Use iron temperature of 135C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush out with Swix T179 Steel Brush.  For a final layer, apply one (1) layer of Swix CH6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush out with Swix T179 Steel Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

I84 FLOUR GLIDE WAX CLEANER

T161 WHITE NYLON BRUSH

T179 STEEL BRUSH

CH10 HYDROCARBON WAX

CH6 HYDROCARBON WAX

FIBERLENE

 

2.  Durability

For a race of this length it is very important to use several layers of wax and make sure the pores of the ski base are 100% saturated with the race wax of the day.  We are recommending LF, HF, and Cera F waxes because of their strength, durability and wide temperature range.

 

3.  Brushing

Be sure to treat each wax layer as if it is a final race layer.  We are recommending using the Swix T158 Bronze Brush as the first brush after scraping and the Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush as a final polish brush for all LF and HF wax layers.  For the final Cera F layer, we are recommending using the Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or the Swix T157 Horsehair Brush as a first Cera F brush and the Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush as a final polish brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

T164 WILD BOAR BRUSH

T157 HORSEHAIR BRUSH

 

4.  Ski Selection and Structure

Use a medium to medium/stiff flex ski with a fine to medium/fine structure that will be fast and float well over a soft and new snow track.  Additional hand structure is recommended due to the track and warming temperatures through Wednesday and Thursday.  We recommend using the Swix T423 structure tool with the .3MM Broken V structure roller attached after the final waxing.  Polish with the Blue Nylon brush after application.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

T423 STRUCTURE TOOL

.3MM BROKEN V STRUCTURE ROLLER

 

GLIDE WAX RECOMMENDATION:

 

FORMULA 1 LANE TO HAYWARD   Women’s Skate Elite, Men & Women Elite Classic, Wave 1 Classic and Men’s Skate Elite Waves

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) Layers of Swix LF4.  Use iron temperature of 150C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) Layers of Swix HF4.  Use iron temperature of 150C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race Cera F Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) Layer of Swix FC7 Cera F Powder or Swix FC100 Cera F Powder.  Use iron temperature of 160C to apply and move iron quickly over the ski base, 5-7 seconds per ski.  Let cool 3-4 minutes.  Brush out with Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or Swix T157 Horsehair Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-  SWIX LF4

HF BASE LAYER- SWIX HF4

CERA F LAYER-  SWIX FC7 CERA F POWDER OR FC100 CERA F POWDER

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

EXPRESS LANE TO HAYWARD     Wave 2 Classic thru Wave 5 Skate

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix LF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race Cera F Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) layer of Swix FC7 Cera Powder or Swix FC100 Cera Powder.  Use iron temperature of 160C to apply and move iron quickly over the ski base, 5-7 seconds per ski.  Let cool 3-4 minutes.  Brush out with Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or Swix T157 Horsehair Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-   SWIX LF6

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF6

CERA F LAYER-  SWIX FC7 CERA POWDER OR FC100 CERA POWDER

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

EXPRESS LANE TO HAYWARD    Waves 6-9

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix LF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF6.  Use iron temperature of 135C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race Cera F Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) layer of Swix FC7 Cera Powder or FC100 Cera Powder.  Use iron temperature of 160C to apply and move iron quickly over the ski base, 5-7 seconds per ski.  Let cool 3-4 minutes.  Brush out with Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or Swix T157 Horsehair Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-  SWIX LF6

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF6

CERA F LAYER-  SWIX FC7 CERA POWDER OR FC100 CERA POWDER

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

PERFORMANCE PRO   Wave 2 Classic Thru Wave 5 Skate

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix LF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race Cera F Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) layer of Swix FC7WS Cold Turbo Block.  Apply block and use Swix T018F Roto-Fleece to roto-fleece into ski base.  Brush out with Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or Swix T157 Horsehair Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-   SWIX LF6

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF6

CERA F LAYER-  SWIX FC7WS COLD TURBO BLOCK

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

PERFORMANCE PRO    WAVES 6-9

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix LF7.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF7.  Use iron temperature of 135C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race Cera F Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) layer of Swix FC7WS Cold Turbo Block.  Apply block and use Swix T018F Roto-Fleece to roto-fleece into ski base.  Brush out with Swix T164 Wild Boar Brush or Swix T157 Horsehair Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-   SWIX LF6

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF7

CERA F LAYER-  SWIX FC7WS COLD TURBO BLOCK

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

PERFORMANCE   Wave 2 Classic Thru Wave 5 Skate

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) one layer of Swix LF4.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF4.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-   SWIX LF4

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF4

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

PERFORMANCE   WAVES 6-9

Base LF Wax Layer:  Apply one (1) layer of Swix LF6.  Use iron temperature of 140C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

Race HF Wax Layer:  Apply two (2) layers of Swix HF6.  Use iron temperature of 135C to apply.  Let cool, scrape and brush with Swix T158 Bronze Brush.  Polish with Swix T160 Blue Nylon Brush.

PRODUCTS NEEDED-

LF BASE LAYER-   SWIX LF6

HF BASE LAYER-  SWIX HF6

T158 BRONZE BRUSH

T164/T157 WILD BOAR BRUSH/HORSEHAIR BRUSH

T160 BLUE NYLON BRUSH

 

KICK WAX RECOMMENDATION:

 

KICK WAX APPLICATION

As the race is still two days away, it is difficult to predict the exact kick wax for the Birkie.  Based on the forecast, a strong and tough hard wax binder is needed.  Using the current weather information, we will provide a preliminary Kick Wax recommendation but it will be important to check with Swix at the Expo for recommendation updates, waxing advice and tips.

 

KICK ZONE PREPARATION

Remove old kick wax with a kick wax scraper and clean the kick zone with Swix Base Cleaner and Swix Fiberlene.  Let the base dry.  Use 80 or 100 grid sandpaper and texture the kick zone by sanding the zone in a manner parallel to the groove in the ski base.  The Swix T0011 Cork and Sandpaper combi tool is ideal for this process.  A typical adult kick zone is 65-75cm from the back of heel forward.  A typical adult klister zone is 60-65cm from the front of the heel forward.

 

BASE KICK WAX:  Binder Layer

VG35 GREEN BASE BINDER COVERED WITH V40 EXTRA BLUE

Apply one (1) even, but generous layer VG35 Green Base binder.  Iron in the VG35 with the iron set at 110C and smooth even with a cork.  Let cool for 2-4 minutes.

Next, apply one even layer of Swix V40 Extra Blue over VG35.  Iron once with the iron set at 110C and smooth with a cork.  Let cool for 2-3 minutes.

 

RACE KICK WAX:  Kicking Layers

Waves Elite & 1-2:  SWIX VR30 LIGHT BLUE

Apply 4-6 thin layers of Swix VR30.  Cork smooth.

If added kick is needed, add one layer of Swix VR40 underneath the foot to 15cm in front of the binding.  It is recommended to cork outdoors to keep the wax cold.

 

Waves 3-9:  SWIX VR40 BLUE

Apply 4-6 layers of Swix VR40.  Cork smooth.  If added grip is needed, add one layer of Swix VR45 underneath the foot to 15cm in front of the binding.  It is recommended to cork outdoors.

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