IMPORTANT RACE WAXING CONSIDERATIONS
FORECAST
Friday night cold and mostly cloudy. Low temp -1F. Saturday, race day, mostly sunny. High of 28F. Humidity is expected to be 80%. 3 mph SW wind. 10% chance of precipitation.
COURSE CONDITIONS
Course is in great shape. Track is firm, well groomed. Snow is considered moderately abrasive due to the sharp new snow crystals and transformed older snow that is being brought to the surface by the tilling of the grooming machines. Some dirt is present namely at road crossings.
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 (T0192). This is very important to “open†up the base pores to receive race wax. Apply two layers of new Swix MB77 base conditioning wax. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
2. Durability
For a race of this length, it is very impor-tant to use several layers of wax and make sure the base pores are 100% saturated. After above base preparation is completed, follow wax recommendations on page 3.
3. Brushing
Be sure to treat each wax layer as if it is a final race layer. We recommend using the Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192) as the first brushes 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 (.25mm) structure. If you need to add structure to your skis, use the Swix T401 Super Riller and apply a .25mm linear rill. Do this after race glide waxing & brushing is finished. Do a final brushing after applying rill with your blue nylon polishing brush.
GLIDE WAX APPLICATION
Note that we have 3 levels of wax choice based on your wave position and how you classify yourself as a racer / weekend warrior / Birkie enthusiast.
SPEED-AT-ALL-COST WAVES Elite & 1-5
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers of Swix HF6BD. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply Swix FC7 Cera F Powder. Iron in with one pass w/ iron temperature at 155C. Pass should take 5-7 seconds. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush up powder using Swix Black Nylon brush (T0160). Iron second time as above. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
SPEED-AT-ALL-COST WAVES 6-10
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers of Swix HF7BD. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply Swix FC07 Cera F Powder. Iron in with one pass w/ iron temperature at 155C. Pass should take 5-7 seconds. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush up powder using Swix Black Nylon brush (T0160). Iron second time as above. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
PERFORMANCE PRO WAVES 1-5
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers of Swix HF6. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply Swix FC1 Turbo Solid. Rub on layer & lightly cork in. Rub on 2nd layer. Iron in with temp. at 145C, one pass length of ski. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
PERFORMANCE PRO WAVES 6-10
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers of Swix HF7. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply Swix FC1 Turbo Solid. Rub on layer & lightly cork in. Rub on 2nd layer. Iron in w/ temp. at 145C, one pass length of ski. Let cool 20 minutes. Brush out with Wild Boar Brush (T0164) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
PERFORMANCE WAVES 1-5
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply one layer of Swix LF6. Iron in, let cool 20 minutes. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers Swix LF7. Let cool 20 minutes, scrape & brush out using Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
PERFORMANCE WAVES 6-10
Base Race Glide Wax: Apply one layer of Swix LF7. Iron in, let cool 20 minutes. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).
Race Glide Wax: Apply two layers Swix LF7. Let cool 20 minutes, scrape & brush out using Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192) and finish polish with Blue Nylon (T0160).
KICK WAX APPLICATION
KICK ZONE PREP
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 new Swix TOO11 Cork and Sandpaper combi tool works great for this.
BASE KICK WAX
Make sure kick zone is clean and sanded as per above. Apply a layer of Swix VG35 Base Wax. Rub on generous layer. Iron in 110C. Let cool. Lightly cork smooth (2-3 strokes). Apply two layers of Swix V40 Blue Extra. Cork very smooth between each layer. Let cool. You are now ready to apply final race wax.
RACE KICK WAX
Waves Elite & 1-5: Apply 6-8 thin layers of Swix VR40/VR45 HardWax. Alternate layers and end with VR40.
Waves 6-10: Apply 6-8 thin layers of Swix VR45/VR50 HardWax. Alternate layers and end with VR45.
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 and down from the high point. Build the wax in the middle of the kick zone which is directly under the ball of your foot.
