Coaches,

We are getting absolutely pounded with snow here in Portland, with at least ten inches already on the ground it looks like we will be in good shape for a bit. With the races at Lake Placid coming up we thought we would get a recommendation out for the races this weekend. Below is the current weather forecast for the area for race days:

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -1. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph.

Friday Night: Cloudy, with a low around -4.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

With a mix of man made and natural snow likely, along with some dirt underneath durability and keeping the skis as clean as possible will be very important. For this we will recommend a very hard layer of Graphite as a base. SkiGo LF Graphite is the best in our opinion, and with over half the podiums at Rumford last week having used this as a first layer it has proven results in manmade dirty mixed snow. Another good choice would be Rex Graphite or Start Graphite as they are both very hard waxes that will harden the base and pick up minimal dirt. We suggest avoiding Moly as a first layer in these conditions as it is simply not hard enough. 

For Friday Classic Races:

Glide:

1st Layer: Start with a layer of SkiGo LF Graphite. The snow should be fairly abrasive with the mixed new and manmade.

2nd Layer: We have found in these colder conditions that Holmenkol Matrix Black/Blue runs very well. Also in the mix should be SkiGo HF Violet, SkiGo HF Violet mixed with SkiGo C380, and Swix HF6 and HF6BD.

3rd Layer: There should be a bunch of things that run well, certainly look at SkiGo C105 Powder and Solid, SkiGo C55/99 Fluid, Holmenkol Cold Powder and Block, SkiGo C22 Solid(Yes this is normally for warmer, but it often wins our tests in cold weather as well!), Swix FC7 Powder and Block, and the older Swix FC1 could be good.

Kick: The thought here is it should not be too hard, but that is always easier to say a few days before the event! The likelihood of a klister binder covered with hard wax or klister covered with hardwax is likely. Obviously test on race day to make sure things are working well.

1st Layer: Iron in a thin layer of Rode Skare Special or Toko Green Base Klister

2nd Layer: Depending on whether it is klister or hard wax conditions, try either Rex Blue Klister, or Rode Blue Klister. If it looks like hard wax will be better, try the covers listed in the third layer.

3rd Layer: Cover with SkiGo HF Violet or HF Blue kickwax, Rode Green or Blue Multigrade, Guru Blue or Swix VR40. If you have plenty of kick with a combo but need a touch more speed look at a thin shell of Rode Alaska or SkiGo Green on the top.

Grind: The best choices will be fine grinds such as Xti2.

For Saturday Skate Races:

Durability will be the main concern with 10K and 15K distances. Wax will be a key in this race as missing it by a little in slower colder conditions could mean major results differences.

1st Layer: SkiGo LF Graphite.

2nd Layer: Holmenkol Matrix Black/Blue or Blue, SkiGo HF Violet mixed with SkiGo C380 Powder, Swix HF6 or HF6BD, or even straight Rex Blue.

3rd Layer: There should be a bunch of things that run well, certainly look at SkiGo C105 Powder and Solid, SkiGo C55/99 Fluid, Holmenkol Cold Powder and Block, SkiGo C22 Solid(Yes this is normally for warmer, but it often wins our tests in cold weather as well!), Swix FC7 Powder and Block, and the older Swix FC1 could be good.

Topcoat: Some people may not go to this step, but putting a cold application on top of the heated in pure fluoro layer will provide initial speed for the early part of the race. Look at SkiGo C105 or C22 solid, Holmenkol Cold Block, Swix FC7, or again the older Swix FC1.

Best of luck to all, and please let us know if you have any questions. Send wax questions to bnseast@bouldernordic.com

The crew at BNS East.

207-541-7438