Glide

Budget: Solda UF7

Better Glide: Solda UF7 base; Solda F31 Violet if you are out early. If you go out later, after 11, Solda F31 Orange. 

Fastest: Solda  UF 7 Base; Solda F40 Red; HP05 top.

Kick wax for classic leg: Today snow temp was -7C in the shade, -5C in the sun. Today Rode Super Extra, -1 to -5 was good. I will start out with that. Swix VR 40 could kick and run well too. 

The snow has tested cold all week, even though the air temps have been warm. On Saturday at race time snow temps on the course ranged from -6C to -3C. Snow is transformed, but dry. With some warming there could be some glazing in the track, but in the shade it should stay cold and fine grained.

The NOAA forecast :

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. West wind between 7 and 9 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. West wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Based on this and my testing over the last week here are some options for Solda glide wax.

Easy Economy: Crayon on a layer of Solda HC28 and wax over it with Solda UF7.  That ran well today.

Better, a little faster: Same base of Solda HC28 and UF7. Scrape and brush. Then Solda F31 Orange. Scrape and brush.

Best Glide: Same HC28 crayoned on and UF7 melted over it, ironed,  scraped and brushed. Solda F40 Carbon Red, ironed, scraped and brushed. Top coat with Solda HP05. That was very hast today, even when the air was warm.

My kick wax that worked well today was Toko Green  binder. This covered with Rode Weiss (-4 to -1C). Swix VR45 worked too. The Rode was a little freer on the glide. Could be warmer tomorrow. Might snow. If there is new snow and it is snowing, then I will get out my Zero Skis. If there is no snow, I will use hard wax on a binder.

Have a great race

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind between 5 and 11 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind between 3 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind between 7 and 11 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. West wind between 6 and 14 mph.

Snow will be transformed, probably dirty and wet.

Ideal ski is one that has a fairly soft tip, stiff mid section and some tail splay. Plus base with a warm snow grind. You are looking for a ski with a short contact zone to reduce suction on the snow.

Here is what I am doing on my skis. Start with clean bases. Hot scrape if necessary. Start with a layer of Solda HC28 crayoned on. Next a layer of Solda Performance Green ironed, scraped and brushed. Follow with a layer of Solda S30 Cold Powder. Scrape when still warm and with a medium nylon brush, brush it back and forth. Next a layer of Solda F31 Orange or Solda F40 Red. Next a Layer of Solda F40 Carbon Yellow. Finish with Solda Fluor 100 powder. If you don’t have Carbon Yellow, make your own by using the HC28 with the F40 Yellow.

Structure: If the snow is dirty, do not use a structure that is too aggressive, even if there is a lot of moisture. Dirt tends to accumulate in deep structure. Use a medium structure. Add it after the last wax layer as heating with an iron will start to reduce it. I am using a Toko Structurite tool, medium interrupted pattern.

Have a great final race of the year.

It is April 8th. 6 weeks until the Mt Bachelor Pole Pedal Paddle race. It starts with a fast Giant Slalom/Super G on the alpine area. Then athletes transition into nordic skate skis for 8km of some ice and some slush. The bicycle ride is next, 22 miles of mostly downhill to Bend. Here comes the part not on the title, the run. 5 miles on streets and trails and it ends at the park beside the Deschutes river. Now competitors paddle 1/4 mile upstream, around a buoy, 1/2 mile downstream and 1/4 mile back up to the start. Then you get to “sprint” to the finish. You can see more info at http://www.pppbend.com/race_guide.htm.

If you need to rent skis for this event, we have a few pair that can go out to the craziness. Cost for skis for the weekend will be $20. If you need boots too, another $20. Pick up should be Friday, May 20 and then drop them off at the shop on Monday, May 23.

Start training and join us in the spring time fun.

Bert

First, you want to be sure that the ski bases are clean. I skied for a couple hours last weekend and the snow was pretty old and dirty with needles, twigs, dust from China, a bit of hydraulic fluid from the groomer. I took a look at my bases and decided to do a “hot scrape”. This will remove dirt from the ski base without drying it. I use Solda Base Universal for the hot scrape. Any warm wax with a low melting point will do. You should apply a good thick layer of wax to the base and iron twice moving the iron from tip to tale in one continuous motion. After the second ironing, while the wax and base are still warm, use a clean, sharp plexiglass scraper to remove the wax. If the ski is dirty, you will see the gray discoloration in the wax peels. If the wax comes off clean, terrific. If it is gray (black in some cases), repeat the process until the scraping is clean. Set the skis aside to cool and then brush them out.

Now you are ready to wrap them up with storage wax and put them away until new snow flies next season. On my own skis I start with crayoning a layer of Solda HC28. The ski bases have a carbon additive in the base material. The HC28 helps replenish the carbon in the top layer. Then I apply the wax that will remain on the ski for the summer. You can use the Solda Base Universal. It is soft and penetrates the base well. It can, if the skis are stored where the temperature fluctuates a bit, be absorbed and leave the skis dry. For this reason I like to use a combination of Solda Performance Red and Solda UF7 mixed 50/50. This is a great combination that will withstand temperature changes and will be a great base for skiing next time. It should be applied with a good thick layer. Iron twice from tip to tail moving the iron in one direction and heating the wax and base all the same. If the layer looks thin in places, add more wax and do it again. The whole storage wax practice keeps the bases clean and keeps them from drying. Exposure to oxygen, dust and dirt is not good for good glide. Storage wax is a simple and efficient way to care for your favorite skis and be sure they start up as well as they finish.

Now if only I could storage wax my fitness so that by resting in the garage all summer it is the same in November as it is in March. I am afraid I will need to work a bit more while my skis rest. Now it is time to check out the rollerskis.

This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind around 14 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of rain before 11pm, then snow likely. Snow level 7300 feet lowering to 5900 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west between 17 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a west wind around 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Mt Bachelor will be colder, but I really don’t think the snow will be cold.

Same base as before. Cold base prep with carbon underlayer.  Then F40 Carbon Red or F40 Red. I would have the last paraffin layer of Solda F40 Orange Carbon. Top with Fluor 100 powder or Powerjet 1.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. South wind 6 to 13 mph becoming northwest.
Friday Night: Rain and snow showers likely after 11pm. Snow level 6600 feet lowering to 5400 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 13 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a west wind between 21 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

The snow is currently very dirty and warm. So here is my call as of right now, 6:00PM Thursday. I will update tomorrow if I need to.

Solda Glide Wax :  Crayon on a layer of Solda FC27. Iron in a layer of Solda UF7; next apply a layer of S30 powder to harden the base. Scrape lightly while still warm and brush it up with a stiff nylon brush. Next a layer of F40 Red Carbon. Next a layer of F40 Orange Carbon. This is the main lubricating paraffin layer. Finish with Solda HP04.  If the snow is more of a sure thing, I would use the F31 Pink in place of the Carbon Orange. and finish with Fluor 100.

Again, I will update tomorrow if need be.

Bert

NOAA forecast (on Thursday) is:

Tonight: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 24. South wind between 15 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: Snow. High near 32. Breezy, with a south wind between 22 and 28 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow. Low around 23. South wind between 7 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Saturday: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 29. South wind between 11 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

I skied this morning. Forecast temp was 21. It was about 17F when I was skiing. Snow temp was also 17 (-8C) and pretty slow. I am betting it gets colder than the forecast. The snow is already fairly cold and it won’t see the sun for a while.

So, here is my Solda recommendation:

Start with a base of Solda UF7. Then apply a layer of Solda S30 cold powder. Scrape it lightly while it is still warm and brush it up with a nylon brush. Next a layer of F15 or F31 Violet. Follow with a layer of F40 Red and F40 Violet mixed 50/50. Finish with Solda HP04.

A lower cost alternative would be same base and go with Solda F31 Pink. Top with HP04 or Powerjet 1.

If really on a budget, cover UF7 with F31 Pink. If it looks like it is going to really be colder, use F31 Violet instead.

I am actually going to prep a pair of warmer skis with a top coat of Solda HP06 and see how it runs. If those skis are better than my cold base skis, I will know the HP06 is a secret weapon. I am waxing my favorite cold, new snow skis with the HP04 top coat.

Have a great race.

NOAA Forecast for Steamboat lake is:

This Afternoon: Snow. High near 31. West southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow. Low around 23. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.

I am not on the ground at the site.  At the Steamboat Touring Center it is snowing now and about 32F. More snow in forecast. It will probably be colder up at the start, around the lake and on the top of the long climb. But a lot of that climb faces south and much of the course is in open ground, with meandering into the woods. I am counting on significant new snow and a mostly sunny, warmish day for the race.

Solda Glide Wax forecast:

Here is my current thinking. Start with a layer Solda UF7 scraped and brushed. Follow with a layer of Solda S30 powder. Scrape lightly when it is still warm and bursh it up with stiff nylon brush. Next a layer of Solda F31 Orange. Follow with Solda F40 Orange Special. Top coat with Solda Fluor 100.

If you want to get fancy you could do all of the above and then apply a layer of HP04 spray. The HP04 is for slightly colder and the spray will wear off as the day warms a bit.

Have a great race.