More Wax Tips from SkiPost

For a long time I've noticed that after the end of a ski (particularly on hard snow) that the glide areas of my skis will turn whitish.  Here's a nice answer from SkiPost that addresses the issue and gives a nice easy test to see if it's a base issue or no.  (Hint: the answer is to brush out the ski and see if it goes away).

White Marks on Bases?

I skied 42k classic race today in firm tracks. Skis were white 8" before & 8" behind kick zone.  WM

Dear WM,
You ride a classic skis flat over a longer time than a skate ski so the glide zones will magnify any issues even more than skate skis will.   Classic skis often have shorter higher pressure glide zones just ahead and just behind (especially behind) the kick zones which again magnifies any issues. These higher pressure zones with long flat contact times can cause a ski to "get white" if you have a sealed base, or even if you had excess wax in the base and did not  brush enough.

If you did not brush your skis out enough with cold hard wax the white may be excess waxed pushed out of the base during the ski. If you brush it slightly and the white disappears it was likely due to excess wax remaining in the base. Next time on cold days brush inside and then after a warm up in the cold snow brush again to remove any wax that was pushed out during the contraction of the bases when it got cold.

If the white remains after a slight brushing then it is likely base damage.  If the base is in fresh open condition you would see little whitening, but if the base is sealed slightly or more your bases will dry out quickly especially in cold fresh snow.

I suggest you get some base work done on your skis. Either a complete stone-grinding to bring up fresh base material. Or get a coarse steel brush and brush the heck out of the base, then fibertex coarse... What you want to do is remove the very outermost base material to expose fresh base material. Then start with a soft wax like Start SG2 and soak the base then SG4 and then proceed to colder harder waxes....

 Andy at SkiPost/Start

Standard Journal Write-up

For any who aren't subscribers, the Upper Valley Standard Journal did a very nice full page write up of the Cupid Cup.  Many thanks to those who took pictures, and to Joseph Law for being there to cover the event.

Click on the pictures below for the full resolution images.

Wax Nerd Info

If you ever wondered what your coefficient of friction would be with that new HF wax on your cold stone ground base, this site is for you!

Skitestguys.com

Why Do Cross-Country Skiers Always Collapse Across the Finish Line?

A nice explanation from a few physiologists (with video).  And here I thought it was just part of the drama (ala WWF) ;)

From Slate.com

Grooming report

Track cleaned up real nice and is setting up well. Set diagonal on Cow Pasture and all skate loops are done.

Cupid Cup Video

Awesome promo video of the Cupid Cup!



The Cupid Cup -Teton Lakes Nordic Trails at Teton Lakes Golf Course from Tyler Shearer on Vimeo.

Grooming Report

After all the racing today the perimeter loop was pretty tracked up, but we tuned things up this evening.  Hopefully this has time to set up nicely as the temps drop.  The Boot and the Clover Leaf were rolled out as was the Cow Pasture.  Hopefully this will provide an ongoing base for the new snowfall.

Cupid Cup Race Redux

An excellent day for the inaugural Cupid Cup at Teton Lakes here in Rexburg.  We were glad to have several folks from the surrounding area join us, and look forward to even bigger and better things in the years to come.  Until we have official results to post along with more extensive photos, here are a few to tide you over.

No post would be complete without a word of thanks to Tom for putting it all together, the cadre of race volunteers who helped pull it off, and last but most certainly not least, a great big huge thanks to Randy, without whom none of this would have been possible.  We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for spending countless hours outlining and grooming the course, paying for the upkeep and then the maintaining of the machine itself, and generally making Rexburg Skiing the success it is today.  Our hats off to you Randy!

Race Day

The course will be closed until tomorrow morning for the Cupid Cup Race.  We're super excited and hope you'll register for this inaugural event.

As a reminder:

The Cupid Cup Nordic Race is a freestyle race open to all ages.

The race will be held at Teton Lakes Golf Course. A 10K race will be held for ages 15 and up with a 2K race for kids 14 and under.

Men’s division, women’s division, and couple division winners will be recognized.

Kid’s age division winners will be recognized as well.

Competitors who register on or before January 29th will receive a race hat, race hats are not guaranteed to registrations received after the 29th.

Registration is available on Race Day from 9:00 - 9:30 am at Teton Lakes Golf Course. Race day registration is $30 for individuals and $60 for couples, the kid's race price stays the same $10.

You can find the registration link here:
http://www.rexburg.org/pages/cupid-cup

Grooming report

Made two passes late tonight with the roller of all the trails. Will need some cleanup work but it'll be skiable - just wicked cold!