So Many Waxes?   

Why are there so many kick and glide waxes?

BD

There exist so many variations of both kick and glide waxes because there exist so many variations of snow.  To get optimal kick, or glide, in each and every condition chemical engineers in conjunction with wax techs have created waxes for each and every snow type. You can make waxing as simple or as complicated as your aspirations.

I myself rely on 4 kick waxes and 6 glide waxes for my modest aspirations or Nordic enjoyment.

For kick I focus on Start's RF line

For glide: I use Start Blue SG6 (10F-20F) as my everyday glider

I then move to Start HF 60, 70, 80 for race day.

With Start SFR 92 cold, or SFR 99 warm Fluor Block  as my finishing coat.

But if you really want to learn about the slight differences between waxes I suggest you watch the ask Harri Aaltonen webinar video we did last year. Also check out the Start Tech Manual.

Soft Ski?                                             

I have a pr of skate skis which should fit a skier who is in the

135--155 pound range. I have squeezed them with my hands and they are definitely softer than my skate skis but are the same length. I am about 165 pounds. I realize that I should have all of my skis flex tested. But I may not make it to one of these events or a shop that does this testing. Is it possible that these soft skate skis would make a good soft snow ski for me?

The ski you mention will most likely they will not work very well for you even in pure powder. A skate skis bridge must be able to suspend more than your body weight. You weigh 165 lbs. and the top range on the skis is 155lbs. If you are in pure dry powder, the powder may give in before your ski and the ski may seem to float but the second you hit any moist powder the long contact will have added suction and you will lose major speed. And the second you hit and compacted snow the skis will bottom out and rotate under you. This skis fit is not near optimal.

A few years back we still fit skis for soft snow softer and skis for hard snow harder.Now we have skis engineered for the snow, not just selected for the snow. A Salomon SoftGround ski if engineered to float over soft snow while a Salomon Compact Ground (cold or warm) ski is aimed at firmer tracks. All of these skis are fit at 1/2 your body weight + around 25kg. By engineering the skis for the snow rather than fitting the skis for the snow we have created much more versatile preforming skis. A SG skis will still fly over compact ground (with slightly less edge hold and control the a CG) . The CG ski will still float over soft ground (with slightly less speed and more wet snow suction than the SG). But both skis will still be fitting you.

Andy at SkiPost

Nordic Dave Adventure Series

It's a cold Saturday morning at Jeremy Ranch, 19 degrees as the crack of dawn signals a new day. Perfect for a ski race you think but this is early October, and the fallen leaves on the trail provide for a mosaic carpet of which to run on.

A few days ago word spread that the Park City High School Cross Country team was having a fund raiser  half marathon event. The course cruised along somewhere from 8 to 9,000 ft. altitude on the Mid Mtn. Trail from Empire Canyon (Deer Valley) traversing through the Park City Ski resort to Armstrong's trail before dropping back down to the base of Park City Mountain Resort.

Nordic Dave's Achilles tendon has been a mess for a few months yet the desire to run this event based on less than 30 miles a week running inspires him to ultrasound his Achilles every day.   

Nordic Skiers (cross training maniacs that we are) can do anything right? We are the ubermensch of sports!
 
Sanity for a Nordic skier this time of year is doing anything that puts you into the pain cave and evaluating the results. Am I ready? Do I have weaknesses to be exploited this winter? How will I know? This is the normal mindset of a Nordic skier trying to prepare for a great season of skiing just ahead.
 
Nordic Dave digress' where was he? Ummm the Half Marathon Trail Race event ND..... Ah yes well there you have it....."hier vee all are...jaa?"..
 
Dressed in full Nordic warm up gear on this cold morning, comfortable and ready, ND looks upon his former running brothers and sisters quixotically as they are mostly skinny and cold in more traditional cotton sweatshirts and pants. There are few people out warming up before the start. Most want the warm heated shelter provided at Deer Valley. ND knows his aging muscles; ligaments and Achilles tendon had better keep moving and have a thorough warm up prior to the start. Another aging cardio warrior race horse is also out warming up, Berry Makerawicz.    Barry like ND is one of the "ancient ones" yet he still has a turbo diesel engine that Das Yunger Kinder cannot comprehend. 

CXC Superfit Clinics

Get your equipment fit by using a state-of-the-art CXC 3D pressure mat or Salomon Light Table.

Bring your old skis to test if they have a good fit for you, learn what conditions they will ski the best and compare them to new skis side by side. CXC Team athletes and coaches will also assist in finding your best pair of skis from the store stock or from the hand-picked Super Fit stock.

Each Superfit Weekend is also about getting advice on technique, training and waxing. CXC athletes and coaches will be on hand to complement the store's staff and assist you with boots selection and fitting, poles selection and length, ski apparel and wax box insights.

'CXC Super Fit' is a weekend sale program at select store locations filled with seminars, presentations and store specials. Receive information firsthand - talk to the athletes about the type of skis you need for certain snow conditions and ways to make them glide fast.

BICYCLE DOCTOR: November 9-11 and CXC Citizen Technique Camp