Tools for the trade: Skicross

In the sport of ski cross where podiums are decided by fingertips and hundredths of a second having the right skis, set up and tactics for the right course and snow conditions is very important.

 

The quiver:

Currently the rules for skis in F.I.S competitions are pretty vague and leave some room for athletes to choose the ski that works best for them. Skicross skis follow the same stack height restrictions as those of Giant Slalom; but there is currently no side cut, length or radius regulation in place. The actual written rule states that a "FIS GS ski is recommended". With this being said, there are a few different skis available that make good skicross skis. The most important factor in a skicross is having a fast base. This means that many of the best skis for the job are not fresh off the factory floor but have a few seasons under their belt, similar to a speed skier's quiver, if possible, many of the fast skis get used in multiple seasons. As far as length and radius go's, I think the best ski cross ski is a 190cm -30 meter radius GS ski. However, with only a handful of companies making a skicross specific mold that meets these specifications many athletes are using old 27 meter skis or have made the adjustment to the new 195 cm, 35 meter ski.

 

The Set up:

Over the last couple seasons I have tested numerous bevels and have found using a tune closer to a Super G set up works best for me. I set the original base bevel at .75 degree and as the season progress's work my way to 1-degree base. This makes it easier to glide on a flat ski compared to running a more aggressive G.S. bevel. I still set all my side edges at 3 - degrees so I can still really lay them up when need be. I detune down the tip and the tail than a little farther than I would on a full GS set up, just to ensure I will not hook up funny on the crest of a roll or lip of a jump

 

A softer ski is often better because they absorb terrain smoother and are easier to pump across rhythm sections. Most courses have pretty large radius turns and have burms that can be used to help bring the ski around so having a super responsive flex is not as important.

 

Race Day Prep:

Nailing the wax for skicross is a key part of being fast and finding yourself in the final. Waxing for a skicross is more difficult than prepping skis for a traditional alpine race. It is harder because skicross races require up to five "race runs" in a single day. Often spread out over a long period of time. On a typical Nor-Am schedule and occasionally on the World Cup athletes have a qualifying run in the morning and then move into heats in the afternoon (which consist of 4 runs narrowing the field from 32 skiers down to the final 4).

Another challenge is athletes are only allowed to race on two pairs of skis throughout the entire day, so making your base coat of wax last for multiple runs is very important. Layering my base waxes is how I achieve the longevity I'm looking for. I often use a harder wax (usually a fluorinated molly mixed with the coldest appropriate wax) as the first layer. After testing grinds at each location I will prep my two fastest pairs of skis for each race day. Often I will make one pair slightly colder for the morning qualification run and then leave the "faster pair" as my heat skis for later on in the day.

 

Overlays between runs:

With each run down the course possibly ending your day making sure yours skis are as fast as they can be every time you leave the gate is a must. Before heats start I make sure both of my skis are overlayed and ready to go. Depending on who is on my first heat I make a decision on which pair of skis to run - this can be a complete mind game. In your head you know one pair is slightly faster and if you don't move on out of your heat there is always the thought they you could of done better on the other pair. To avoid this feeling of doubtfulness it is important to have complete confidence in your tech, set up and your ability every time you step in the gate. In between heats there is limited time, more often than not the TV coverage puts time restrictions on everything, to prep skis for the next run. This is where having two fast pair of skis really comes into play. When I'm lapping back around on one pair of skis my tech can be prepping my second pair for my next heat. At the races where I'm not blessed with a tech or support team I use the Toko Helix sprays as my number one overlay. The spray can be applied super fast and works in a wide variety of conditions. I've had a lot of success, especially in spring snow, using the spray as my overlay in between each heat.

 

Don't forget to take care of your bases after race day. Hot scrape and travel wax!

 

Tactics:

Ski racing is a very difficult sport filled with many different variables that are not in the athletes control and can change in an instant. Then throw in three other racers and you have skicross. Like many other head to head sports tactics play a huge roll. For the majority of courses the number one tactic in skis cross is to get out front and stay out front. If you have a fast start and able to get the lead right out of the gate the majority of the time you will be able to win your heat. If you find yourself slow out of the gate it is important to stay patient. There are usually only a few good spots in each course that allow for passing opportunities and if you are pushing to hard at the wrong spot you often lose speed and the chance to pass. Drafting is a huge part of skicross and can be used as a tool to make a pass work. Drafting, like in car racing, is using the racer ahead of you as a wind block and then at the last possible moment pulling out and around. To make the draft work you have to be super familiar with the course and know exactly what terrain is coming up and when it is best to fully commit to making a pass. Being confident in your skiing and really trusting that you have the ability not to run up the back of the person ahead of you is the hardest part of drafting.

 

Another mistake that is often seen in skicross is passing when passing isn't necessary. The top two racers from each heat move on to the next round and often the person in second tries to make a pass for the lead when they don't really have to. I have made this mistake before and have paid for it. It is important to push your ability and fight for position but there is a fine line from pushing the limit and making a stupid mistake. So stay patient, have fun and enjoy the feeling of sharing an experience with three other racers.

 

Nico Monforte, US Ski Cross Team