Webskis Blog

NOAA Forecast for Diamond Lake:

Late Afternoon: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. West wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. West wind between 5 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Light west southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Right now, 3:00 PM, it is 29 degrees there. 4 inches of new snow last night. Snow off and on all day today. Less than an inch forecast overnight.
Forecast temp at start is 30F (-1 C)

Here is what I am putting on my skis:

Base: Solda UF7
Paraffin layer: Solda F31 Pink
Top Coat: My best guess is if you want to powder with a high fluor go with Solda HP04 or Solda Powerjet 1.

Budget wax:
Base: Solda UF7
Paraffin Layer: Solda F15 Pink

Economy wax:
Solda UF7

Enjoy a fast race and a good lunch at the Diamond Lake Lodge.

Bert

The current NOAA forecast for the Hanson Hills area is:
Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

For Solda wax I would go as follows:
Base: Sold HC28 crayoned on; iron in a layer of Solda UF7 and Performance Green 50/50
Paraffin: If some new cold snow, go with Solda F40 Violet Special. If no new snow at all and the course is old, transformed granular, go with Solda F40 Carbon Red.
Top Coat: Solda HP05 or Powerjet 4. If new snow and consistent temps with cloudy weather, top with Solda HP04.

If they can set track and have a classic race you will need a binder. Iron in a layer of Toko Green Base. When cool, cork it smooth. Toko and Swix have their kick wax recommendations. Best to follow their advise. If using Rode, I would go with a couple thin layers of Rode Viola Multigrade. Cover that with one long and two short layers of Rode Blue super. Test. Have some Rode Violet ready for under the binding toe patch. If you have some Rex Powergrip, your could use a little of the Blue and when it is cold, cover carefully with Rode Blue Super.

The NOAA forecast for the Hanson Hills area is currently:
Tonight: A chance for flurries, then scattered snow showers between 10pm and 1am, and then a chance for flurries again. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of flurries after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Snow likely after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Calm wind becoming north between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Maybe snow, maybe not. This is always tricky. Here is what I would do with Solda wax given the current forecast.
Base: Crayon on Solda HC28 and then iron in a layer of Solda Performance Green and Solda UF7 mixed 50/50.
Paraffin Layer: If there is no new snow, go with Solda F40 Carbon Red. If there turns out to be quite a bit of cold new snow (-8 to -12C or 18 to 10 F) use F40 Violet Special.
Top Coat: Solda HP05 or Powerjet 4. If there is enough new snow so that the surface is tilled and fined grained (not transformed, old corn) and new feeling, but not too cold (-3 to -8C or 27 to 17 F) , go with Solda F40 Special Red and top with HP04.

It used to be that people would come to a ski shop and say they wanted a pair of skis. The shop ski expert would do a quick mental evaluation, pick a pair of skis from the display rack, squeeze the skis and say, these are perfect. Most people were impressed at the expertise to make the selection and went to the trails happy.

Now there is a lot more information available used to select skis. There are flex numbers, camber heights, base material choices and secret race stock spells cast on some pairs. I have had people come in and tell me they want a 192cm skate ski with a 93 flex. They would not consider a 92 or a 94 flex pair.

We sell a lot of skis. I have a pressure tester where I can apply force to the skis to evaluate 1/2 weight, full weight, closing force to .1mm or .2mm; I can measure camber heights, camber length, contact zones, tip splay. I do it every day. And I find that not all numbers on skis are equal. I have flexed skis at, say 90 flex and 88 flex and, at times, find that the 88 flex skis test stiffer than the 90 flex at 1/2 and full weight. Some times skis with the same flex number are not at all alike. One pair, of the same brand, model and flex might have significant tip splay and the next pair have pressure way out near the far end of the shovel (where the curve starts up to the tip). One might be good for soft, wet spring snow, while the other is better for hard violet or red conditions.

What I am suggesting here is to not get hung up on numbers. Most modern skis have ranges in which they will work well. They are not missile parts. Good pairs may differ slightly in any number of parameters and still feel and perform great. Information is a great thing and more is available today than ever before. Think about what the skis are to be used for. I weigh 72kg standing on my skis. So, by Fischer’s guidelines I should be on skis that range from 79 flex at the soft end to 94 flex at the stiff end. I have a pair of old Fischer RCS skis that are 101 flex. On old, transformed snow that is not too cold they are my favorites. I have a pair of 86 flex skis with lots of tip splay and a stiff bridge that are the bomb in slushy snow. They are not so much fun in cold snow or on hard snow.

So, that old guy who pulls down a pair of skis, puts them base to base, squeezes them and looks at the tip splay; he eyeballs the length of the contact zone and gets a good idea of how much force it is taking to close the skis; he might just pick out the perfect pair without stressing about the numbers on the side or the sticker on the top.

Be well and enjoy your time on the trails.

The NOAA forecast for the Mt Bachelor Nordic Center elevation is:

This Afternoon, Saturday: A 10 percent chance of snow showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. West wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind around 7 mph becoming west.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of snow after 10am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 8 mph.

Snow has generally been colder that I would expect. The report this morning says snow temp at 30F (-1C). That is taken at the Nordic Center lodge. Snow down on the race course is usually a bit colder.
The pursuit starts at 10 AM with a classic mass start. Forecast air temp at 10AM is 31 F (-1C).

Solda Glide:
Base: Crayon on a layer of Solda HC28; iron a layer of Solda UF7.
Paraffin layer: Solda F40 Orange Special or Orange Carbon. Use the Special if there is some new snow, but the Carbon will work well with or without the new snow.
Top Coat: Solda HP04 or Powerjet 1.

Budget Wax
Base: Crayon a layer of Solda HC28; iron a layer of Solda UF7.
Paraffin: Solda F31 Orange.

Super Economy: Solda UF7.

Classic kick wax:
Binder of Toko Green Base or Swix VG30. Iron this onto the kick zone, let it cool then cork smooth.
In general, Mt Bachelor snow requires wax a bit warmer than the snow temps show. I would try a few thin layers of Swix VR50. This can be covered with a couple thin layers of Swix VR45.
If using Rode, a few thin layers of Rode Viola Extra. Cover this with a couple thin layers of Rode Viola Multi-grade.

Have a good race.

Bert

For Sunday’s classic race: 2012 Gran Travers
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 at Timber Ridge Resort
The NOAA forecast for the race is:

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -1. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers before 1pm. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 29.

Solda Glide:
Base: Solda HC1 Violet (could use Solda Performance Green)
Paraffin: Solda F40 Violet Special
Top Coat: Solda HP05. If there is windblown new snow, apply Solda S32 over the Violet and top with HP05.

Classic skiers will need a binder. If the tracks are glazed and old snow, use a green klister binder very thin. After application, cool the ski outside. Then apply grip wax for the snow and temp. If the snow is newer, use the Toko Green binder ironed and corked.

2012 VASA wave start time and configuration
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Timber Ridge Resort

Wave Number Start Time (E.S.T.) Configuration

1 8:00 am 50k Classic Mass Start

2 8:10 am 27k Classic Elite

3 8:16 am 27k Classic

4 9:00 am 50k Freestyle Elite

5 9:06 am 27k Freestyle Elite

6 9:12 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

7 9:18 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

8 9:24 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

9 9:30 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

10 9:36 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

11 9:42 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

12 9:48 am 27k and 50k Freestyle

13 1:00 pm 12k Freestyle Elite

14 1:06 pm 12k Freestyle

15 1:12 pm 12k Classic Elite

16 1:18 pm 12k Classic

17 1:30 pm 6k Freestyle Mass Start (14-19 yrs)

NOAA Forecast:
Tonight, Thursday: Snow after 4am. Low around 25. West wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: Snow showers, mainly before 1pm. Temperature falling to around 17 by 4pm. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -1. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Solda Glide Wax; pick a pair of medium flex cold skis with a fine grind.
Base: Solda Performance Green. If you have some Solda S30 cold powder, apply this over the green. Scrape lightly while the ski is warm. Then apply paraffin layer.
Paraffin: F40 Violet Special.
Top coat: HP05. If there is new snow and it is windblown, use Solda S32 for top coat.

Looks like the temps will not be changing much and the sky will be mosty cloudy. If the temps do warm some, and the snow is skied in (sugary) then the last paraffin layer would be Solda F40 Carbon Red. This would be after 1:00 PM .

Holy Cold Air!!

NOAA forecast for the start:

Tonight, Thursday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3F. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 11F. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -10F. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 15F. Wind chill values between -20 and -30. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Start time temp is forecast to be about -1F (-18C).

Currently the folks at the Birkie are doing their best with very little snow. Given the temps and the nature of the snow (old and cold) here is what I would do with Solda Wax:
Pick a pair of medium to stiff cold base skis with a fine grind.
Base: Solda HC28 crayoned on. Then iron in a layer of solda HC1 Green. (You can use Solda Performance Green if you don’t have HC1 Green or Blue.)
Paraffin layer: Solda F15 Green (blue if you have some of the old stuff). If you have F40 Carbon Green, apply this over the F15.
Top Coat: Finish with Solda HP05 S30 50/50 mix.

If there is new snow and the wind blows as forecast and there is windblown snow on the course, I would top coat with Solda S32 in place of the HP05 mix.

Budget Wax:
Same base of HC28 and HC1 Green
Paraffin of Solda F15 Green.

Ski well.

Sunday Feb 5 Skate Sprint

Overnight Lows: 27
Race Time Temps: 30-35
Snow: Old Course Snow

Solda Wax for the Sprints:
Base: Solda HC28 crayoned on a clean base. Then apply a layer of UF7, scrape and brush.
Paraffin: Solda F40 Carbon Orange.
Top coat with Powerjet 1. This is a rub on fluoro block. Crayon it on over the Carbon orange. Cork it in and brush. This can be reapplied between heats.

If you don’t have Powerjet 1, but do have Fluor 100 powder, use that.

So, this year I am not at the Boulder Mountain Tour. I will not be able to test and post my findings. Things to remember about Boulder. The snow always skis colder than the temps might indicate. It is dry. The groomers work the snow hard. It can make a difference as to what wave you ski in, although I really think the snow will stay pretty cold. Today at Galena lodge Snow Temp at 8:30: 10 degrees F (-13C).

The NOAA forecast for Galena is :
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Light and variable wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -1. Light and variable wind.

Figure that at the finish and in the valley the high temps should be in the low 30s F.

If I were there racing here is what I would do. Select a cold grind on a medium to medium hard ski.
Solda Base: Performance Green, ironed and scraped. S30 Cold Powder; scrape this lightly while it is warm.
Paraffin layer: Over the lightly scraped S30 drip and iron a layer of Solda F40 Violet Special.
Top coat with Solda HP05. If you have two pair of skis and one has a finer grind, powder the colder, finer pair with HP05/S30 mix 50/50.

Budget wax would be:
Base: Solda Performance Green
Paraffin F40 or F31 Violet.

Also remember that on any base, S30 cold powder can be a good top coat for cold, dry snow.

Have a great race.