Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tour de Meissner 2010
The Tour de Meissner is a classic race at the Virginia Meissner Sno Park 15 miles west of Bend, Oregon. The current NOAA forecast is:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. South southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Northeast wind around 6 mph.
The snow is transformed and has been thawed and frozen.
Skis: Pick a pair of Plus base skis. It will probably be a klister day.
Base wax: Solda UF7 and Performance Red 50/50.
Race wax: I would apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Orange. You could stop here or finish up with Solda F40 Red.
Top coat: Finish with Solda Fluor 100 or Solda Powerjet 1.
Kick wax: First apply a klister binder. You could use a thin layer of Swix, Toko or Rode base klisters. Then Universal Swix or Toko multigrade could work as could the Rode Multigrade or Rode Nera.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. South southeast wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Northeast wind around 6 mph.
The snow is transformed and has been thawed and frozen.
Skis: Pick a pair of Plus base skis. It will probably be a klister day.
Base wax: Solda UF7 and Performance Red 50/50.
Race wax: I would apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Orange. You could stop here or finish up with Solda F40 Red.
Top coat: Finish with Solda Fluor 100 or Solda Powerjet 1.
Kick wax: First apply a klister binder. You could use a thin layer of Swix, Toko or Rode base klisters. Then Universal Swix or Toko multigrade could work as could the Rode Multigrade or Rode Nera.
West Yellowstone Rendezvous
Skate race at West Yellowstone Rendezvous Trails. I just talked with folks there and the current conditions are transformed snow. Highs have been mild, 30s. Lows have been mid teens. The NOAA forecast is:
Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind.
It doesn't sound like a lot of new snow. It will be groomed and new snow will be mixed in with the old, transformed snow. Overall fairly abrasive late winter snow.
Skis: I would pick a pair of medium to medium stiff skis with a plus base. A universal type grind can work well. You could apply a medium interupted rill with the Toko structurite tool after waxing.
Base wax: Mix Solda UF7 and Performance Red 50/50. Then if it is staying cold (between 10 and 24) apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Violet. If it is 23 to 28 at night apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Orange. If it happens to snow, go with Solda F31 Pink. In almost all of the situations above I would be tempted to finish with F40 Red. The level of fluor in this wax helps extend the life of the wax on transformed snow.
Top Coat: Over F31 Violet cover with Solda HP05 or HP05 S30 mix. If it is new snow cover the Pink with Solda HP04. If it looks like a warm day cover the Orange with Solda Fluor 100.
Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind.
It doesn't sound like a lot of new snow. It will be groomed and new snow will be mixed in with the old, transformed snow. Overall fairly abrasive late winter snow.
Skis: I would pick a pair of medium to medium stiff skis with a plus base. A universal type grind can work well. You could apply a medium interupted rill with the Toko structurite tool after waxing.
Base wax: Mix Solda UF7 and Performance Red 50/50. Then if it is staying cold (between 10 and 24) apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Violet. If it is 23 to 28 at night apply a couple layers of Solda F31 Orange. If it happens to snow, go with Solda F31 Pink. In almost all of the situations above I would be tempted to finish with F40 Red. The level of fluor in this wax helps extend the life of the wax on transformed snow.
Top Coat: Over F31 Violet cover with Solda HP05 or HP05 S30 mix. If it is new snow cover the Pink with Solda HP04. If it looks like a warm day cover the Orange with Solda Fluor 100.
Alpina Stampede at Snow Mountain Ranch
This is a skate or classic race at Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby, Colorado. It is high altitude Colorado snow. The current NOAA forecast for Saturday March 6 is:
Tonight: Snow likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. East southeast wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. West wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind between 10 and 13 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph.
Talking with the folks at the nordic center, the weather has not been following the forecasts with consistency. There was snow forecast of Saturday and it has been moved up to Friday. It could be sunny or it could be cloudy with a chance of snow.
Skis: Pick a pair of medium to medium soft skis with a medium to finer grind. If it looks like it will be sunny and warmer, add a medium interupted pattern with a Toko rilling tool or the finer or red linera roller on the new Toko Tool. Rill after wax and before fluoro powder application.
Base wax: I would start with a mix of Solda UF7 and Solda Performance Green 50/50. Follow up with Solda F15 Violet. If it stays cold, below 24, go with Solda F31 or F40 Violet. If it warms and race temps are between 23 and 30 and the snow is transformed (not new) go to F31 Orange. If there is new snow, and it is between 32 and 18, go with F31 Pink.
Top coat: Again, watch the weather. If it stays colder than 24 go with Solda HP05 or the HP05-S30 mix. If it is warmer and new snow, go with Solda HP04.
If classic skiing, apply a binder to the kick zone. I like one of the following: Rode Black base, or Toko Green base, or Swix VG30. Iron it in, let it cool and then cork it smooth. I would start with multiple thin layers of either Rode Fast Blue Super or Swix VR40. After testing adjust up in temp it need be.
Tonight: Snow likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. East southeast wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. West wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind between 10 and 13 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph.
Talking with the folks at the nordic center, the weather has not been following the forecasts with consistency. There was snow forecast of Saturday and it has been moved up to Friday. It could be sunny or it could be cloudy with a chance of snow.
Skis: Pick a pair of medium to medium soft skis with a medium to finer grind. If it looks like it will be sunny and warmer, add a medium interupted pattern with a Toko rilling tool or the finer or red linera roller on the new Toko Tool. Rill after wax and before fluoro powder application.
Base wax: I would start with a mix of Solda UF7 and Solda Performance Green 50/50. Follow up with Solda F15 Violet. If it stays cold, below 24, go with Solda F31 or F40 Violet. If it warms and race temps are between 23 and 30 and the snow is transformed (not new) go to F31 Orange. If there is new snow, and it is between 32 and 18, go with F31 Pink.
Top coat: Again, watch the weather. If it stays colder than 24 go with Solda HP05 or the HP05-S30 mix. If it is warmer and new snow, go with Solda HP04.
If classic skiing, apply a binder to the kick zone. I like one of the following: Rode Black base, or Toko Green base, or Swix VG30. Iron it in, let it cool and then cork it smooth. I would start with multiple thin layers of either Rode Fast Blue Super or Swix VR40. After testing adjust up in temp it need be.
The Great Ski Race 2010
This race is from Lake Tahoe to Truckee. It is pretty much all up hill at first and all downhill from halfway on. As always with the Sierras in March, the weather is hard to forecast. The current NOAA forecast is:
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind around 10 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Select a pair of skis with a medium to softer flex, plus bases and a medium to warm snow grind.
Base wax: I would start with clean bases and a layer of Solda UF7.
Race wax: If there is measurable new snow and it looks like it could snow during the race, I would then go with Solda F15 Pink followed by Solda F31 Pink.
Top coat: Finish with Solda HP04 if it is staying cold (24 to 27)or Solda Fluor 100 if it starts out at 28 and is getting warmer.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind around 10 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Select a pair of skis with a medium to softer flex, plus bases and a medium to warm snow grind.
Base wax: I would start with clean bases and a layer of Solda UF7.
Race wax: If there is measurable new snow and it looks like it could snow during the race, I would then go with Solda F15 Pink followed by Solda F31 Pink.
Top coat: Finish with Solda HP04 if it is staying cold (24 to 27)or Solda Fluor 100 if it starts out at 28 and is getting warmer.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Birkie update Friday PM
Here is the latest from Chris Wheaton, our Solda man on the snow in Hayward.
Chris says:
Of the 4 weather reporting agencies that I use the range of overnight low temperatures is 0 F – 11 F (the colder forecasts actually come out of Duluth so that may explain the colder prediction). Temperatures are to warm up with the range being 5 F – 18 F at 9:00 a.m. The forecasters are split on cloud cover with 2 of them reporting sunny and 2 of them reporting cloud cover. Humidity levels are pretty normal for the Midwest at this time of year; high 70’s – low 80’s overnight and high 60’s – low 70’s at 9:00 a.m.
The course is cold and hard with no more than a dusting of snow falling this week. I believe that reports of a “dirty” course are a bit exaggerated. I have seen the usual amount of debris on the course but would not call it dirty.
Cold grinds are out performing medium or warm grinds.
Hard bases are the order of the day. I recommend starting with FC 27 which will be very durable and runs well with a variety of LF and HF waxes on top of it. Follow the FC 27 with Solda Performance Green.
After the Performance Green (if you don’t have it, not a big problem) I would start adding multiple layers of Solda F 15 Blue. Again, the blue wax will harden the base and be durable.
Top the F 15 Blue with Solda F 40 Special Violet if you are in the later waves. If you do not have the F 40 Special I would go with F 31 Blue or F 40 Violet. I do not recommend F 15 as the wax of the day for the simple reason that the lower fluor content will not be as durable.
Elite and First Wave skiers should lean toward the F 40
Special Green or F 40 Green scenario with HPO6 on top. HPO6 was very fast this
morning when it was cold.
For everyone else I think the ticket is F40 Special Violet with HPO5 on
top. 70/30 mix would work as well. The temperature of the snow is drastically
different in the sunny areas. In the sun, the snow is about the same temp
as the air. In the shade the snow is 15 degrees F colder than the air.
The weather services are still split on whether we have sun or clouds
tomorrow.
I ran into the Boulder Nordic guys, they loved HPO6 and did not even run
the HPO5. They heard from a few teams that it was not fast which I agree with
if it was tested early this morning when it was still very cold. If it
warms up tomorrow like they are predicting, HPO5 is the ticket.
Even late wavers will benefit from this recommendation. When in doubt wax for colder rather than warmer.
Chris says:
Of the 4 weather reporting agencies that I use the range of overnight low temperatures is 0 F – 11 F (the colder forecasts actually come out of Duluth so that may explain the colder prediction). Temperatures are to warm up with the range being 5 F – 18 F at 9:00 a.m. The forecasters are split on cloud cover with 2 of them reporting sunny and 2 of them reporting cloud cover. Humidity levels are pretty normal for the Midwest at this time of year; high 70’s – low 80’s overnight and high 60’s – low 70’s at 9:00 a.m.
The course is cold and hard with no more than a dusting of snow falling this week. I believe that reports of a “dirty” course are a bit exaggerated. I have seen the usual amount of debris on the course but would not call it dirty.
Cold grinds are out performing medium or warm grinds.
Hard bases are the order of the day. I recommend starting with FC 27 which will be very durable and runs well with a variety of LF and HF waxes on top of it. Follow the FC 27 with Solda Performance Green.
After the Performance Green (if you don’t have it, not a big problem) I would start adding multiple layers of Solda F 15 Blue. Again, the blue wax will harden the base and be durable.
Top the F 15 Blue with Solda F 40 Special Violet if you are in the later waves. If you do not have the F 40 Special I would go with F 31 Blue or F 40 Violet. I do not recommend F 15 as the wax of the day for the simple reason that the lower fluor content will not be as durable.
Elite and First Wave skiers should lean toward the F 40
Special Green or F 40 Green scenario with HPO6 on top. HPO6 was very fast this
morning when it was cold.
For everyone else I think the ticket is F40 Special Violet with HPO5 on
top. 70/30 mix would work as well. The temperature of the snow is drastically
different in the sunny areas. In the sun, the snow is about the same temp
as the air. In the shade the snow is 15 degrees F colder than the air.
The weather services are still split on whether we have sun or clouds
tomorrow.
I ran into the Boulder Nordic guys, they loved HPO6 and did not even run
the HPO5. They heard from a few teams that it was not fast which I agree with
if it was tested early this morning when it was still very cold. If it
warms up tomorrow like they are predicting, HPO5 is the ticket.
Even late wavers will benefit from this recommendation. When in doubt wax for colder rather than warmer.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
2010 MBSEF Par for the Course 2
The current NOAA forecast for Sunday, February 28 is:
Tonight: Snow likely before 10pm, then rain, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 30. South wind between 10 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 10am. High near 37. South wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 6 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Temp at 10:00 AM is forecast to be 35F.
Friday: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 10am. High near 37. South wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 6 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Temp at 10:00 AM is forecast to be 35F.
I will pick a pair of fairly soft, plus base skis with a warm snow grind.
Base wax: On clean bases start with a base of Solda Performance Yellow and UF7 mixed 50/50. Iron twice, scrape and brush.
Follow up with Solda F31 Pink. Top coat with Solda Fluor 100.
Solda Birkie Wax Recommendation
The NOAA forecast is:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around -9. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 33. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -2. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
There are other forecasts that have the overnight lows at 10F. All seem to agree that high will be in low 30s.
I believe that the snow will remain cold. The groomers will be working the course at night when the temps are low. The snow is transformed old snow with a little new this week mixed in . The course is hard. It should be a great race.
Skis: pick a pair of medium to medium stiff skate skis with a fine to medium grind. For classic, your favorite cold base skis. Remember if you are using klister that the ski must have a wax pocket high enough to carry the klister and not have it abraded off. See our friends at Swix or Toko for kick wax recommendations.
Base wax: On clean bases rub on a layer of Solda FC27. Drip on Solda Performance Green over the FC27, iron twice and scrape. If you are going in one of the later waves apply a layer of Solda F31 or F40 Violet. Cover this with two layers of Solda F15 Blue. scrape and brush between layers. You want to get lots of hard wax into the bases. For the early waves start with the F15 Blue over the Performance Green. Again, two layers.
Top Coat: My guess is that the best top coat will be the HP05-S30 70/30 mix. If you don't have the pre-made mix, sprinkle the S30 on the skis first, then sprinkle the HP05. Use a cork brush to tamp the two powders to an even layer. Iron with a hot iron. (265 F or 130 C). Cork the mix on the ski and set it aside to cool. Have a cup of tea, be patient. Watch the Olympics. Hooray USA Nordic Combined. Brush the skis when they have cooled. I use a horse hair brush and finish with a Swix blue bristle polishing brush.
Some folks have had luck with using S30 over the F15 Blue and finishing with HP05 S30 mix. The HP05 mixes have a good history at the Birkie. HP06 is a colder Fluor Powder that could run well, but I have not heard any testing. If my resources on the ground find something different, I will post tomorrow evening.
Have a great race.
Bert
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around -9. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 33. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -2. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.
There are other forecasts that have the overnight lows at 10F. All seem to agree that high will be in low 30s.
I believe that the snow will remain cold. The groomers will be working the course at night when the temps are low. The snow is transformed old snow with a little new this week mixed in . The course is hard. It should be a great race.
Skis: pick a pair of medium to medium stiff skate skis with a fine to medium grind. For classic, your favorite cold base skis. Remember if you are using klister that the ski must have a wax pocket high enough to carry the klister and not have it abraded off. See our friends at Swix or Toko for kick wax recommendations.
Base wax: On clean bases rub on a layer of Solda FC27. Drip on Solda Performance Green over the FC27, iron twice and scrape. If you are going in one of the later waves apply a layer of Solda F31 or F40 Violet. Cover this with two layers of Solda F15 Blue. scrape and brush between layers. You want to get lots of hard wax into the bases. For the early waves start with the F15 Blue over the Performance Green. Again, two layers.
Top Coat: My guess is that the best top coat will be the HP05-S30 70/30 mix. If you don't have the pre-made mix, sprinkle the S30 on the skis first, then sprinkle the HP05. Use a cork brush to tamp the two powders to an even layer. Iron with a hot iron. (265 F or 130 C). Cork the mix on the ski and set it aside to cool. Have a cup of tea, be patient. Watch the Olympics. Hooray USA Nordic Combined. Brush the skis when they have cooled. I use a horse hair brush and finish with a Swix blue bristle polishing brush.
Some folks have had luck with using S30 over the F15 Blue and finishing with HP05 S30 mix. The HP05 mixes have a good history at the Birkie. HP06 is a colder Fluor Powder that could run well, but I have not heard any testing. If my resources on the ground find something different, I will post tomorrow evening.
Have a great race.
Bert
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]