Wax Recommendation

The Crested Butte Alley Loop is a fluor-free wax event. Event website

Base Glide Layer

Rode Graphite R100G or Holmenkol Syntec FF 21

Application: Iron in at recommended iron temp, let cool, scrape, brush with fine steel or bronze/brass brush.

Race Paraffin Layer

Rode R30 Violet/Rode Endurance mix 50:50 or Holmenkol Syntec FF Blue 

-or- Rode R40 Red/Rode Endurance mix 50:50.

Lower-price option: Holmenkol UltraMix Blue or Rode R30 Violet

Test Results:

1. R40/Endurance Mix 1:1
2. R30/Endurance Mix 1:1
3. Holmenkol FF Blue

Application: Iron in at recommended iron temperature, let cool (10-15min), scrape with a plastic scraper, brush with fine steel or bronze/brass, then polish with nylon or horsehair brush.

Powder

For the 42km, fluor-free powder will help with durability, speed and dirt repulsion. It is probably not worth it for shorter races.

Holmenkol FF Blue Powder

Application: (apply powder over race paraffin, before topcoat)

1. Sprinkle powder on liberally to coat the base.
2. Iron in at recommended iron temperature.
3. Let cool. 10-15 minutes should be adequate.
4. Scrape powder off, then brush with stiff nylon, followed by horsehair.

View a video on powder application (video is for fluoro powders, but the application is the same for fluor-free powders)

Topcoat

Rode Racing Liquid (RL) Med -or- Holmenkol FF1 Red Liquid

lower-price option: Holmenkol FF2 Liquid Red

Test Results:

1. Holmenkol FF1 Red Liquid
2. Rode RL Med (Violet)
3. Rode RL Cold (Blue)
4. Holmenkol FF1 Blue Liquid

Application: Apply liquid on brushed ski, allow to dry, polish with a roto wool, roto fleece, or felt brush/cork. The liquid layer should be the final wax layer (over paraffin layer or powder layer).

Structure

Structure will be an important part of the race, especially with the possibility of warm snow falling. The snow is skiing colder than the temp, so we are finding cold universal grinds are better than the mid-range. S1.3 (skating) or C2.2 or C1.2 (classic). Add a single pass of the Holmenkol cross structure tool with one roller removed.

Kick Wax

Start with an ironed-in base layer. We recommend Vauhti super base for the most durability. Other good options are Rode Black Base, Holmenkol Base or Swix VG30.

Once the binder has cooled, apply 3-5 layers of the wax of the day. As of Thursday afternoon, the forecast seems cool enough to keep kick waxing pretty simple. If it is warmer than forecast or the new snow is coming in wetter than we might expect, you may look to layering warmer waxes and covering with a shell layer for speed.

Waxes to try:

• Rode Blue Super
• Rode Blue Multigrade
• Rode Super Weiss
• Holmenkol Blue Spezial
• Holmenkol Blue Extra

Updates

We will update this recommendation Thursday evening and Friday morning after testing on-site.

Race/Application Notes

This is an unusual Alley Loop with a warm forecast with potential new snow and relatively high temps. The temps look forecast to reach bottom around 2AM and the snow will not be exposed to temps below 20F for very long Friday night, so expect the snow to be relatively warm and fast Saturday.