2025 American Birkebeiner - All Events Updated 2/18 9AM

Good News: The full Birkie is a go!
Bad News: The snow coverage is thin, and temperatures are expected to be on the colder side. We'll keep this discussion updated throughout the week leading up to the events.

Prep Tips for all events:

• Protect your skin—face tape, warm skin, and a buff are essential.
• Keep your extremities warm—Use neoprene boot covers, good lobster mitts or mittens and a high-quality wind brief to make your day much more pleasant.
• Brush skis—ski a bit on your race skis and re-brush them with hard white nylon or even lightly with fine steel.

Overnight Low: -21°F (-29°C)
High: 9°F (-13°C)
Conditions: Cold, with thin snow coverage. 

Waxing Recommendations:

1. First Layer: Rode Graphite – Scrape and brush thoroughly with a fine metal brush, followed by a hard white nylon brush. This hardens the bases and helps deal with contaminants, keeping the race wax cleaner longer.
2. Second Layer: Rode Endurance – Scrape and brush well. One of the fastest and most durable waxes available.
3. Third Layer: Rode RX22 WC paraffin (1:1 mix with Rode Arctic Powder or Toko X-Cold Powder). This combo will excel in the expected conditions.

Overnight Low: -7°F (-22°C)
High: 21°F (-6°C) 

Waxing Recommendation:

1. First Layer: Rode Graphite – Scrape and brush thoroughly with fine metal and nylon brushes. This will harden the bases and repel dirt and contaminants likely to be on course, keeping your race wax clean as long as possible.
2. Second Layer: Rode Endurance – Scrape and brush well.
3. Third Layer: Rode RX22 WC paraffin – Scrape and brush. For added durability, mix it 1:1 with Rode Endurance.
4. Speed Layer: Rub on Rode RW 20, roto wool it in, and brush out with nylon or horsehair. This new block has shown major speed advantages and is cost-effective (20g block does about 80 pairs).

Kick:

• Clean and lightly sand the kick zone with 150 grit sandpaper.
• Apply a thin layer of Vauhti Super Base or Rode Base binder, iron in, cool and lightly cork.
• Recommended waxes to try on race day: Rode Vario Green, Guru Green or Blue, Rode B17, Rode Blue Multigrade, Swix Extra Blue, or Swix VP40.

Overnight Low: 2°F (-17°C)
High: 26°F (-3°C)
Conditions: Typical Birkie weather—perfect for skiing. 

Waxing Recommendations:

1. First Layer: Rode Graphite – Scrape and brush thoroughly. Pro Tip: Don’t skip the graphite; it’s key for races of this distance.
2. Second Layer: Rode Endurance – Scrape and brush well. Perfect for the broad range of race day temps.
3. Third Layer: Rode RX22 WC paraffin or RX32 – Scrape and brush. For added durability, mix 1:1 with Rode Endurance.
4. Speed Layer: Rub on Rode RW 30, roto wool it in, and brush out with nylon or horsehair. Repeat twice for maximum speed. This block has been winning races nationwide.

Kick:

• Clean and sand the kick zone.
• Klister binder possibility: If necessary, apply Rode Klister Base Spray, Toko Green klister, or Vauhti K-Base, iron in, and cool thoroughly.
• Hardwax binder: Apply a thin layer of Vauhti Super Base or Rode Base binder, iron, cool, and cork.

Recommended waxes: Rode Vario Blue, Rode B17, B310, Rode Blue Multigrade, Swix Extra Blue, VP40, VP45, or VP50.

Stay tuned for any updates as we get closer to race day!