2026 American Birkebeiner Wax Recommendation - All Events

Nathan Schultz

2026 American Birkebeiner Wax Recommendations

Feb 18-22, 2026

last updated Feb 20, 2026 9:15AM

Check out the BNS Video Library and BNS Digital Magazine for waxing how-to's

Trail Conditions

Trail conditions took a huge turn Wednesday night and they are described as "2 inches of hard pack snow on top of a sheet of ice." Friday things seem to be much better with colder temps and more chances to groom. The race will be very fast and potentially icy and/or sugary for later waves. Shift to liquid glide waxes and klister binder for classic races.

Birkie Trail Conditions and Updates

Weather

Weather Forecast OO

Weather Forecast Start

Tips for all events:

  • Protect your skin—face tape, warm skin, and a buff are always good to have on hand for the Birkie. The early forecast looks milder than normal, but you should always be prepared for cold at the Birkie.
  • 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. If it is very cold, even lightly with fine steel, then nylon.

Race Wax Service

BNS will not be on-site at the Birkie this year, but we do offer race waxing services for the Birkie at both the BNS Boulder and BNS East shops. Race Wax Service is $85 and includes base prep, race paraffin and top coats. Get your skis to us with a minimum 48-hour window and we will get them going fast for you. Drop off skis by the Monday, Feb 16  to get your base layers run through the hot box for free.

Wax Recommendations

Wax Tips for All Events

The course is very hard and abrasive. Hardening the bases for durability is key to success. Liquids will be fast and provide durability on top of hard paraffin waxes.

  • Prep your bases with hard layers. Rode Graphite and Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF21 are excellent hard layers that will prepare glide zones for long distances, repel dirt and add speed. Iron in, let cool, iron in again, cool, brush with fine metal. We suggest a layer or two of Rode Graphite, then two layers of Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF 21. This may be the final race base layer, or it may be mixed with the temperature race wax of the day, but either way, your bases will be ready to go with little work before race day.
  • Add speed with top coats. Having good, hard base waxes in your ski will set you up for success. Add speed with top coats. In general, newer snow (as the trail is right now) will tend to favor blocks, and older or more transformed snow, liquids will run faster. These top coats are easy to apply the night or even morning of the race and will dial in your skis for maximum performance. Good liquids and top coats to have ready in your arsenal:
    • Rode RL Med (Violet) - inexpensive and always really fast.
    • Rode RXL Med (Violet) - World Cup Speed - a very versatile and fast liquid.
    • Rode RW 30 (Roto Wool Blocks) - one 20g block does about 80 pairs of skis. These are dynamite top coats and with the wacky forecast, all of the blocks: RW 20 (blue), RW 40 (red) and RW 50 (yellow) could be in play at some point during Birkie Week.
    • Holmenkol FF2 Red Liquid or FF2 Blue Liquid - Excellent in midwest snow
    • Holmenkol FF1 Red Liquid or FF1 Blue Liquid - World Cup Race Liquids
    • Holmenkol FF Powder - for long-term speed and durability in newer snow.

Thursday, Feb. 19th: Open Track

Overnight Low: 26°F (-3°C)
High: 32°F (-0.5°C)
Conditions: Potential Wintry Mix turning to Rain Tuesday night into Wednesday. Forecast is now calling for rain and snow Wednesday, but temps are close enough that rain could definitely make an impact. Snow/rain overnight Wednesday, then turning to snow showers Wednesday night.

Waxing Recommendations:

  1. First Layer: Rode Graphite or Holmenkol FF 21 – 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 or Holmenkol Betamix Red – Scrape and brush well. Rode Endurance is one of the fastest and most durable waxes available.
  3. Third Layer: Rode Endurance or Holmenkol Betamix Red again.

Kick:

  • Hairies/Zeroes could be a good choice for the Open track with forecast temps around freezing with rain/snow falling.
  • 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 Blue, Vario Violet. Guru Red, Violet, Hallgeir Extreme.

Friday, Feb. 20th: Korte Classic and Skate

Overnight Low: 19°F (-6°C)
High: 25°F (+2°C) 
Conditions: Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 25F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.

Waxing Recommendation:

  1. First Layer: Rode Graphite or Holmenkol FF 21 – Scrape and brush thoroughly with fine metal and nylon brushes. This will harden the bases and repel dirt and contaminants likely to be on the course, keeping your race wax clean as long as possible.
  2. Second Layer: Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF Red – Scrape and brush well.
  3. Third Layer: Rode RX32 WC paraffin or Holmenkol FF Red – Scrape and brush. For added durability, mix it 1:1 with Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF 21.
  4. Speed Layer: Rode RXL 30 Liquid. Apply, let dry 10+ minutes, roto wool to finish. Apply 2-3 times. For top speed on top of the liquid: Rub on Rode RW 30, 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:

  • Klister will likely be the best option, but hard wax could work.
  • Clean and lightly sand the kick zone with 150-grit sandpaper.
  • Hard Wax: Apply a thin layer of Vauhti Super Base or Rode Base binder, iron in, cool, and lightly cork. Let cool before applying wax of day.
  • Recommended waxes to try on race day: Rode Vario Blue or Vario Violet. Guru Red covered with Guru Violet, Guru Hallgeir Extreme.
  • Klister: Apply a thin layer of Rode Chola Base klister. Let cool before applying final layers.
  • Recommended Klisters to try: Guru Extreme 39 Hard, Guru Violet, Guru Extreme 39 (try covering with Extreme Hallgeir). Rode Special Violet, Violet, K3. 

Saturday, Feb. 21st: Birkie Skate and Classic

Overnight Low: 14°F (-10°C)
High: 21°F (-4°C)
Conditions: Cloudy, no precipitation forecast.

Waxing Recommendations: 

  1. First Layer: Rode Graphite or Holmenkol FF 21 – Scrape and brush thoroughly. Pro Tip: Don’t skip the graphite; it’s key for races of this distance.
  2. Second Layer: Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF 21 – Scrape and brush well. Perfect for the broad range of race day temps.
  3. Third Layer: Mix Rode Endurance 1:1 with Rode RX32 WC paraffin or R30. Or Holmenkol FF Blue mixed with FF 21 1:1. Scrape and brush. For added durability, mix 1:1 with Rode Endurance or Holmenkol FF 21.
  4. Speed Layer: Rode RXL 30 Liquid. Apply, let dry 10+ minutes, roto wool to finish. Apply 2-3 times. For top speed on top of the liquid: Rub on Rode RW 30, 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:

  • Klister covered was working very well on the morning of the Korteloppet.
  • Clean and lightly sand the kick zone with 150-grit sandpaper.
  • Klister: Apply a thin layer of Rode Chola Base klister. Let cool before applying final layers. Keep this thin - it should be almost invisible, but just tacky and  hard.
  • Recommended Klisters (these were working well Friday AM): Guru Extreme 39 Hard, covered with Guru Extreme Hallgeir. Rode Special Violet covered with Rode Vario Blue. 

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