Good stuff - Successful Birkie grinds, a new groind for warm/moist conditions, using respiorators in the wax room, notes about the Wolrld Cup at Whistler Olympic Park, and more!
Wax recommendations from Fast Wax, Solda, Swix and Toko for the weekend's Michigan Cup (and other) races. Check back for updates!
Swix Sport Racing Service was extremely confident in this glide wax recommendation. Beginning on Tuesday morning, Swix Racing Service staff in conjunction with the Saab Salomon Factory Team’s wax technician, Fabien Blondeau, began testing waxes.
Rossignol has trimmed weight from the tip - that's the most noticeable structural difference. The tip is pared down to the carbon layer with reinforcing remaining around the perimeter.
How Toko's wax recommendation for glide and kick evolved from Tuesday through racing morning at the 2009 American Birkebeiner.
Proper base preparation is perhaps one of the best ways to insure you have great kick and glide for the 55km American Birkebeiner. Follow these simple steps and your skis will be ready for race wax application.
Wax recommendations from Fast Wax, Solda, Swix and Toko for the Birkie, Muffin Race, Race for the Groomer and other races. Check back for updates!
It would seem that the hairs on the hairies are too fine to function in the same way as fishscales and enable a simple mechanical kick. It's quite possible that I could be wrong here, but I'd like to present another idea on how hairies work.
Swix wax recommendation for Feb 17 Traverse City classic sprints at Hickory Hills.
From what I have seen, as long as you are in the west with dry air, cool evenings, and clean snow the JetStream Blue will be the wax of the day, even if temperatures are in the mid 20s.
There are several key aspects that go into making wax recommendations and fast skis. One of the key elements that many times gets missed is the history of the snow and understand the snow type.
When making your wax choice the cleanliness of the snow and the air quality need to be a major consideration. The dirtier the snow the harder the wax needs to be.
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Middle Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Forbush Freestyle
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Short Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Meijer State Games - Hanson Hills Classic
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, 7601 Old Lake Rd, Grayling, Michigan 49738 (989-348-9266)
Paella on the Sun Deck (noon and 2:00pm)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Live Music with Kat and Wil (2:00-4:00)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Kat & Logan Live (2:00-4:00)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Relay Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Long Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Kids Learn to Ski Program
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Masters World Cup 2026 in Sappada/ITA - Long Distance Races
Sappada - Forni Avoltri, Italy
Super Bowl Foodie Face-Off!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
White Pine Stampede
Mancelona High School, 9300 W Limits Rd; Mancelona MI 49659
Pre-Birkie 26K and 42K
Hayward, Wisconson
Valley Spur Classic 5/10k
Valley Spur, E8017 State Highway M-94, Munising, MI
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Barnelopet
Maasto Hiihto, Hancock
2026 Winter Olympics - Women's 10 + 10 km Skiathlon
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Super Bowl Foodie Face-Off!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Forbush Memorial Classic Race
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 10 + 10 km Skiathlon
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's/Women's Sprint qual.+ final
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle women
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Winter Fest Kick-Off
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - 10 km freestyle men
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
50th Annual North American Vasa Freestyle
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Classic Mass Start
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
2026 Winter Olympics - Women's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy
Loppet Junior Qualifier & SuperTour (JNQ) - Freestyle Individual Star
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, MN
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
50th Annual North American Vasa Classic
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 E. Hammond Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
2026 Winter Olympics - Men's 4x7.5 km Relay
Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Italy