Stone Grinding for the Eastern's (at Nakkertok)

For information concerning stone grinding before easterns, click here.

Stone Grinding and Waxing for the Gatineau Loppet

Stone Grinding for the Loppet

For those people who want to have their skis ground for the Loppet, I will need to have your skis by Monday, Feb. 13. I will pick up skis from Fresh Air Experience and from Greg Christie's after 5:00 pm on Monday. All the skis will be ground and waxed (heatbox) by 5:00 pm Thursday, Feb. 16. The skis will be in the stores by 6:00 pm.

Stone Grinding with Race Day Waxing

I will be Race Waxing a limited number of skis for the Skate race on Sunday. The cost will be $160. You can pay be cash, cheque or by email money transfer. This cost will include stone grinding, heatbox, CH4, low fluor wax, high fluor wax and high fluor powder if necessary. For grinds, you can choose between the CJO grind and a specific race day grind. If you choose the CJO grind and it needs hand structure, I will be at the gymnasium by 7:00 am on Sunday, to apply the hand structure.

If you would like me to grind and wax your skis for the Loppet, if you send me an email, we can make arrangements for me to get your skis. I will need the skis by Friday at the latest. On Friday, Feb. 17, I will be in the gymnasium at Mont Blue High School from 6 to 9 pm. Ask at Greg Christie's booth or at Fresh Experience booth and they will be able to direct you to me. I will have all the skis, ready to go, in the gym by 7:00 am on Sunday morning.

Stone Grinding after the Races

After the races, you can drop off your skis at the Fresh Air or Greg Christie's booth, or you can drop off your skis at one of the stores. I will pick up these skis on the Monday, Feb. 21 and return these skis to the stores on Friday, Feb.25.

Enjoy the Races!

Wayne Johannsen

Ski Selection and Stonegrinding

Introduction

In the month of February, Lars Svensson from Sweden visited Gatineau Nordique Sport, in Chelsea. Lars is the designer of the Tazzari RP-23 stone grinding machine. He has many World Cup, World Championship and Olympic Medals that have been won on skis with his grinds. Lars has been around World Cup level racing for over 20 years. Lars is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the cross country ski industry. During his visit, I talked to Lars about many topics regarding cross country skis. In the two and half years previous to this, Wayne also spent many hours talking to Lars and Zach Caldwell of Vermont about the cross country ski industry in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Cross Country Ski Market in the Scandinavian Countries

Ski Testing

In the majority of the stores in the 3 Scandinavian countries, skis are tested by using an apparatus that tests skis one at a time, not tested together as a pair. The 'Ski Selector' is one of the apparatus' that are used to test skis. This apparatus is connected to a computer. The Ski Selector gives a computer analysis of the two individual skis. The person operating the 'Ski Selector' then determines in what conditions the skis will perform best. All racing skis that are sold in these stores are tested by using the 'Ski Selector'. The stores charge approximately $25. to test skis. The skis are guaranteed to perform in the conditions recommended, but this guarantee is not necessarily put in writing.

Waxing Marks for Classic Skis

The use of 'waxing marks' on classic skis is standard practice in the Scandinavian countries. The purpose of the marks is to indicate where to put the layers of grip wax. Commonly, there are at least 4 marks at the front and back of the wax zones. Some athletes put marks to indicate the residual camber of the wax pocket. The residual camber, usually in front of the binding, is the part of the base that does not close at 100% body weight. The 'waxing marks' are intended to be guidelines for the waxing of the grip zone. These marks are not cast in stone. The best way to determine the outer marks for the wax pocket is to wax beyond the outer marks, ski for one to two hours in abrasive conditions and then re-adjust the marks.

Stone Grinding

The stone grinding of cross country skis is an extremely well developed industry in the Scandinavian countries. Stone grinding does two very important things. It puts a structure in the surface of the ski to match snow conditions and also refreshes the base to improve wax absorption and retention. When a customer buys new skis, they are informed or they already know in what conditions the base structure best suits. Top end race skis are manufactured with base structures for cold or warm conditions. If the structure in the ski suits their needs, commonly the customer will try the skis on snow and see how they run.

However, if the structure does not meet their needs, they may well have the skis stone ground. Masters skiers who buy skis at the beginning of the season generally ski on these new skis for a couple of months and then get these skis stone ground a few weeks before major races such as the Vasa Loppet. The vast majority of people who use a pair of skis a fair amount in a given ski season will have these skis stone ground once a year. Skis that are well taken care can be stone ground conservatively 5 to 10 times.

Waxing and Hotbox Treatment

The hotbox treatment of skis involves applying wax to the base of a ski and putting it in a heated box for several hours. Hotboxes are used in stores in two ways. New skis and skis that are freshly stone ground undergo a hotbox treatment. Hotboxes are not used by individuals or by the stores on used skis. Once the base of the ski becomes hard, the heat used in a hot box (maximum 62'C) is not high enough to allow for the wax to penetrate the base. Stores wax used skis for 'race day' and 'wax of the day' by using a digital iron.

Cross Country Ski Market in Canada

Judging by the recent success that Canadians are having at the international level in cross country skiing, as a nation, we are at a world class level in terms of organization, technical ability, coaching and race day waxing and ski preparation. However, in terms of understanding, appreciation and knowledge of stone grinding and ski selection, we are behind the other leading countries in cross country skiing.

Ski Testing

For the past 3 winters I have tested skis by using an apparatus that is described and pictured in the article 'Ski Testing', which is listed on the main page of the website. The ski testing apparatus that I use tests one ski at a time. To my knowledge, cross country skis are tested in 3 different ways in Canada; use of a bench test, use of dial force gauge and by using an apparatus that tests one ski at a time. Obviously, I feel that the best way to test skis is to test one ski at a time. Briefly described, when I test classic skis, I test the wax pocket, the residual camber and the pressures zones at the front and back of the ski. For skate skis, I test the camber pocket and the pressure zones by using a combination of 50%, 100% and 120% body weight. This way of testing skis works for me, makes sense to me and it certainly appears to be working very well for the majority of skiers who have had their skis tested in this manner.

Waxing Marks for Classic Skis

For the past 3 winters, I have put marks on classic skis to indicate the waxing zones. Cross Country Canada and our National Team also put marks on classic skis. CCC puts 4 marks at the front and back of the wax pocket. The majority of skiers and coaches find these marks very useful when applying grip wax to classic skis. Next fall, I am going to write a brief article on how to wax using the 'waxing marks'. I will include an explanation about the process and 4 or 5 specific race day waxing formulas for different snow conditions.

Stone Grinding

It is probably fair to say that in Canada due to lack of interest, lack of knowledge and a lack of stone grinding machines, the majority of people do not get their cross country skis stone ground on a regular basis. For those people who get their skis ground, if they use skis a fair amount in a ski season, it is in their best interests to have the skis ground once a year. The vast majority of grinds are .02 to .04 mm in depth. If the bases of skis are kept flat, they can be flattened by removing at most, .05 mm of base. If skis are well maintained and kept flat, they can be ground conservatively 5 – 10 times. For most people who buy skis at the beginning of the ski season, it would be in their best interests to test the skis on snow to see how they run. If the skis are running well, leave them alone and consider grinding the skis at a later date. If the structure in the skis does not suit your needs, consider getting the skis ground in January when the snow conditions improve and in time for the major races.

When purchasing new skis, ask advice as to what conditions for which the base structure is best suited. No matter what store or country you buy skis, it is not realistic to expect that you will be able to purchase skis that have the correct model, length, camber flex, wax pocket, etc. and also the base structure that suits your needs. If the base structure does not suit your needs, proper stone grinding can rectify this situation. Many of the skis sold in Canada come with grinds that are more suited for warmer European conditions. Many skis will perform much better in cold conditions in Canada if they are ground with a fine grind.

Hot Box Treatment

The use of the hotbox at GNS has met with very good success. The vast majority of people request that their skis undergo the hotbox treatment after their skis have been stone ground. Since I am not able to guarantee that new skis and used skis will be faster if I just use the hot box, I prefer to use the hot box only on skis that I stone grind.

This winter, GNS will have 3 different levels of hot treatments, namely; Regular Heat Box Treatment, Competitive Hot Box Treatment and Racing Hot Box Treatment. The description and cost for each of these treatments can be found on the main page of the website under the heading 'Heat Box/ Menu.'

Wayne Johannsen