RE: [XC] Classic Skiing the Birkie

[Greg Fangel]

I highly recommend a binder wax. You can also use green klister as the binder wax if you want, but it's a little harder to mess with.   Toko is my favorite binder wax. It goes on smooth and lasts. I've also used the orange REX base binder, but it's messy to apply unless you freeze it first.   If you are using strictly classic skis (not combi) Clean the kick zone by scraping the old wax, then use wax remover to get to the bare P=tex. Once the kick zone is dry, sandpaper the base lightly with 150 grit sandpaper. I sand large X's into the base. This procedure is to bond the base wax better to the base. (I learned this while watching Swix wax technicians prepare skis for the Norwegian team at the Norwegian Birkebeiner)   Cork in a layer of base binder to the kick zone. Iron it in so that it is smooth. After it gets hard you can take a cork and smooth out any ridges, etc. Apply another thin layer of base wax and iron in anc cork again after it's cooled. The finished base binder should be smooth, thin and ready to apply the kick wax of the day.       ************************ Have a great day! Greg Fangel [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Errol Hartman Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 2:49 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [XC] Classic Skiing the Birkie Hi all.  I've skated 7 Korties, but this year due to lack of fitness, I'm going to "tour" it with a friend, probably from the 12th wave.  We're going to stride, and I've heard all kinds of horror stories in previous Birkies about kick wax.  Do people recommend the 'binder waxes', or is a klister binder wax still considered the best way to go?  Don, I'm sure you've got some experience with this.  Thanks.  See you all at the Moose bar!