Want Fast Skis for the Gatineau Loppet? Update from Gatineau Nordique Sport
By: (2015/02/10)
Fast Skis
Ten years ago this spring, one of the members
of XC Ottawa told me ‘if
you take your best skis to Zach Caldwell and have them stone ground, your skis
will be faster.’ In the summer
of 2005, Karl Saidla took my skis to Zach to be stone ground. My
skis were faster. By the summer
of 2008, I bought the same model of Tazzari machine that is used by Zach and
started up my own business.
When
the snow conditions consist of dry, cold, aggressive snow crystals, skis that
are stone ground with a cold, fine grind are usually noticeably faster for 2
reasons. First of all, the majority of factory grinds suit the mid range
conditions commonly found in Europe and therefore do not suit the cold dry
conditions which we commonly find in Canada.
Secondly, the bases of skis are fastest immediately after proper stone
grinding. Last Saturday morning, I ground and waxed ( base saturation and
hardening of the base ) classic skis
with the XT1 grind for athletes who were
competing at the Eastern’s. On Sunday
one boy won his race on classic skis that had been ground the day before.
If
the weather forecast is correct for next weekend, if you have good skis ground with
a cold fine grind, by someone who does good work, wax the skis properly for the
race day conditions, your skis will be faster, most likely noticeably faster.
For all the details on having Gatineau Nordique Sport look after your skis for the Gatineau Loppet, go here:
http://www.gatineaunordiquesport.com/home.en