Hello all! I am about to take part in the Tjejvasan (a part of Vasaloppet that is for women, 30 km). I used to ski a lot and in general being active sport wise, but still a bit concerned about how the race might go for me. Could some of you, who already participated in Tjejvasan to share on:

1. How was your experience? Something to keep in mind regarding the route, life hacks ? Are there many uphill’s skiing in the second part of the race?
2. What did you wear?
3. Did you take water, food, wax sticks?
4. If, let’s say, I will be unable at some point to proceed with the race, will there be an option to step out of the distance?

Thank you very much!

Title is the question, is it ok to put kick wax on my classic skis the day before a race, or should I wait until the morning of? (Pretend I am certain of the snow temp for sake of the question).

More specifically, I am planning on putting the Toko Green Base Kick wax on the night before, then adding the correct temp wax the morning of the race. Is there any issue with kick wax sitting over night, making it less effective, or is that not a thing at all?

What's a good place in Europe for beginner XC skiers? I just came back from Lillehammer and loved it so much but would like to explore somewhere new as well.

I don't drive so it would need to be somewhere reachable by public transport with a hostel close by, thanks!

Are stonegrinding structure names universal? I saw shop label OT1 and OT3 on skis I recently gave for stonegrinding in Toblach. Another pair I bought second-hand has structure that they named AW8.

Would be so much easier if there was a catalog of commonly used structures. With universal names.

Curious about wave placement for 2026 from qualifying races...

I did Craftsbury marathon in 2025 and was X % back from the winner. For sake of easy math let's pretend the winner was 90 minutes and I was 119.7 minutes which is 33% back.

I add my 33% back to 14% to that according to https://www.birkie.com/ski/events/qualifier-races/

then I get 33% + 14% = 47%.

https://www.birkie.com/ski/birkie-week/wave-placement/

if my combined % my "score" from above is < 53.5% then I can request wave 2? Am I doing this math right lol? To be honest , I would have thought I'd be further back.

I want to buy a kit (poles, skis, boots) for skating, the issue is that in my area there are no shop selling XC gear. Until now I was skiing with gear a friend lent me (Fisher RCS classic 204cm; Rossi Xium classic WC boots and some 155cm poles). I've always rented when i wanted to do skating, but i want to take it a bit more seriously and would like to buy the gear but in recent years all shops in my town stopped selling XC gears.
I asked in the renting places and they told me they buy things online when they need.
Now, I found online some deal with skis but my point is mainly on the boots:

• the Rossignol Xium classic shoes that my friend lent me are size 45EU (11US) and they are fitting nicely,
• I rented i got Madhus Endurance 45EU, quite snug, touching the end of the boot but not pressing
• also tried the Fischer rc3 44EU (10US) was also quite small, probably shorter and wider than the Madhus, I tried the 45EU but i'm afraid is a bit too wide, but the length seems okay.
• Salomon 44 2/3 EU and was tight as the Madhus 45EU.
• Older Salomon 45EU SNS was feeling like Rossignol Xium but seems they don't produce them anymore in 45EU, only 44 2/3EU and 45 1/3EU and i cannot find the 45 1/3 to try (they didn't have it).

I have the possibility to get online, virtually at the same price:

• salomon rs 10 or the older r max (they both have 44 2/3 and 45 1/3),
• rossignol x-10, (45)
• a huge deal on the fischer rcs (both 44 and 45) and the atomic redster s7 (in both 44 2/3 and 45 1/3)

Any advice on which boots and what size should i get? the fact every brand seems different problematic in my brain... plus i am not sure if i need a snug fit or a more relaxed like in classic shoes.

P.S. i measured the poles they lent me: on the stick it's written 155cm but they are almost 3cm longer, is that normal?

My hips colapse when I weight transfer in skate. I can combat this by focusing on core and glute activation during the transfer but I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do to make sure that I engage core and glutes - preferably passively - during this weight transfer? For example, would working Hip Thrusters into my gym routine help or is strength building separate from patterned activation here? Looking for a shortcut, I think...

I've been looking to get an S/Max and finding that my weight (215lb) puts me at the upper end of stiff sizing. Would going up to the x-stiff be the general guidance on this. Not sure how accurate Salomon generally are on guidance and not able to test the sizes locally. If I were to drop some weight (5-10lb) would that further the direction to get the stiff over the x-stiff?

Most guidance is written between choosing different lengths and minimal on just stiffness.

Hello.

I am wondering if there are any trails, groomed or ungroomed, in or near New Hampshire that have shelters of some sort for sleeping. I want to do a cross country ski weekend camping trip (never tried it, but sounds like it could be fun), but don't really want to try using a tarp and tent with snow.

Thanks.

I've been classic skiing for about a decade and just started skate skiing a month ago. I am a distance runner and hockey player so I feel that skate skiing is a good combination of the two activities. I've always been interested in the Birkie because it seems like such a cool event, but never had much interest in classic skiing that long. However, skate skiing seems much easier to me--I'm doing fairly casual skis of 10-12 miles at around 6:00-6:30 mile pace and feel like I can go much longer/faster in a race. I've never participated in a race before, but now and really interested in trying the Birkie in 2026. And thoughts/good resources out there for preparing for an event like this with relatively little experience?

Thanks!

Looking to upgrade poles currently ski 6-8 hours a week would describe myself as a good amateur and on the taller side of things. Have no aspirations of racing so my priorities are that they are durable and as stiff as possible while being durable. As long as weight is within reason doesn’t really matter ie <80 g/m. I’ve heard good things about the kv+ tempest. Thanks for your time

I’ve been skiing around my own place plus my neighbor’s woods and field. I’d like to get better at creating nice curves then ski those tracks in so I can use them comfortably between snows. I’m running into issues with good curves that I can ski through without slowing or stepping.

Is there a consistent way to cut a comfortable curve so I can really enjoy this track?

Hi! For a long time I've been trying to understand how different grinds work on Nordic skis, especially Fischer. Could someone explain to me what individual grinds mean. For example S12-16, S12-6, P5-1, S12-4 , C12-1, C1-1,P5-0, S13-4 and others? There is a little to no information on the internet and I'm desperate. I'd be soooo grateful if someone helped me and explained it to me🙏🙏😁

Strangely, no one no one talks about it?

I'm signed up for the City of Lake Loppet this Saturday (classic) in Minneapolis at Theo Wirth. And I was wondering if anyone can describe how sharp the descents are. I ski a lot at battle creek and can do the Horseshoe Trail and started doing Cowabunga this season. But I am a little worried about La Squadra and North Finger. I was able to ski Cowabunga because it's a long straight hill but I worry a bit about descents with curves at the bottom. Oh and I am signed up for the marathon (currently 5 loops) Thanks for any responses.

ETA: I did the Puoli last year but that was shortened to 10k and my memories is mostly everyone falling on their butts a lot. (Although I had a lot of fun)

Anyone know what the carrier (liquid) is in common glide cleaner, skin cleaner, and skin care? (Not talking about wax remover for kick wax, AKA citrus degreaser).

Start has said their liquid waxes are suspended in rubbing alcohol, and Rex has said their glide cleaner is diluted G41 liquid wax... so would it be reasonably safe to assume Start G41 + rubbing alcohol ≈ glide cleaner? Then that leads to the question, is just rubbing alcohol "good enough" to get out dirt and sap before hot waxing for a race?

Furthermore, is skin cleaner a fundamentally different product? Or will a small amount of isopropyl to clean and then liquid wax do well enough for "impregnating" the skin?

Swix now sells THREE skin care products—cleaner, "impregnation," and "boost," which feels ridiculous to me.

Hi guys! Sunday I had the marcialonga in Italy, It was raining and my boots have been filled with snow and water. At distance of 4 days... My boots are so stinky that isn't possible to keep them in a room!!!! How do I use to wash Ur boots?? In the washing machine? They are Fischer rc5! Thanks!

Hello! I am trying to replace a pair of Fischer RCS Skate Plus (warm weather ski) 176 FA70 as I broke the base plate on the ski. I am 155cm and ~60-61kg with a ski kit of 58-59kg with normal clothes on. I loved my Fischer skis and found them easy to climb (my usual loop has ~500m elevation for 20k) and fast on the descents. I am generally a pretty explosive skiier and average around 4min/km. It's end of the season so my choices in ski are pretty limited. I am looking for a ski that is responsive, and good at climbing but is sill wicked fast on the descents.

Choices:

Madshus F2 177 rated for weight 55-70kg

Madshus F3 177 rated for weight 55-70kg

Fischer RCS Cold 176 FA69

When comparing the skis side by side the camber profile and contact point of my current ski, Madshush F2, and RCS skate Cold are almost identical. I have tried a 171 FA71 fischer rcs cold and found that climbing was more effort and descending slow. So I am worried that the F2 will have a similar profile. Generally, conditions here are cold with high humidity and snow. However,r lately the snow has been heavy, coarse and slow. My shop has been great and is letting me take the Madshus F3 for a spin this Friday they feel the camber on the F3 will be more responsive to my asking style on the climbs. If anyone has any good insight or feedback id appreciate it!!

Hello!

I used to cross country ski and race when I was much younger (in high school, almost 20 years ago) but haven't been on them since then. I regret giving it up and want to try to get back into it just for recreation, exercise and fun.

I still have my skis from way back when but am definitely not the same size. I am probably the same height but weigh about 15-20 pounds more than when I bought these skis. I was thinking I could just make them work since i'm just looking to get out there and have fun but the thing is they have SNS bindings and I can only find NNN boots for sale around where I live so I'd have to invest in new bindings for them anyways. I also looked up a few size charts and they seems to be way too short for my height but I wouldve been this height when I bought them so I am confused.

I am 5'5 currently 130lbs. The Classics are 179cm and the Skate are 169cm.

Would you suggest I invest in new gear or do you think with new bindings these would be prefectly fine?

Thank you for any input!

Am I the only one? I love the effects of the sport and I love gliding on long flat groomed trails. My center has a downhill with a turn at the bottom that I can never negotiate. I just ski off straight until I come to a stop, and work my way back to the tracks. Even the straight descent. The track gets obliterated by people using their edge to slow down. My skis end up all over the place. Is it just me? (I'm afraid of the answer. LOL)

Hey everyone, looking for some advice. I’ve been having an issue with my right foot in my Skate Carbon Lite boots—mainly when going uphill. My arch gets sore, almost like it’s cramping, but it doesn’t really bother me on flats. It kicks in after about 40 minutes, and it’s only in one foot.

I tried taking out the mid-size insole, but that actually made it worse. It almost feels like the insole has too high of an arch, pushing up too much under my foot. If I get up on my toe and stretch my big toe, I can feel a tight stretch in the plantar area where my big toe connects to my foot.

My coach wants to heat mold the boot and insole, which might help, but I’m wondering if it’d be worth going to a ski/running store with a foot scan machine for more custom insoles.

This isn’t traction-related, snow conditions, ski flex, or anything like that—I’ve ruled those out. It also doesn’t hurt at all when I run or when I use my classic boots, so it seems specific to my skate boots.

I could also try swapping in the Superfeet insole I use in my alpine ski boots, which doesn’t cause any pain there, but I’m not sure if that’s a good solution because they have stiff plastic plates under the heel and toes.

Anyone else had this happen? Is this just an insole/fit issue, or could it be something else? Would love to hear what worked for you!

Does anyone have glove recommendations for someone whose hands always run hot? Tried a few options but they always end up sweaty. Almost need something that’s like shell material to keep the wind off but perforated on the palms. No skiing near me so I’ll have to order. Tried local bike shop with no success.

I've never been in Minnesota to ski before, and I have to be in the area for personal reasons. I have Sunday, and maybe some time on Saturday afternoon, to XC ski before my evening flight back to Boston from Minneapolis. I have no idea where to go. Any recommendations? I am a long-time skate skier in my 50s.

I was thinking I could spend Saturday night in Hayward and ski at the Birkie area in the morning and then drive back to Minneapolis?

Hi pals. Thanks for always being so helpful!

I’m a newbie when it comes to cross country skiing and have a thrifted pair from my fiancées family.

Money is tight right now so I don't have the extra cash for skis that are the proper size right now, but mine are too short for my weight (I’m a heavier guy), so I don't have as much slip or glide when using them; it makes them a little harder to use and a little slower. I have a savings plan in place to get new skis next year. The goal is to lose some weight by then too, so I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.

We recently went to a snow sport shop to get me new boots after the pup devoured my thrifted pair, and the salesman there mentioned that I still should wax the top and tail end of the skis, and gave me the type I've attached a picture of to try out. He said that this bottle was a good replacement for hot waxing your skis. But he also talked about it separately from waxing the ends of your skis, so my fiancée and myself can't decide if he meant I should use wax that waxless skis use or just the bottle he gave me alone.

What I wanted to ask you guys is should I try using wax to make my skis glide a little more ? My fiancée uses waxable skis that she's had since 2012 and has her own wax from then too. My fiancées family loves cross country skiing and has been doing it for like 20+ years and have never heard of waxing waxless skis, so I wanted to check in with Reddit about it lol

I have read that placing the binding position back is better for glide when skate skiing, but there isn’t a lot of articles or advice out there on this. I haven’t heard from other xc skiers what they do for skate ski. Where do you all have your bindings? For context, I am noob to intermediate skate skier. Just getting comfortable with 2 skate. Doing the berkie korteloppet in a couple weeks and am ready for it. I am wondering if placing my bindings back on the ski will help me with two skate. Right now my bindings are at 0.