Snow Mountain Stampede Classic 2024

Nathan Schultz

Event Details

The Snow Mountain Stampede is a fluor-free wax event. 2024 is the 40th annual edition. Skate races are on Saturday and Classic races on Sunday with3km, 12.5km, 25km short course, 50km long course options. Event website.

Wax Service & Testing

Boulder Nordic Sport is waxing skis out of the Boulder shop. We will not have anyone on-site waxing or testing. We can turn race skis around in 24-48 hours at the shop.

We are hosting our Thursday night wax clinic at the Boulder shop at 6:15.

Weather Forecast

Click here for the latest weather forecast from NOAA

Hourly Forecast

Wednesday Afternoon
A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday night
A chance of snow showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Thursday
Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Thursday Night
Snow likely, mainly before 11pm. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Friday
Snow. High near 32. Northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 37.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 12.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 41.

Wax Recommendation

This is a forecast-based recommendation. We will update this recommendation if the forecast changes.

Base Glide Layer

Rode Graphite R100G or Holmenkol Syntec FF 21

Application: Iron in at recommended iron temp, let cool, scrape, brush with fine steel or bronze/brass brush.

Race Paraffin Layer

Rode R30 Violet mixed with Rode Endurance 1:1 -or- Holmenkol Syntec FF Red

Lower-price option: Holmenkol BetaMix Red or Rode R30 Violet

Application: Iron in at recommended iron temperature, let cool (10-15min), scrape with a plastic scraper, brush with fine steel or bronze/brass, then polish with nylon or horsehair brush.

Powder

Fluor-free powder will help with durability, speed and dirt repulsion. It is probably not worth it for shorter races (less than 25km).

Holmenkol FF Red Powder

Application: (apply powder over race paraffin, before topcoat)

  1. Sprinkle powder on liberally to coat the base.
  2. Iron in at recommended iron temperature.
  3. Let cool. 10-15 minutes should be adequate.
  4. Scrape powder off, then brush with stiff nylon, followed by horsehair.

View a video on powder application (video is for fluoro powders, but the application is the same for fluor-free powders)

Topcoat

Rode Racing Liquid (RL) Med -or- Holmenkol FF1 Red Liquid

lower-price Holmenkol option: Holmenkol FF2 Liquid Red

Application: Apply liquid on brushed ski, allow to dry, polish with a roto wool, roto fleece, or felt brush/cork. The liquid layer should be the final wax layer (over paraffin layer or powder layer).

Structure

Structure will likely be an important part of the race with snow starting cold and warming through the race.Choose a medium to warm grind.

  • Skate Grinds: S2.2
  • Classic Grinds: C2.2

Hand Structure:  Holmenkol cross-structure tool with one roller.

 

Kick Wax

Start with an ironed-in base layer of Vauhti Super Base applied very thin. Let cool to tacky/hard.

Kick Wax Options to test:

  • Rode B17 or Multigrade Blue
  • Rode BV15 or Blue Super
  • Holmenkol Blue Spezial or Blue Extra
  • Swix VP40 or Blue Extra

 

Updates

We will update this recommendation as it gets closer to race day.

Race/Application Notes

Overnight lows will be pretty cold, so the snow will generally stay colder than air temps through the races. The forecast is for sun, so that will help warm up the snow faster, but the snowpack will generally be cold.

If you can wax two pairs of race skis, it would be smart to go with a colder option. The forecast for this area is generally warmer than actual conditions, so having a colder pair of skis ready to go in case it gets colder overnight is a good option.