Skiing can still be enjoyable in this cold weather if you’re dressed appropriately and waxed for the conditions. I’ll take a day like this anytime over the warm, wet snow in the spring.
Someone has decorated a tree along the trail at CNC with free candy canes for the taking
In preparation for skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre, I hot-waxed with LF4(glide wax for temperatures -10/-30). For grip, I did a test with two different waxes. At home, I applied SwixVR30 to one ski, and Swix polar wax to the other. While they are both rated for snow to as low as -30, polar was noticeably better. The VR30 was too grippy.
I was impressed with the glide on the -18°C snow. The LF4 was an excellent choice for glide wax. It felt like I had rockets on my feet. On such cold snow, it can often feel like skiing on sandpaper. The air temperature in the late afternoon was -22.
A Para-nordic competitor from Japan was training for the World Cup races which start on Monday
Let me tell you a story about grip and glide on extremely cold snow. Three years ago I was skiing at the nordic centre with my friend Peter in very cold snow. He was skating, I was classic. The glide wax on his skate skis was intended for warmer conditions. He could diagonal stride up the hills without slipping!
The natural snow on Banff trail was in fine shape
I made it out to the natural snow before it got dark and was pleased with the conditions on Banff and Bow trail. A few twigs were sticking out of the tracks in a few places, but nothing that would damage your skis. Banff trail immediately past the meadow was a bit wind-blown and thin but only for a few metres.
The Japanese Para-Nordic team was out training for the start of the World Cup races which start on Monday. The timing for the competition couldn’t have been any better. The cold snap is forecast to come to an end on Sunday, so the weather will be tolerable for athletes and spectators alike.
