It’s interesting you mention the wax in the xc race. I thought it looked like Lindsey Jacobellis, in the snowboard cross, lost because of a waxing mistake (or maybe a difference in waxing strategy).
Wax is an important component of any ski/snowboard race. Obviously, it lubricates the base to allow for better sliding, but there’s more to it. When wax is melted into the base, the porous p-tex (the plastic-y material from which the base of a ski/snowboard is constructed) absorbs much of it, completely coating all of the grooves and texture of the p-tex. These grooves, known as structure, exist because the weight of the skier/rider and the friction between the skier/rider and the snow cause some of the snow to melt. The structure provides a place for this water to go, which is must faster, due to the suction that a thin layer of water can cause. While the p-tex is porous, the water is not absorbed into the ski because of hydrocarbons in the wax. Better, more expensive waxes have fluorocarbons, which are even more hydrophobic. Wax composition is varied based on air temperature and snow temperature. In short, wax is both a sealant and a lubricant, and in high-level races, it is critical for top performance.
No one else is awake? GOOOOOOOLD!!!
Yay !!! USA!!
USA! USA! That was an exciting hockey game. I hate hockey shootouts, but I hate them a little less when my team wins.
S2 and I were up and yelling! Hope we didn’t wake the neighbors.
Here is a down in the weeds, interesting to me, article about ski waxing and why it’s so important. https://www.boston.com/sports/olympics/2018/02/21/the-sweet-science-of-ski-wax
It’s from the Boston Globe and I’m not sure if you have to register to read this but I was able to get it to come up on my iPad.
Diggins and Randall, first medal for US XC skiers in 42 years, they said.
Wait, I said, Bill Koch won a medal in 19…76…
Uh, I guess I am old. I was in middle school then; he really inspired me.
Too bad LV straddled a gate in the combined SL. I think Mikeala did awesome in these games – two medals and a 4th are nothing to sneeze at. The hype and build-up of expectations for these two was too much.
I couldn’t stay up to watch the entire Canada/U.S. game but watched long highlights this morning. It was a good game and, like others, I wish a tie could be settled in a way other than a shootout. Two very good teams and it’s nice for the U.S. women to get the gold after 20 years of Canada winning. I like that the competition is improving in women’s hockey. I look forward to the day when the two gold medal teams are not virtually guaranteed prior to the games even starting.
For you Scott Moir fans, have a look at the CBC Olympics FB page. A very funny “Scott Moir is the ultimate Canadian hockey fan” montage.
It really bothers me when ski racers don’t hike in slalom when they very clearly could have. I understand why they do it and that they don’t want to be slow, but it’s poor sportsmanship to miss a gate a not hike when you could’ve.
I think that beyond beer league and high school racing, the FIS rules forbid hiking.
Edited to add:
@colfac92 No, you just never see high-level athletes do it because they don’t want to give their points away. Like I said, I understand why they do it, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
So yes, Hirscher could have made a few quick steps and cleared the next gate and continued. Yes, he likely would have been out of medal contention, but sometimes with slalom you never can tell…
Stayed up for hockey - what a game! Gold! Now I’m going to be bleary eyed all day.
^^^ Same here. So happy for the team!
What is hiking relative to ski racing?
@Nrdsb4 it’s only allowed in slalom, the event with the smallest turns where skiers hit the gates out of the way with their hands. Because the turns are so tight, it is fairly easy for a skier to mess up and straddle a gate or miss a turn, both of which are not allowed. In races without internationally competitive skiers, it is common for skiers to hike up the hill so they officially went around the gate the correct way, which will prevent them from being disqualified. It’s slow, but it shows you care. When I train slalom, if I miss a gate and don’t hike, my coach takes away my ski lift privileges. That’ll teach you how to hike!
Maybe its something of a punishment for younger skiers with the idea it will help encourage them to not miss the gates?
Congrats to the men’s curling team. First time in the gold medal game ever in curling. Had a horrible start to the tournament. Looked like they were out of it but then got on a hot streak. Beating Canada (3 time defending Olympic champs) twice along the way. Hope it continues one more game.
Women could have made the semis with a win yesterday but couldn’t get it done. Needed Japan to lose (which they did) but couldn’t come up with the win.
@saillakeerie the younger skiers just don’t care about their points as much
@deb922 I have hundreds (maybe more :D) of dollars worth of wax & waxing tools for Nordic skis. My kids and I both raced. I use a large fishing tackle box & a Tupperware tub to hold it all. It is an art.
When Jessie Diggins was small, I think her parents worked as reps for ski wax companies, although they had “day jobs” as well.