Forecast: Saturday overnight low should be very cold and bottom out around -15F, mostly clear and humidity at or above 90%.  At 9:00 temps still should be very cold around –10F, and warming a bit to around -4F by noon.  Humidity should be in the 70’s at 9:00, but drop to near 50% by noon.

Ski Selection: Medium to Medium Stiff ski

Base Prep: Clean skis with Swix CH10 or Swix Base Prep 99. Scrape and brush using Course Bronze Brush (T0158) or new Fine Steel brush (T0192. Apply layer of Swix MB77. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).

Glide Wax
Base Race Wax: Apply Swix CH4. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).

Race Wax: Apply Swix CH4 and Swix LF3 in a 1:1 ratioscrape and brush using Medium Bronze followed by fine steel or blue nylon.

Structure: Choose a pair with a good Fine Grind

Kick Wax

First sand the kick zone with 100 grit sandpaper.(New Snow Conditions) :  Apply and iron in a thin layer of Swix VG35.  Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes, and apply and iron in a thin layer of Swix V40.  Apply 5-6 thin layers of Swix VR30.                          
(Tilled Icy/Transformed Snow Conditions) :  Apply and iron in a layer of Swix KR-20 base klister (can be a bit thicker than normal).  Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and apply 2 thin layers of Swix VR30 while the klister is still cool.  Let skis cool off again, and apply another 2 thin layers of Swix VR30. Note:  Try to avoid working the hard wax into the klister binder!

2008 Sacagawea Ski Classic
Bohart Ranch, Bozeman MT
Saturday, February 09, 2008
9:00am 6k & 10:00am 14k/28k Mass Starts

Forecast: Friday Night: A 60 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13F.  Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow and cloudy with a high near 26F.

Ski Selection: Soft flex ski with fine structure

Base Preparation: Clean skis with Swix Base Prep 99. Scrape and brush using Swix Fine Steel brush (T0192).

Base Structure:  Linear structure, applied with the Swix Super Riller (T401). Apply the .25mm rill.

Glide Wax:
Base Race Wax: Apply one layer of Swix CH4 or CH6. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).  Tip: it’s easier to cheese grate (parmesan setting) flakes of CH4 onto the base instead of dripping it.

Race Wax: Apply 1 layer of Swix LF6. Scrape and brush with Swix Fine Steel Brush (T0192).  Brush well to remove all traces of wax residue- this is especially important in cold conditions.

Kick Wax:
Base Kick Wax: sand kick zone w/ 100 grit, apply layer of SwixVG35 base wax, iron in. Let cool. Apply one layer of Swix V40 Blue extra. Cork smooth.

Race Kick Wax: most likely Swix VR40. Apply 4 layers and cork smooth, or wait until race morning to apply kick wax. Other likely kick waxes include VR30. VR45, or VR50.

Event Name: Equinox Ski Challenge
Date: March 22-23, 2008
Location: Rendezvous Ski Trails, West Yellowstone, MT.
Event Website: www.equinoxskichallenge.com
Race Type: 6, 12, or 24 Hour / mass start / freestyle
Contact: Sam Newbury
Phone: (406)-209-3533
Email: equinoxskichallenge@gmail.com

THE EQUINOX SKI CHALLENGE: How Far Can You Go?
When else might you race in the springtime sun and then continue into the night under a full moon while on your way to skiing farther than you ever have
before. Or to tag your teamate and hang out by the all night bonfire!

There will be a 6 Hour and 12 Hour divisions in conjunction with the headlining 24 Hour race. All categories are open to both relay teams and soloists. This year the 9 kilometer course will be lit by a nearly full moon if the skies are clear, (headlamps still recommended)! Last year we saw multiple 24 Hour soloists exceed 300km and a team at just under 400km on the challenging loops. To avoid skiing on refrozen chop, we have two courses set up and will switch to the fresh course about 12 hours into the race.

The Equinox Ski Challenge will support local organizations that are keeping our
communities mentally and physically healthy by raising funds for the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation, a ski advocacy group, and for Manaia Youth Programs, a youth leadership and empowerment program serving Gallatin
and Park counties in Montana. Participants are encouraged to bring food donations for the West Yellowstone Food Bank. Those donating food will be entered into a special raffle.

The festivities will include a costume contest to be judged at the start of the race, a potluck with beverages on Saturday evening, and an all night bonfire near the start/finish line. Complete details and registration forms are available at www.equinoxskichallenge.com. Volunteers are warmly welcomed as well.

How far can you go?

For more information contact:
Sam Newbury
Equinox Ski Challenge
P.O. Box 184
Bozeman, MT. 59771
(406)-209-3533
equinoxskichallenge@gmail.com
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Cross-Country Technique Fundamentals - CDROM
This CD lays the foundation for both Classic and Freestyle techniques on
which we can build a consistent technique program that will continue to
develop great cross-country skiers for years to come.

WAKE UP! IT'S TIME TO TRAIN - DVD
70 minutes of exclusive interviews with US National Team coaches, drills and
technique, fitness testing, sports physiology, core strength, training
volume, intensity levels, race footage, and much more.

X-COUNTRY - DVD
The inside story on one of the toughest sports around by top World Cup
racers.

Visit the CXC Store
http://cxcskiing.org/CXC%20Store/education.htm
_______________________________________________
Matching Grant Update

Dear Skiers, Outdoor Winter Enthusiasts and Supporters:

This is our first week after the announcement to raise $25,000 to
match Dr. Leslie and John Taylor grant to Madison Winter Festival. The grant
was issued on January 1, 2008 and will match dollar for dollar every
donation collected from now until February 1, 2008.
After seven days $3,800 has been raised. There are 24 days left with
$21,200 needed to be raised. Thank you to individuals and businesses who
already made a contribution. If not, please do it today. All donations are
tax deductible.

Your contribution will give an opportunity to the Madison Winter
Festival to expose more kids and families to the winter outdoor activities
and celebrate healthy life style through participation.
There are two ways you can donate:

1) Simply send a check to the Madison Winter Festival at PO Box
930442, Verona, WI 53593. The check should be made out to 'Wisconsin Nordic
Sports Foundation' with the 'Madison Winter Festival' on the memo line or

2) Go to http://www.winter-fest.com/site_pages/Grant.htm and donate
online with the credit card
_______________________________________________
"Who will you pursue this Valentine's weekend?"
The Cowboy Chase Nordic Pursuit Race
Saturday February 16, 15km/5km freestyle, 10:00 am start time
Sunday February 17, 7.5km/3km classic pursuit, 9:30 am start time

Happy Jack Recreation area, 9 miles east of Laramie, WY, just
off Interstate 80.
Registration: Race day, $20 per race or $25 for the weekendFor detailed information, directions, course maps:
www.uwyo.edu/ski/CowboyChase.htm

Lodging Options: Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, EconoLodge, Best Western
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John Day Citizen's Cross Country Ski Race
February 17, 2008 (Sunday)
Diamond Lake Resort, Oregon

Entry forms may be downloaded from the John Day XC Race Website: http://southernonc.tripod.com/id6.html

The Diamond Lake Resort is located in the southern Oregon Cascades off State Route 138 north of Crater Lake National Park.

The citizen cross country ski race is open to all ages and abilities. The John Day
XC-Ski Race includes 20k freestyle (skating allowed) and10k classic (diagonal stride only) events. The race also features Junior (18 & under) 5k freestyle and 5k
classic events as well as a 5k Fun Ski.

Pre-registration closes February 9th. Day of race registration is accepted. Check-in at the Diamond Lake Resort Lodge between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM on the morning of the race. The mass-start race starts at 10:30 AM.

The race is sponsored by the Southern Oregon Chapter of the Oregon Nordic Club.
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FRIENDS OF XC SKIING

Both to commemorate the exciting results from our Nordic athletes so far this season, and in anticipation of the races next week and the pre-World Championships in Liberec in February, we're offering a program called Friends of Cross Country, which is already giving a wide range of U.S. Ski Team alumni, supporters, fans and recreational skier a way to be involved with the team, and to help to capture the momentum the athletes have as they race toward Vancouver in 2010, Sochin in 2014, and beyond.

Enthusiasts nationwide are now able to show their support of the Team as a Friend of Cross Country by giving a gift as low as $50. The Norwegian Ski Federation as operated an identical program for a number of years, and they sell 8,000 hats annually. Skiers of all ages and abilities in Norway show their support for their team by wearing their "Langrennsportens Venner" hats from the current year, and from years gone by. We've started to challenge Norway on the ski trails - surpassing them in nationwide community support is a key area to sustaining that challenge.

The results we've seen so far this season from athletes like Kikkan Randall, Andrew Newell, Kris Freeman, Bill Demong and Johnny Spillane are thanks to
the efforts of the entire U.S. skiing community including race organizers, community coaches, divisional leaders and dedicated supporters. This support has enabled athletes at all levels of our development pipeline to perform their best. Because of this, our athletes are better prepared to compete with their peers internationally. USSA has made new, high-performance investments in nordic skiing including:

· Coach, parent, club and officials education
· Greater support for elite-level development
· Investments in sport science, such as force measurement analysis tools
· State of the art roller skiing treadmill
· Nutritional, medical and performance psychology support
· 2010 Olympic venue training camps
· 2010 Whistler fast-skis project

Our athletes can achieve their goals and inspire generations of young kids to participate in this healthful, lifelong family sport.

NOTE: If you have an event you would like to have in SkiPost please send emails to weanswer@skipost.com

Do you love the sport of cross-country skiing?
Do you look forward to each edition of SkiPost?
Do you wish to support some of America's best Nordic athletes?
Do you wish to associate your company with health, fitness and winter performance?
Would you like your brand to receive over 150 million media impressions
annually?

Become a sponsor of the Factory Team www.EnjoyWinter.com North America's
Premier Cross-Country Ski Team.
For more information on Factory Team sponsorship opportunities contact
endure@endurance-enterprises.com