Start Skiwax Oy has started the operations and will continue the production and development of the traditional Start brand. The company has acquired all rights, including production equipment, formulas, and other immaterial rights, to ensure the continuity and quality of Start products. Behind the company is a Finnish group of ten shareholders, combining both new expertise and former employees who bring extensive experience and a strong belief in Finnish know-how and the future of cross-country skiing.
“We wanted to preserve Start’s valuable position as a well-known brand. We’ve brought together a team that offers a wide range of skills and experience,” says Frese Gustafson, Chairman of the Board at Start Skiwax Oy.
Start has been part of Finnish skiing tradition for decades—over 40 years. The production of Start ski waxes began in 1981, and the brand is well known among both recreational skiers and top athletes. Start Skiwax Oy aims to ensure that the quality, innovation, and reliability of Start products remain intact, so they continue to meet the demands of winter sports.
“We want to bring Start ski waxes back to the top of the world by strengthening the position among elite athletes, national teams, and the skiing community. We will make significant investments in product development and testing to ensure that Start products meet even the highest user expectations,” says Esko Sirparanta, Head of Production.
“We want to preserve and develop this valuable brand. Start belongs on the winter trail, and its future is a matter of honor for us,” says Anton Kortman, CEO.
Production will continue in Finland, and the company also aims to develop new products as well as more environmentally friendly wax solutions to meet the needs of all skiers.
Start wax will continue to be distributed in America buy EnjoyWinter. For more information on Start in America contact Andrew Gerlach AndyG@enjoywinter.com 406-585-2660
FasterSkier readers can receive 25% off ARC brushes for the next week by shopping at EnjoyWinter.com and using FasterSkierARC as your promo code. No stacking of discounts allowed.
As we’re getting ready for winter, I want you to go out to your garage, basement, or wherever you keep your ski tools and take an honest look at your ski brushes. How are they doing? Are they clean and the bristles standing straight up? Or do they look like an old toothbrush, with the bristles matted down from usage over time?
Skiing well takes a lot of work. From the many hours of training to your equipment management and travel logistics, cross-country skiing is a sport that rewards those who are skilled and thoughtful in their preparation. In the process of preparing for a race, any number of factors could be off, resulting in a subpar performance despite many other things going well.
Why are we talking about brushes? With the banning of fluorinated waxes and the introduction of new fluor-free waxes, the meta of ski tuning has changed. A good application of fluorinated waxes could make anything faster, smoothing over suboptimal camber, grind, and structure, resulting in competitive skis. Many athletes I’ve talked to have found that certain skis in their fleet are no longer viable now that fluorinated waxes are not an option. With the introduction of fluor-free racing waxes, greater attention must be placed on the camber, grind, and structure of the skis. Further, one of the strengths of fluorinated waxes was their ability to repel, among many things, dirt. The newer fluor-free waxes have yet to demonstrate the same capacity for keeping skis running clean, and therefore in our ski preparation, we must be mindful of any dirt or pollution we are introducing to the skis.
Why ARC? Like many of the brands from EnjoyWinter, ARC is an OEM manufacturer of brushes. They make their own stuff, whereas other companies go to companies such as ARC to make their brushes for them. This means that ARC is at the forefront of development because they are making the brushes for other industry leaders.
ARC also has strong ties to SVECOM stone grinders, an industry leader in stone grinders for cross-country skis. SVECOM grinders are used by World Cup teams and factory race rooms, including the Salomon factory. This connection is necessary to understanding the benefit of using ARC brushes, as they are backed with industry-leading knowledge on ski texturing.
On ski texture (simplified): When gliding on snow, we’re gliding on a thin layer of water from melting the snow. When tuning our skis, every step is changing the relationship between creating a thin film of water and repelling that thin film. Too little water, and it’s like skiing on sandpaper; too much, and the skis will suction cup themselves to the snow.
When we brush our skis, we’re applying texture to the ski. Certain brushes apply more texture to the ski, like our metal brushes. Some brushes apply hardly any structure, like our nylon brushes. Knowing this, you can begin to make decisions about how you’re going to brush your skis based on the conditions you’re going to be skiing in.
On brush application and order: two schools of thought:When brushing your skis, you are removing paraffin from the surface, structure, and then polishing the ski base. There are many ways to go about doing this. Here are two examples of brushing orders that you can do for different conditions.
Examples:
Cold, microcrystalline paraffin:Speedtex superfine before applying wax, Soft Brass, hard horsehair, soft nylon.
These are just two recommendations; however, I recommend you test and figure out what works best with your skis and the snow that you are skiing on.
Note: Most Nordic brushes from ARC are available in standard size, large World Cup size, and available as a roto tool.
World Cup Steel Brushes for downhill pursuits:
3.0 Tempered Steel: Engineered for World Cup level speed skiing, this brush excels in high-speed skiing disciplines. Its precisely engineered steel wires create micro-scratches on the ski base, maximizing water flow and enhancing glide. This brush can also clean your barbecue—this is not a brush for Nordic skiing.
2.5 Tempered Steel Angled Wires: Designed for optimal paraffin absorption and adhesion, this brush features angled wires for smoother application and efficient removal of excess wax. Use it as a foundational brush for all racing paraffin types, creating a consistent, scratch-free base. Again, don’t use this on your Nordic skis.
2.0 Hard Stainless Steel: Your essential all-purpose brush, this model tackles both racing paraffin and general waxing needs, removing excess paraffin and preparing the base for enhanced glide. I wouldn’t recommend this brush for your Nordic skis.
Stainless Steel Brushes for Precision and Versatility:
1.0 Fine Stainless Steel: I recommend this brush as your ski cleaning brush or as a good standard steel brush. This can be used to open up the structure on the base of your ski before applying colder paraffins.
0.7 Extra Fine Stainless Steel: My favorite brush, this brush effectively clears colder, microcrystalline paraffins. This is a must-have, either used first or second in the brushing process as it both clears the structure and removes surface paraffin.
Brass Brushes for budget performance:
Hard Brass: A less expensive alternative to the 1.0 steel. I use this brush for cleaning skis when paired with a glide cleaning solvent.
Soft Brass: This is comparable to the soft steel but will remove colder paraffins without excessively scratching the ski base. Use this brush when you want to minimize the amount of structure being applied to the ski on a really cold day.
Natural Brushes:
Tampico: A natural fiber obtained from the agave plant, this brush is gentle on the base while removing excess wax. Apply after an initial metal brushing. Best suited for waxes with medium-to-low melting points.
Hard Horsehair: This can be used for scrubbing away hard surface paraffin when you want to minimize the impact on the structure of the ski while removing wax.
Soft Horsehair: A natural fiber alternative to the soft nylon.
Finishing Brushes:
Hard Nylon: This is a good workhorse polishing brush that will work quickly and last a long time as long as you keep it clean!
Soft Nylon: This is going to be your finishing brush most of the time for liquids and other finishing waxes. I like this combination of soft and short bristles for working on skis as they’re able to do work on the running surface without flopping around.
Cork Nylon Combi Brush. This brush is a killer deal for liquid applications. Cork on the back, soft nylon on the other side at a competitive price. Ideal for all liquid wax applications for all levels of skier.
Enhanced Application with ARC Rollers, available in 10cm, 14cm, and 20cm:
Polyester Roller: An industry standard, capable of applying waxes hot or cold consistently.
Merino Wool Roller: Ultra-fine merino wool for the application of thin film waxes, including solids or liquids.
Speedtex Fine Roller: Designed to deeply clean and polish ski bases before waxing. It can also do a great job removing gunk from your waxing iron (we also sell sheets of this). This will gently abrade the surface of the ski upon application.
Speedtex Super-Fine Roller: Designed to deeply clean and polish the ski before wax application. The difference with this roller is that it will not apply micro abrasions to the ski base.
Take a critical look at your ski brushes. Are they worn out, dirty, contaminated with fluorinated wax? With the shift away from fluorinated waxes, it is necessary to make sure our ski selection and preparation is dialed even more than before. With the expert knowledge behind ARC, you can trust that you are getting the most out of this step in the process.
See you on the trail (or wax cabin) – Jacob
FasterSkier readers can receive 25% off ARC brushes for the next week by shopping at EnjoyWinter.com and using FasterSkierARC as your promo code. No stacking of discounts allowed.
Introducing the EnjoyWinter Strava Challenge! Follow the steps below to be entered in for a chance to win a pair of hand-picked Peltonen skis. The contest will run from May 17th through June 14th. The winner will be announced on Instagram on June 15th!
4. Clock in 5 hours of activity on Strava during the month of the contest.
That’s it! On June 15th we’ll use a random number generator to select a winner for a pair of skis, and to check to see if they are following our strava, following our Instagram, signed up for our newsletter, and have recorded 5 hours of activity during the month.
Why hand selected skis? Skis are infinitely variable, we are selecting skis based on your needs.
The skis:
The shape of the ski is referred to as the camber. Skis vary in their stiffness profile, meaning the stiffness of the ski varies along the length of the camber. Skis also vary in their torsional rigidity and their rebound speed from loaded to unloaded.
We asses skis by analyzing the camber loaded and unloaded. Either with a flex tester or with our hands we determine length of contact zones, camber progression, and a pressure profile. These characteristics determine the performance and feeling of your skis.
Are Peltonen’s right for you? How do they ski?
Skate Skis –
Peltonen makes very stable skis for a wide range of skiers. They encourage an active forward position, loading the ski through the forefoot. When in a forward position they are very stable under load. These skis have low rebound speed from loaded to unloaded making it easier for all levels of skier to smoothly transfer their energy from side to side. Peltonens have low residual camber and quick edges allowing sliding or stepping through corners. These skis can accommodate many skiers, whether you’re a long gliding, low tempo skier or a high tempo forward skier that prefers a ski with lower rebound.
Classic skis –
Peltonen Classic skis share the low cambers in their classic line, also encouraging a forward body position. The kick pocket on Peltonens is low and forward, benefitting classic skiers who kick from the ball of their foot. The skis can give quick access to kick to those who want it. When waxing these skis, you will want to work with thinner applications of tacky waxes instead of relying on the bulk properties of a thicker application.
We are pleased to announce that the EnjoyWinter Factory Team launched it’s 2024 season this past weekend with great success.
We participated at the SkideShe run by the American Birkebeiner ski foundation.
This women’s only camp and race weekend is title sponsored by two key EnjoyWinter retailers GearWest and Riverbrook.
Factory Team athlete Annika Landis did our brands proud by sharing her expertise as a coach for the camp, and then dominating the 30Km freestyle race.
Annika won the 30km event with an impressive victory and a 1:30 margin over Olympian Caitlin Compton.
Our staff also assisted our two retailers’ outfit participants, and waxed 44 pair of participant skis with Start RG Ultra Green with rave reviews.
We were very pleased to see Annika’s new Peltonen Supra X universal skis on par (if not better) than her top competitor’s well proven fleet of skis.
It turned many heads to have a victory on Peltonen again in the USA.
People were very excited to see the Factory Team back participating with America’s skiing community and the dealers that support it.
As I explained to one person as to why we brought back the Factory Team, The Factory Team is about ski community involvement. It is about “How do you do, nice to meet you, rather than, how did you do?”
This weekend the EnjoyWinter Factory Team will be participating in the Craftsbury Marathon, in Vermont.
This week, Annika & Jacob Huseby (EnjoyWinter marketing & race service director) are doing clinics at EnjoyWinter dealers Woodstock Inn, Ski Rack and Craftsbury Touring Center and skiing with JR teams along the way.
Other key supplier products used in the race victory on this extra cold race day.
Start – RG Ultra Green + RG Ultra Cold Powder
Caldwell Sport – G4 grind
4KAAD – Blackcode X poles
4KAAD – Piri Pink Beanie
Bliz – Hero Small Face – Nordic Light Magenta
KinetiXx – Juri Gloves
Borah – Custom Factory Team One Piece Suit & Warm-Ups
Naroo- Z5H preheating face mask (for warm-up )
Spine – Ultimate Skate Boots
Rottefella – Xcelerator Pro Skate NIS bindings set at 0
Hailing from Anchorage, AK, twenty-year-old Gus Schumacher has been celebrated as a top American prospect for good reason. Since 2015 we’ve watched Gus win 10 Gold Medals, One World Junior Title and have witnessed countless photo-ops atop the podium. Last season we celebrated as Gus became the first American to win a Nordic Junior World Champion title. None of this success has slowed Schumacher’s drive to achieve more and see how far he can take his professional skiing career.
Gus Schumacher racing the individual sprint in Dresden, Germany, earlier this season. (Photo: Nordic Focus)
Q: Can you explain your experiences with racing this season, and walk us through what COVID testing looks like on race day at the World Cup and how you’ve had to change your mental and physical preparations with COVID precautions at the venue?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to compete so much this winter. I know that’s not true for everyone, and it’s not without a ton of hard work. Our staff and organizing committees across the World Cup have been working so much harder this year at keeping the World Cup bubble and local communities safe and healthy. We test on average probably 2-3 times a week, depending on how much we move around. We always get tested before travel, and then upon arrival to a venue. This definitely makes us feel safer around the World Cup group, but there’s still a lot of different behaviors at each place. Generally, we’re able to go through the same motions on race day, except for going inside the wax truck or cabins, or having a warm place for before and after racing.
By now I’m so used to having a mask around that it feels pretty normal to have it on until I start warming up on skis. There’s also the social difference, which is the most noticeably impactful change. What’s normally a super interactive team is limited to zoom or outdoor meetings, and time together is really only at meals if we’re at a hotel. It really makes me appreciate the group skis and even travel days when we can be around people outside of our “pods”. Also, the international friends aspect is a bit of a bummer too, because without common indoor areas, it’s hard to actually have a conversation with anyone else. It’s still really nice to wave and say hi to people that I’ve met before at World Juniors and stuff.
(Photo Credit: Matt Whitcomb)
Q: At some point after racing the World Cup or at World Champs where you’re surrounded by adrenaline, amazing ski and race culture it’s time to come home and back to your normal routine. What does that process look like for you? Do you find it difficult to transition from being around the limelight to your home-base in Anchorage? Is there a particular routine you follow to get yourself back into the groove of training at home?
For me, the transition between big races and home is pretty smooth, as I think I’m good at staying connected to my family, friends, and community while I’m gone. Also, in this era of phones, it’s really easy to get pictures of home, and communicate with the ski community when I’m away from either. Honestly, the toughest transition really is going from that weekend-to-weekend attention, to all of a sudden just not hearing from the media and stuff. I know that sounds vain, but you get used to answering questions and being very outgoing about racing, and when all of that just stops, it can be hard to remember that you’re still worth a lot to the people you love, and even if you get less attention for your racing, there’s still lots about you that has value.
Q: Some athletes are extremely strict and calculated with their diet. I knew a racer once who traveled with sweet potatoes and would microwave them for breakfast before races. He felt it gave him consistency and confidence. Or another teammate who needed to have ice-cream the night before every single race, because she felt every time she did it, races worked out in her favor…this one was perhaps more on the superstitious side. Do you have any hard-and-fast rituals like sweet-potatoes or ice-cream?
Nope, I really try to stay away from those things, because what happens when you’re at the Olympics and your last sweet potato went bad or they just don’t have ice cream? I have some basic food stuff that I try to cover, like getting plenty of carbs and a nice warm drink, but nothing specific I need, just in case it isn’t there.
Pre-World Cup dinner and breakfast: It changes so much, pretty much just normal and healthy stuff for dinner, and for breakfast. I like to have plain cereal with milk, and some coffee, but I’ll also have eggs and toast, or yogurt and granola. Usually more in the grain department for breakfast.
Gus Schumacher at the finish of the men’s 15 k mass start classic in Val di Fiemme – Stage 6 of the Tour de Ski. (Photo: NordicFocus)
Q: What does the rest of your season look like?
Finland for U23 world champs now, then to Davos for a pre-WSC Camp, then to Germany for World Champs, and finish out the season in Norway! Not sure if I’ll race Holmenkollen yet, 50k individual start sounds like a tough sell.
Q: What does Gus Schumacher do with down-time when traveling for races?
Homework, board games if I have more than one roommate, video games if I’m with JC and his Xbox, TV.
F: Give us your Top 5 favorite songs right now!
So Done-Laroi
Primadona- Sueco
Ball- Eryn Martin
In the party- Flo Milli
Holding on- Iann Dior
(Photo Credit: Matt Whitcomb)
Q: We know you love racing, training and winter, but what is one thing you are excited about / looking forward to post-race season?
I’ve really been looking forward to sunny spring ski days with friends at home. Finishing with some tasty food, hot tubs, beer, and seeing my dogs.
Q: As influencers and perfectly curated photos have become the norm, athletes tend to think a bit more about their style while maintaining functionality. Is style important to you while racing or on the podium? What would be your favorite go-to pieces?
Look good, feel good, right?? I always try to wear ski stuff that I think looks good. I really like my snow camo Rossi buff, and a clean pair of Bliz shades. I’ve been a big fan of simple blacks and whites on glasses, but I’m excited about the new colors that just came out!!
