More "Hairies" -- how to do it?

[JeffOYB]

I've read quite a bit on hairies but it still seems like there's insufficient info.

Here's something by Peter Hale from 2009:

http://www.nordicskiracer.com/news.asp? ... F1rLbYrLBI

It talks about sanding TAIL to tip! That seems backwards. But it also says tip to tail works sometimes. In the conditions mentioned the other way was faster. It seems crazy! Don't the hairs point in a direction? Maybe not!

Then it says "4 passes a lot of pressure." Hmmm, sounds like continuous sanding, without lifting the sandpaper. So is that SOP?

Then there's mention of "cleaning" w a light pass of 100 grit. Is that done after the main sanding? What does cleaning mean? Touch up after skiing dirty snow?

Well, a big point in the article is to TRY them and test things. So I will... It also mentions lighter kick, higher RPMs... But it was 7 yrs ago...

[Magnus Johansson]

Thanks, Jeff, for the information. Interesting linked article.

I believe one shouldn't lift the sanding paper but use an unbroken movement on the desired length, and "cleaning", I believe, is supposed to remove unnecessary or unwanted hairs. It is noteworthy that the article discourages sanding sideways, something that is actually not uncommon on regular base kick zones.

[JeffOYB]

I've been trying the chemicals all season and haven't found them to be good yet. I'm kind of bummed out about that. They have been great for me for the past two years. I don't know what happened. I'm going to try backward sanding later on today. I've tried them packed powder 15° – fail. In the past two or three days of been 35° transforming and they're basically not working. I guess they worked at 32° nine transformed. But they have been bad the last two 35° days. Very difficult grip.