Not all snow is the same. All skis and not all skiers either. Talk to the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team Chief Waxer, Yves Bilodeau.
There are at least four waxers under his command, during international competitions, but often six or more. It must be said that with a dozen Canadian athletes who each bring a good thirty skis, there is plenty to do when you are responsible for preparing and testing them. “Sometimes we have more than that. Alex Harvey had, for example, about fifty. But there is a limit to the Olympic Games,” explained Yves Bilodeau a few days before leaving for China. The man who is in his sixth Winter Games in this role has already participated in three other editions before as an athlete.
“All these skis would look perfectly similar to ordinary people, but they each have small differences: in model, structure, camber, base… Some are naturally more suited to hot or cold conditions, or are more versatile . They’re made by big companies that people know about, but they’re usually not the same ones they can buy. »
In fact, even Olympic athletes do not all have access to the same kinds of skis, companies like to reserve their latest discoveries and innovations for the best of the best. “Alex Harvey was entitled to this type of ski. At the factory, they put some aside for him. They called them “bombs”, relates Yves Bilodeau. Today, this kind of privilege goes, for example, to Norwegian champions, like [Johannes Høsflot] Klaebo. Not to members of the Canadian team. »
Before talking about waxing
The secret of a good waxer starts with selecting the right type of ski according to the snow conditions and the characteristics of the athlete. “It’s even more important than waxing. »
Then, the skis are passed over the structurer, a heavy machine which makes it possible to print in their base the grooves and designs of the type, positioning and depth required by the snow conditions, the temperature, the presence of water or other factors. Only then can you think about the actual waxing.
“When the conditions are cold and you have to deal with artificial snow, like for the Beijing Games, we use the same waxes that anyone can buy at Canadian Tire. Our skiers prefer these conditions and are generally better there than when the weather is milder and the temperature fluctuates around 0 degrees, notes the chief waxer. Unlike Mont Sainte-Anne [près de Québec], where you start to complain as soon as the slopes start to look a little less beautiful, Norwegians are used to skiing every day in shitty conditions and demolished slopes. They are happy there. »
Once prepared, the skis must be tested. Ideally, this is done in the days leading up to the races with the skiers for whom they are intended, but not all of them want to do this, or are not good at analyzing and comparing the performance of the skis that have been prepared for them. “We call this the “touch of snow”. As in car racing, some skiers are good at feeling and understanding the behavior of the ski and helping us to improve it. But others don’t see any difference, even if you put completely different skis on their feet. Finally, there are others who don’t like to test their skis. Who prefer to always train with the same ones and have the pleasure of discovering the skis that have been prepared for them at the time of the race. »
In this case, someone else has to test the skis for them. And as much as possible someone of the same height, weight and style as them. “In any case, we rarely do this alone. We prefer that there are a lot of exchanges. »
No miracles or surprises
Sometimes we take a wrong turn, as was the case for the Canadian team at the Sochi Games in 2014, admits Yves Bilodeau. “We were completely wrong in our choices and we weren’t able to correct things in time. »
But ultimately, it is first and foremost the athletes who play the biggest role in performance, says the expert who turned 60and anniversary at the Beijing Games. “Cross-country skiing is an endurance sport where talents are built up over the years. We rarely witness surprises or miracles. All of our former great Canadian riders, like Alex Harvey or Beckie Scott, have become so through years of hard work. »
The Canadian cross-country ski team at the Beijing Games is young, but full of promise for the future. “They are very talented. Especially the guys, while the girls go a little further, he says in an admiring tone. For them, the Beijing Games are above all a chance to gain experience, but that does not prevent them from already having good results. »
For the team of experts led by Yves Bilodeau, it is a question of supporting them and arming them as well as possible. “Our ultimate goal is to provide our skiers with skis on par with their best opponents so they have a fighting chance when they have a good day. »