Olympic dream hinges on right wax

Qualification for next year's Winter Olympics in Whistler is out of the way and Tauranga's Katie Calder has re-set her sights on being the best prepared when she gets there.
The 28-year-old, based most of the year in Switzerland, has already posted an A qualifying mark and just needs rubber-stamping after switching allegiance last year to New Zealand from Australia.
Calder has spent the past eight months on the gruelling European crosscountry skiing circuit during the northern hemisphere winter, with next year's Games now her sole focus.
 Part of the St Moritz nordic ski team since 2005, Calder has raised a few eyebrows among her European counterparts with her podium finishes. She qualified for the Olympics in February, based on her standings and points earned on the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup circuit.
 But here's where it gets tricky. Despite her high volume competition and training base, and a detailed schedule for the next six months leading up to the Olympics, Calder's plans could be derailed by a lack of experienced support staff in British Columbia.
Crosscountry skiers are wholly reliant on their wax technicians, experts who apply wax to the bottom of their skis for a variety of conditions, making the skis glide faster or providing grip on snow when weight is transferred depending on the skiing style.
It's difficult to the layman to understand but turning up to competition minus a wax technician would be like sending a jockey out to ride in the Melbourne Cup without a saddle.
"That's probably my biggest issue right now, and barrier to success, and going to the Olympics with an experienced wax technician is crucial," Calder said.
Her problem is two-fold. Because of New Zealand's spartan background in crosscountry, wax technicians aren't plentiful. And with the New Zealand Winter Olympic team likely to number around a dozen at most, support staff are likely to be scarce.
 Calder gets by on the World Cup circuit by borrowing wax technicians from the Swiss. "I'm constantly cutting deals with other teams to use their waxers and the Swiss in particular have been great, although living in St Mortiz I know them and train with them anyway."
 Crosscountry skiers can have their skis waxed many different ways in a single day.
 "It's different to downhill, because their courses are often salted and icy and they ski mainly on the sharp edges with so little friction. Crosscountry waxing is really technical, matching the wax with the humidity, snow temperature, terrain and length of the race.
 "There's hundreds of different waxes and 100 of different fluorocarbons, and teams often turn up with 7 or 8 wax technicians, as well as coaches and physios.
 "I might have to look at outsourcing a waxman because I doubt New Zealand will have the same level I could get overseas, but it's hard going because if you get the best waxing options and the opportunities are limitless, but get the waxing wrong and your race is over."
Calder didn't spend her 10 days back home in Tauranga sunning herself, instead hitting the gym and running up Mauao or around the Waikareao Estuary every day.
Then there was the special resistance machine set 2m high on the wall of the garage, imported from Italy and simulating the high pulling motion of crosscountry.
Calder often shut herself in the shed for an hour, pretending she was back in the Swiss Alps.
"I can't afford to rest, because while I'm sitting around everyone else is out there training. There's 150 days left till the Olympics and I need to make sure every one of those days counts."