Tag: toko e-blast

Testing, Choosing Race Skis & Positive Self-Talk
(Complete e-blast)

Nick Hendrickson racing at the Tour of China earlier this winter.

Testing and Choosing Race Skis at the Boulder Mountain Tour 2017

On a typical day in the Wood River Valley, you can pretty much bet on sunny days, cold nights, firm new snow and amazing grooming. But so far, this hasn’t been a typical year in Ketchum. Last week it didn’t seem to stop snowing, with about 20 inches accumulating on Friday and Saturday, it made for some interesting ski testing, and racing!

Testing

Whatever skis you may have in your bag, make sure the skis you test are all zeroed (same wax and prep on all). Test skis the day before race day on conditions that you think will mimic race conditions (as best as possible). The BMT is unique because the start and finish could be very different conditions, choose a spot to test skis that is going to give you an idea of what the snow will be up high at the start, and down at the finish. You can always test at multiple locations if you’re really keen, just be careful to not overthink things. This brings us to probably the most important part of ski testing, choosing which ski to race on.

If you have a good quiver of skis, chances are you’ll have two pairs of skis that feel similar on testing day. This is when you go with your gut feeling. If you’re thinking that one ski feels better than the other, but just a little bit…choose the better ski! In the end, if your skis are really so similar, it will not make or break your race. Take the skis that feel slightly better and wax those up for race day. Another option is to race wax both pairs and test them the morning of the race on the course when you know what the weather and grooming is looking like on the race course. Whatever ski you end up choosing, be committed to that ski!

Nick Hendrickson, 2016 Boulder Mountain Tour Champion

This is an excellent article written for SBX racers, but should be read by anyone who wants to improve at anything and have a positive experience

Self-Talk
By Cody Brown
Head SBX Coach SSWSC

One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of mental game and success in athletics is, “Self-Talk.” In this eblast we will review the key concepts and the role self-talk plays in athletic performance.

With every new athlete that enters my program one of the first things we actively eliminate is negative self-talk. I often hear negative self-talk in response to feedback that is being provided to athletes. It usually sounds something like, “I am just not good at that technique” or “I just can’t do that.” The first thing that I do when I hear this kind of negativity is cut the athlete off to stop the negative self-talk. Then reframe the statement and try it again. The new statement would sound something like, “I am improving that technique,” or “that is something that I am working on getting better at.” If an athlete is verbally condemning their performance, it is almost a guarantee they are mentally doing it as well.

The underlying principle behind self-talk and its effect on athletic performance is simple. Your sub-conscious mind is indifferent to results and is essentially programed by your conscious mind. One of the first psychologists to explain this notion was Maxwell Maltz in his book ‘Psycho-Cybernetics’ . For example, if you persistently say (verbally or mentally), “I am not good at pumping transitions” that is exactly what your sub-conscious mind is going to produce. If you reinforce to your sub-conscious mind positive statements such as “I am working on getting better at pumping transitions,” you will, over time produce that desired result. A rule of thumb if you find yourself negatively criticizing yourself is, in order to eliminate one negative thought, you need to mentally or verbally say a reframed positive statement four times. One technique many athletes use is a “power statement”. If they catch themselves being negatively critical of their performance mid-run, they can force out the negativity by mentally saying the power statement of their choice four times immediately after. This statement can be as simple as “my technique is excellent” or “I ride with power and finesse.”

This also applies to outside influences as well. I make a conscious effort to speak to my athletes the same way I want them to speak to themselves. For instance, if an athlete is speed checking or slowing down before a jump, I will resist the temptation to say “don’t speed check!” But rather tell the athlete to “eliminate the speed check” or “after the first feature point it straight into the jump.” It is subtle but effective.

To sum up self-talk in three simple steps:
- Listen: Pay attention to what you are saying to yourself.
- Reframe: If negative, reframe the statement to be positive.
- Reinforce: Repeat the positive reframed statement.
- Achieving your goals is a process, so be nice to yourself and enjoy the journey.
USA Nordic signs strategic partnership with Toko

Park City, January 15, 2017

“USA Nordic is very pleased to announce that we will be working with Toko as our exclusive glove supplier for the Nordic Combined Team’s cross country racing for the 2017 season,” said Bill Demong, Executive Director of USA Nordic. “Toko has a long, distinguished history as one of the premiere Nordic brands and we are very excited to be working with their committed team.”

Toko US Brand Manager Ian Harvey commented, “Bryan Fletcher lives in Heber, Utah close to me and I have been impressed with him and his other teammates’ professionalism and commitment. It is my pleasure to support them.”

“Switching to Toko was a fantastic opportunity,” stated Taylor Fletcher, one of the top athletes on the USA Nordic Combined team. “The gloves have a great warmth to weight ratio. Due to their European sizing, the size increments are smaller such that we can achieve a perfect fit. I appreciate the personal touch that Ian has given the gloves as well as to our team”.

USA Nordic is the parent organization for USA Nordic Combined and USA Ski Jumping and is based in Park City, Utah. To stay connected with all of the USA Nordic Combined athletes, please visit www.usanordic.org and subscribe to our newsletter!

USA Nordic’s Bryan Fletcher, a top Nordic Combined skier wearing Toko profi gloves in Winter Warrior color

(Complete e-blast)
February 15, 2017
SuperTour, Eastern Cup Race Reports, and La Clusaz Photos

(Original e-blast)

SuperTour Race Reports

For the SuperTour Races in West Yellowstone this year we had great packed powder conditions. The snow seemed to have a bit more moisture in it than in other years, and with slightly milder overnight temperatures we stuck to the Red waxes by in large. For both race days we played it safe mixing HF Blue and HF Red 1:1 for a base layer. For powder we ran Toko JetStream Red 2.0, which ran 1st or 2nd in testing all weekend. On sprint day we ran a cold block in the morning and once the snow had a cold glaze to it, we added a cold liquid with block which helped at high speed. Gelso had great skis and was able to race from the front of the pack all day. For the distance classic race we were racing in heavy snow storm and temp’s around 20 degrees, so we kept it simple with JetStream Red 2.0 block over the JetStream Red 2.0 powder and focused our energy on kick.

The next weekend we made our way up to Silver Star for the SuperTours in Canada. It was super cold all week training, but again great conditions, and luckily it got up into the upper single digits come race days. The Toko brand ran super well in Canada as it always does in the cold. The snow was cold enough where mixing Toko X-Cold Powder in with LF Blue for a base layer helped harden the skis. From there it was Toko HF Blue, Jet Blue 2.0 Powder, and Jet Blue 2.0 Block. Some of our guys were doubling poling the CL Sprint all day so glide was important. As the tracks got skied in throughout the day we again found success mixing Toko Blue Helix with the JetStream Blue block. By the Sprint finals and second race on the distance day we switched to Red Helixmixed with the JetStream Blue block.

– Chris Mallory, Head Coach Sun Valley Elite Team

Eastern Cup Race Report

A really productive and fun first weekend of racing at Craftsbury. A little bit of everything when it came to snow and weather!

Day 1: Classic Interval Start

Cold temps overnight on a manmade base, but a lot of fresh new snow the day of the race. For kick wax we were on a very thin Toko Green Base binder ironed in. We ended up on kick wax from another brand.

Our paraffin layer was HF blue for earlier races, with a 2:1 mix of HF Bue:HF Redfor later races. We tested a fair amount of topcoats and Jetstream Blue Bloc 2.0was arguably the most reliable and consistent performer all day so that went onto all skis rotocorked. Later starters had a slightly warmer block from another brand mixed in with the Jetstream. For structure we ended up with just the linear Toko Blue Structurite pattern on the tail of all skis for the Open Women’s and Open Men’s Races.

Day 2: Freestyle Pursuit

Will Solow (Mansfield Nordic Club) racing in an Eastern Cup race at Craftsbury. (Photo: Gary Solow)

It rained overnight with temps above freezing, but the course held up very well and remained stable and mostly firm albeit saturated.

We saw a lot of this last year and I was really happy to have plenty of the right Toko products on-hand. From early-season temps to Junior Nationals last year, the Toko warm fluoros just seemed to be incredibly reliable and fast.

All skis had a base of HF Red. A quick test in the morning showed that HF Yellow was not significantly better or worse, and so we stuck with the HF Red and focused on testing topcoats, application methods, and structure.

We felt there was a pretty significant difference between powder and blocks and focused on using blocks to best effect. Our final call was Jetstream Yellowrotocorked, then brushed, with another quick hand-corked layer over that. After a final brushing, skis received Helx Red liquid on the first part of ski, with Helx Yellow on the rear.

Early structure winner was a Swix tool that provided a left-angled and non-aggressive pattern, although at a somewhat large 1.5mm. As the course got more skied-in and churned up the tails of the skis received the combo of right- and left-angled patterns to form the crosshatch or “fishnet” pattern.

Our skate skis seemed to be performing really well and with large packs of skiers it was easy to evaluate speed and glide. Reports from the racers were very good!

– Adam Terko, Mansfield Nordic Club Head Coach

Here are a few action shots of US Toko Athletes at the most recent World Cup races in La Clusaz, France. (All photos: Nordic Focus)

Erik Bjornsen

Rosie Brennan

Erik Bjornsen in the field

December 27, 2016
How to Have Fast Skis ALL THE TIME, in EVERY CONDITION

(Original e-blast)

How to have fast skis ALL THE TIME and in EVERY CONDITION

I love my job. The contact that I have with people in the ski community is pretty much always positive and enjoyable. We have great waxes and other products so of course generally interaction, feedback, and my motivation are very positive. However sometimes at events or otherwise, I have people approaching me trying to get me to guarantee super fast skis if they use a certain wax. A fairly rare thing is also that a person didn’t have the fast skis that they were hoping for. It is important to take a step back and take an overview so you all have the proper perspective on what makes a fast ski on any particular day.

The 3 main factors to having fast skis are ski flex and design, structure, and wax. You could throw base material in there too, but most people have what they have, so that is more of a World Cup level topic. (Note that many skis have different base material that matches the type of conditions that they were designed to ski in, so this is addressed in the ski selection process. Example: Rossignol S3 or C3 have a “wet” clear base material to match the flex and structure that the skis come with).

Far and away, the most important factor in having fast skis are the skis themselves. Given a particular condition, the skis need to match the condition in terms of their flex and design as well as match the skier (weight and ability).

Let me use Rossignol as an example because I am very familiar with them and confident in them. Below is a quick chart explaining the flex/design of the top Rossignol skating skis, the Xium Premium S1, S2, and S3 skis. In each of these skis, the camber height is different as is the contact area of the skis to the snow if the skis are fitted properly. (The concepts are identical for Skate and Classic skis).

If snow is cold, dry, and slow snow, a fast ski will generally have a low camber and a relatively long area of contact in the tip and tail sections. Assuming the structure and wax are “cold”, the skis should be good assuming they are fitted correctly. If the skis have a high camber and a short area of contact in cold, dry, and slow snow, the wax and structure can still slow the skis down further, but the skis will not be very good regardless of how optimal the other two factors are.

It is the same in wet snow. Clearly, having a low camber and more contact between the ski base and the snow will result in more suction and more opportunity to pick up dirt creating more friction and more suction. Minimizing the contact results in much faster skis for the short term and especially after some kms are skied. The disadvantage of using a lower cambered ski with longer contact area can not be overcome with “wet” structure and wax to the point that the skis are really good. This is especially the case in dirtier snow where the addition of a deeper structure to compensate for the increased suction (surface tension) created by having a longer contact area will only result in more dirt attaching itself to the ski base which makes the ski slow due to the added friction of having dirt on the base as well as the increased suction because the structure is filling up with dirt and the previously hydrophobic base material is covered with dirt and no longer hydrophobic.

In past years with different ski designs, many people including myself liked to err on the soft side, especially in the west where we get a lot of cold dry and slow snow. The current ski designs such as Rossignol need to be fitted properly and I personally lean toward the stiff side to ensure that the skis can function as intended.

Bottom line is that in order to have fast skis in all conditions, the skis need to be the right flex and design for the conditions and they need to fit the skier such that the contact area matches the intent of the ski design. If you put a 200 pound guy on a ski designed for a skier of 160 pounds, there will be an increase in contact area. Also, the more aggressively a skier skis, the more care needs to be taken to ensure that the skis are stiff enough to accommodate being suspended on the right length contact zones.

Looking at the chart above, you can see the different colors of the S1, S2, and S3 patterns. They match up with the Toko colors which makes sense because normally when you use one of those skis, you’d be waxing it with the color associated in the chart.

Structure is often the next most important factor, especially in the two extreme conditions which are cold, dry, slow snow and wet snow. In cold dry fast snow that is for example transformed, a more aggressive structure can be used with success. This is why I keep mentioning “slow”. A base finish that is not a “cold” grind (very smooth) will not run fast in cold, dry, and slow snow regardless of the flex of the ski and what wax is chosen. In very wet snow, a “cold” grind will not run fast even if the ski and wax are optimal.

All 3 factors in having fast skis need to be considered. Satisfying any one or even two factors will generally not yield fast skis if the third factor is in conflict with the conditions. Most times, the factor that is most in opposition to the conditions determines the speed of the skis, not the ones that are in agreement with it.

So, my recommendation is to consider skis from a macro level starting with ski selection (should not be too soft!), then structure, and then finally wax. It is not as complicated as it sounds if you are a passionate ski racer (ie, you are willing to invest financially as well as in physical preparation). Have an S1 ski with a fine structure that you generally will wax with Toko Blue waxes (need to wax with a softer wax periodically for the health of the base). Have an S2 ski with a universal or cold universal structure that you will more commonly wax with Toko Red waxes. And lastly have a pair of S3 skis with a warm grind on them that you will mostly wax with Toko Yellow waxes. This way you already have skis optimally suited for each general condition that have a structure that matches the condition where you would use them. Then finally wax is the “icing on the cake” and will then be able to really make the skis fast.

A ski racer could show up with all 3 of these skis prepared as described with no knowledge whatsoever of the conditions and basically always have good skis. With forecasting, it is possible to eliminate one or even two of the conditions associated with S1, S2, and S3 which makes it even easier and more convenient to have great skis. OK, now you know! Good luck and see you around!

Photo from Women’s Sprint Final at the Davos World Cup (Credit: Jacques Mignerey)

Silver Star SuperTour Report

Cold fresh snow racing continued with the Super Tour/ Nor Am at Sovereign Lakes Nordic Center in British Columbia. We raced on a cold hard paraffin with Toko JetStream Red 2.0 powder. It was a bit surprising that the Red 2.0 tested and performed so well considering the single digit temperatures. The range of the JetStream 2.0 Toko powders is fantastic. We covered the powder with Blue 2.0 Helix.

The races were solid, but off the mark of where we really wanted to be. We are in the Methow Valley to train in prep for Nationals. We are feeling good and our preparation has us still ready to be on at Nationals.

Checking pole height

Caitlin Gregg fighting through the powder on a cold day at Sovereign Lake.

Brian Gregg looking for more speed at Sovereign Lake.

December 22, 2016
West Yellowstone SuperTour Report + How to Wax Backcountry Skins

(e-blast)

West Yellowstone SuperTour Report

Great to have cold fresh snow in West Yellowstone. We had all of our skis zeroed with Toko NF Blue so that we could pick the best ski for the day. We also had our matched test fleet to test wax each day. HF Red/Blue 1:1 mix won our paraffin test on Friday and we ran on it all weekend. Toko Blue 2.0 powder won the powder test on Friday. We tested again on Saturday and Sunday and another powder ran better so we went with that. We ran Toko 2.0 red block for the sprints, both the qualifier and the heats. Our skis were amazing and we were happy with our qualifiers, but a bit disappointed with our tactics in the rounds. On Sunday we ran the same glide and kicked on a thin Toko green binder, with a hard wax cover on skis with a high easy closing camber.

We are settled in to our accommodations in Silver Star and are excited for the 10/15 km Freestyle next weekend. A bit of a slow start to the season for us, but this weekend and US Nationals are a major focus in our goal to making the World Championships.

Nordic Race Wax Tips

With quite a few events this weekend, we wanted to call your attention to the new location of Toko Race Wax Tips! They are at the NEW TokoUS.com. The specific link is here. You can drill down on a specific region too of course.

How to Wax Backcountry Skins

With all of the snow falling recently and plenty more on the way, people might be heading into the mountains for some backcountry skiing. Here is a quick video on how to best wax backcountry skins by Toko Tech Team member Erich Wilbrecht. See entire video library here.

Some Images from the Cross Country World Cup Races thus far
All images from Nordic Focus

Liz Stephen (U.S. Ski Team) racing at the Lillehammer World Cup last month. (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Ida Sargent racing earlier this season at the World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway. (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Ida Sargent (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Noah Hoffman racing last December in Davos, Switzerland. He is the recipient of a discretionary spot on the World Cup. (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Eric Packer (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Caitlin Patterson (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Sophie Caldwell (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Simi Hamilton (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Rosie Brennan during a classic race this season (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

Erik Bjornsen (Photo: Toko/NordicFocus)

December 14, 2016
Annie Hart & Reese Hanneman: Introducing Toko Winter Warrior Collection and More
(Press release/e-blast)

USST Toko Athlete Sam Morse on What Makes a Champion

At just 20 years old, Morse’s maturity separates him from his peers. And, he’s so very kind. He is one of the most genuine humans this planet has to offer. The future is bright for this one, so make sure to follow him as he moves up the ranks on the Team. We asked Morse our three questions on what he believes makes a champion.

U.S. SKI TEAM: In your words, what makes a champion?
SAM MORSE: A champion wins with passion and loses with grace, and pours their heart, soul and everything they’ve got into a sport.

U.S. SKI TEAM: Do you remember the first time you felt like a champion?
SM: The first time I felt like a champion was racing in Maine, winning the Maine Alpine Racing Association season championship title as a J5. I thought, “Maybe I can really make something out of this whole ski racing thing.” It felt satisfying and propelling.

U.S. SKI TEAM: What is the biggest piece of advice you have for aspiring kids who want to be sitting where you are today?
SM: Give it all you’ve got and find enjoyment in striving for your own goals, rather than for the affirmation of others. Also, the best advice I’ve ever received was, “No one thing will make you the greatest, it is the sum of the parts that make a masterpiece.”
- Fun Facts:
  “Moose” is Morse’s childhood nickname, as there are more moose than people where he lives and they’re big, burly animals that are gentle yet very powerful.
- If he could be one inanimate object, he’d be water, because “you get to travel the globe, change physical states and always keep moving.”
- Go-to travel items are a deck of cards and a good book.
- His best friend on the team is fellow east-coaster Drew Duffy (Warren, VT), whom he grew up with racing in the Junior Olympics.
- Morse is a HUGE Boston Red Sox fan, and his non-skiing role model is Jason Varitek, catcher for Boston Red Sox through early-mid 2000s because he’s a man of faith and always worked hard day in and day out.
- Morse is involved with the Winter Special Olympics held at Sugarloaf each January, is a Sugarloaf Area Christian Ministry active church member and a rostered speaker for Camps Farthest Out (CFO) a Christian family camp organization.
Annie Hart: What is a Winter Warrior. Introducing the Toko Winter Warrior collection.

Arctic Split Mitt – for extreme cold weather

Profi – lightweight race

Thermo Plus – cold weather glove

Thermo Plus Biathlon
Thermo Plus Biathlon is the same as the Thermo Plus except it has reinforced seams around a serrated line on the shooting finger in case an athlete wants to cut the shooting finger to allow for a better feel on the trigger. The reinforced seams will prevent the cut from getting bigger and bigger.

Toko glove sponsored elite Cyclocross Rider Becca Fahringer has had a great season so far both domestically and in Belgium in the Super Prestige Cups. Not only is she really fast, but she also writes an entertaining and witty blog. Follow her at gofahr.com

There is snow on the valley floor in St Moritz, site of the Alpine World Championships this winter. For those that are as excited about these events as we are, it’s cool to see!

Why it is important to use a quality detergent on specialty outdoor apparel? This video explains the difference between ECO Textile Wash and supermarket detergents. Find ECO Textile Wash at TokoUS.com and other Toko dealers. (See dealer links at TokoUS.com)

Reese Hanneman = Winter Warrior. Are you?

It is almost winter, most of the peaks are white, the mornings are crisp, we are pumped to be on snow! Here’s a video that will get your adrenaline pumping and will motivate you to get out when the weather is not so inviting. What is a Winter Warrior?

Ski Austria and Toko are ready for winter!

Toko Team Hats

The idea behind Toko Team hats is to offer hats for event organizers and teams or clubs to use our hats as their official hats at a very low price. Here are the options:

We offer you the Toko Team hat for just $9! The front of this hat has been left blank for you to screen or embroider at your local embroidery shop (this is for your to organize).

The lycra hat is at a crazy price of just $11. You can’t miss! Has a microfleece liner. The front of this hat is also blank.

The Sina hat is our most popular hat currently in general (not team sales). It is medium weight. The front of this hat is mostly blank (see Toko logo).

For a link to an .XLS order form, click the link in the original e-blast, and here is a direct link to a PDF order form.

Minimum order is 10 hats. Please submit all team hat orders to Ian@TokoUS.com

Thanks!

Lycra Race Hat White

Lycra Race Hat Black

Sina Hat Red

Sina Hat Blue

Sina Hat Black

Sina Hat White/Ice Blue

Sina Hat White/Pink

Team Hat Neon Green

Team Hat Red

Team Hat Blue

Team Hat Black

The NEW TokoUS.com is now up and running!

One thing that we have noticed is that people have been trying to find Toko products and haven’t been able to easily find them. This especially concerns products such as TF90 Paste Wax, some tuning tools, spray klisters, Toko gloves in various models and colors (such as the new Winter Warrior), start duffels, Care Line products such as Down Wash, etc.

For this reason, we are especially excited to be able to say that every product in every variation is now easily available at TokoUS.com. We have also made a number of brand new short how-to videos that should be a great resource to you!

Of course we have a great many valued dealers who we will continue to support. We work with Quivers which is an order fulfillment system that will enable us to offer orders to our local dealers if they have the product in stock.

Here’s hoping for a great winter!

Thank you!
Ian Harvey
Toko US
November 1, 2016
New Toko Rollerski Glove — Best Ever

(Press release)

New Toko Rollerski Gloves in Stores Now!

This glove is our best yet. It is very soft and light feeling, but at the same time it is supportive and protective. The new glove is called the Toko Rollerski 2.0 glove.

They also make an amazing lightweight full fingered cross country Mountain Bike glove

Stink Much?

Having spent lots of time around skiers in the summer as well as in the winter, I can say that a team van can get mighty ripe in the summer too! Base Layers and Rollerski Boots seem to be the main culprit. If you treat your base layers with Toko Functional Sportswear Care, they will not only stink less due to the silver ion technology, but they will also work better in general. Also, when you take your ski boots off, squirt some Toko Shoe Fresh in the toes to kill odorous bacteria (and prevent it from returning).

June 3, 2014
Toko e-Blast: Why the suppliers are silent during the Olympic Games

You may have noticed over the years that the equipment suppliers are either very quiet or providing very general information leaving out the most interesting details that aficionados would want to see. This is not by choice. The IOC is extremely aggressive in what it considers is protecting itself and its image.

For this reason, manufacturers do not use Olympic rings or any other Olympic logos in communication. During the Games, they don’t make any direct claims whatsoever such as this sponsored athlete (who might have a contract with us and has used our product all year long) used our product in some way at the Olympic Games or even imply product use or even affiliation with any athlete during the games by way of an image or any other manner of communication.

Of course media outlets distribute “news” and photos of the games showing athletes using the products such as skis, snowboards, apparel, eyewear, helmets, etc during the games which speak for themselves, but that’s the point, they have to speak for themselves and some products can’t as they are not visible such as wax, supplements, apparel that is not visible such as socks or technical underwear, etc.

If you are interested in knowing more, here is a link to the IOC’s guidelines regarding the Sochi Games on the subject.

January 28, 2014
Toko e-Blast: U.S. XC Field Reports

US XC Nationals Field Reports

We approached this week of nationals the same way we did last year: to try to find a good under layer, a good binder, and a good top end speed when the days warm to above freezing.

For the distance classic day we went with Toko base green binder mixed with a little hard klister to keep the wax on for 10-15k. Toko jetstream red powder was the ticket for the afternoon racers and our skis were great.

The skate sprint brought similar conditions and Toko HB004 and Toko jetstream red tested great for the heats, but we had another powder come in just ahead.

For the distance skate day the Toko powders were once again the ticket. For the afternoon races we made our first jump of the week into the yellow range. Toko jetstream yellow powder with a good HF and good under layer is almost always second to none when the snow gets saturated.

The classic sprint day was tough day for kick selection and we ended up being about one heat behind the transition from red to yellow hard wax. This was unfortunate, but once we got Toko Yellow on the skis, it performed very well in the later heats. We opted to go a bit bit short and bit stickier, hoping to keep the kick zones off the snow, but still allow optimal kick up the long climb on the sprint course.

Tim Baucom, coach

Team Gregg

We had our best US Nationals ever with great skis every single day. We set up shop in Soldier Hollow in the weeks leading up to the races and were able to gain an understanding for the snow and the snow pack. In testing we found that a lot of waxes ran well on the man made snow, but the big differences were on the natural snow. One of our favorite things about Toko is that the wax works well in a variety of conditions especially HF Blue.

Classic 10/15k

The night before the classic race we put on 2 layers of HF Blue and Fredrik and Pierre from New Mexico took care of the top coat and kick. They ironed then corked JetStream Red powder in the night before so as to be able to focus on kick on race day. Ski choice was key and we went with stiffer skis that allowed for a thin universal klister layer covered with Toko Gripwax Red.

Freestyle Sprint

The sprint loop was entirely on man-made snow and was really fast. We went with a layer of LF Black and then HF Blue hardened with X-Cold powder. In the afternoon we ran the same base layer but covered with a block.

Skate 20/30k

Again we went with HF Blue for its excellent range. We tested powders in the morning and found JetStream Blue to be excellent before the Men’s race. With the temperatures warm, Pierre tested structure all the way up to race start. The Toko Red Structurite roller really sped things up especially as the race progressed. Retesting during the Men’s race, we used JetStream Red in the women’s race. I had my first US Nationals podium with a 2nd place just 2.8 secounds out. With the confidence of having the fastest skis in the field, Caitlin decided to go from the gun and finished with an impressive 3 minute 36 second lead.

Brian Gregg

Here is a breakdown of what we ran at Nationals for Toko.

1/4- 10/15k Classic Race

Toko Green Base

Toko Red Kick

Glide-

DLC Moly

HF Red/ HF Blue

Jetstream Red Guys, Toko HB004 Girls

1/8 Skate Dist 20/30k

DLC Moly as a base

HF Red

Jetstream Red Powder- Both Men and Women

1/10 Cl Sprint-

Yellow Kick

Glide-

HF Orange

Yellow Block

Just we tested a lot of other waxes and Toko was what we ran on all of those occasions. It is definitely running very well and testing Toko waxes in combination with one another (ie mixing red/blue hfs, blue or red with AX 134, red/ blue jetstream) can be very good! Think creatively when testing wax combos and often times they can be very successful!

Colin Rodgers, head coach elite team

Far West Elite Team Senior Nationals 2014 Wax Report

Classic Distance: We started with Toko LF Black then put Toko HF Blue on top. For powders, Toko HB004 was the fastest we tested on race day. We tried a number of binder layers, including thin klister, but found Toko Base Green Binder was the fastest.

Freestyle Sprint: Here we skipped the LF Black layer and just went with Toko HF Blue. HB004 remained the fastest powder we tested, so we stayed with it.

Freestyle Distance: Again we started with Toko LF Black and with Toko HF Blue. In hindsight we should have gone with a warmer HF base layer, either Red or Red/Blue 1:1, as it was slightly warmer that we expected. Across the board ironed in powders were faster then blocks and liquids. The powder combination we like best was Toko HB004 mixed with Jetstream Red Powder 1:1.

Classic Sprint: As in the Freestyle sprint, we forwent the LF Black base layer. We ended up going with a different HF paraffin, which would have been equivalent to a 2:1 Red/Blue mix. For topcoats we liked the Jetstream Red Block best.

Note: if you are interested in the conditions for the races, look at the eBlasts that were sent out and that described the respective conditions. You can find them here.

Click here to read reviews of Toko Textile Proof from hundreds of average outdoorsmen and women who have tried

Nordic Ski Racing Preparation Videos

Hot Wax Ironing Technique:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjFHH0lBq3Y

Using Structurite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld1qROtdiIM

Apply HF Blue Xcold mix:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs3m4wl6T7o

January 21, 2014
Toko e-Blast: U.S. XC Nationals Field Reports

US XC Nationals Field Reports

Annie Pokorny

Classic Individual 10/15 km Distance-

Glide- Both men and women were waxed the same despite a 2 hour time difference. Because of the cold abrasive snow, an extremely hard under layer was necessary. I went with a LF blue layer but a hard graphite would have worked too. After that I waxed the skis with HF blue the night before. We tested powders the morning of the race and no surprise, Jetstream blue was best, we stuck with that all day. I did not test or apply topcoats as I felt my time was better served testing and nailing the kick wax.

Kick- I felt the grip wax was pretty easy but was worried about durability. I tested 4 different binder/klister combinations. The best ratio of kick to speed ended up being just straight green binder. I felt adding any klister to the binder (whether hard or soft) slowed it down. I always like when the wax combinations prove to be simple. Kick for the women ended up being 3 layers of blue (I wanted to get a harder “base”) followed by 2 layers of red. Some women chose to have a cover of one blue layer for speed and others wanted the extra kick opting for straight red hardwax. All of the men went on straight red hardwax. I did not give them the blue cushion between the binder. Because red is softer, I was worried that the wax would start to “run” and smear off but, at the end of the race, everyone’s skis looked as if they’d just been waxed. The red hardwax proved very durable given its warmer temperature range.

Eric Packer

Skate Sprint-

Qualifying- This was a tricky morning of testing, because of the cold, lots of waxes/structures seemed to slow the skis down. The night before I had waxed all the skis with HF blue and X-cold powder mix. I ended up waxing all the race skis with Jetream blue powder and block over the top, which I thought felt fractionally better in the chewed up snow. Not all the athletes agreed with me as Skyler Davis ended up qualifying in 2nd place on straight HF blue paraffin and X-cold powder. Ben Saxton raced with the powder and block and qualified 4th proving that the waxes were probably pretty close at that moment. The women qualified on the same wax but, all opted to have the powder and block over the top.

Finals- I continuously skied all day but consistently came up short with anything that could beat our wax from the morning. I ended up leaving the base layers and powder as they were. Once the sun started shining brightly, I swapped the blue block for red block which helped. Ben Saxton skied to a career best 2nd place overall on this mix, his skis were rockets all day. Structure never came into play with the cold, aggressive snow.

Ben Saxton

Skate 20/30km Distance-

Men- I went with “safe” waxes for the men considering 30km is a long way to ski. Again I used a hard LF blue layer under everything. This was followed by a HF blue/red mix. After that was Jetstream blue powder which had been good every morning. I knew it was supposed to warm up a ton during the men’s race but, I felt a colder powder was still the right call. I finished the skis off with red block corked in. The men’s skis were excellent for the first half of the race and then the sun began to cause the track to glaze. Some of our men’s skis slowed down and some stayed good. I suspect this was more of a function of structure (or lack there of) but, if I had to do it again I would opt for a Jetstream blue/red mix. It warmed up faster than I thought.

Women- Since I was out feeding for the men, I had very little time to retest wax for the women. Already suspecting I waxed skis with too little structure, I made a quick switch of skis. AFTER the “10 mintutes to race start call” I took a pair of warmer skis for Erika Flowers and applied HF red paraffin, red powder, and red block. I was worried about durability because the wax was still warm as I scraped it off but I got the skis to Erika with seconds to spare before the start and she skied to 8th place with skis that looked excellent. The other women were not so lucky. Despite having the same wax, I did not have time to change their skis to more structure and they had sup par days. This was admittedly my fault for being slightly unprepared for the rapid warm up but, is an acknowledged part of ski racing. Everyone messes up once in a while!

Erika Flowers

Classic Sprint-

Qualifying glide- I was very glad the race was not the previous days because with mid 20’s weather and new snow, I could not find a single wax that did not ice. Even zeros either had no kick or iced. Race day proved much different. I waxed both men and women with a mix of HF blue and AX 134. This is a great Toko combination allowing for more fluorine and I had been waiting for it to show through in testing. Over that I put red powder and again, did not test top coats instead opting to focus on kick wax.

Qualifying kick- Very tricky. Anything that kicked well was too slow. Anything that was fast did not kick well. It was a perfect day for technically proficient classic skiers. Red hardwax kicked very well but was slow. I laid down 6 layers of it to build an excellent cushion and then covered it with one layer of blue hardwax for speed. I definitely errored on the side of having kick which was good on the uphill but, hurt us a little once they got back to the stadium finish where no one had skied. We still finished the morning with 4 qualifiers in the top 11.

Finals- By the time the rounds started in the afternoon, the tracks had completely glazed. I added red block over the top of the glide areas then spent my time on kick. Yellow hardwax kicked very well in the tracks but was too slow in the non tracked sections. I covered the yellow with a layer of red hardwax. This was borderline too slippery for some but, I felt it was worth it considering the course ended on a long downhill and double pole section. Everyone felt the same and we finished a successful week with 3 skiers in the top 12.

Gus Kaeding, Head Coach

Note: Congratulations to Stratton T2 skiers Skyler, Annie, and Ben for qualifying for U23 Worlds and to Erika for qualifying for the OPA Cup Finals!

Classic Sprint

Once again we ran on Toko HF Blue with AX134 mixed 50/50 for our paraffin layer. On top of that we found Toko JS hello block covered with Yellow Helix to be super fast compared to all other liquids.

Kick was a real challenge and we tried just about the whole wax box (every brand) to find something that would give adequate kick with our icing. Toko yellow was our final race wax in the heats and it worked well from the 1/4s through the final. The athletes were very happy with out even without the red cover that had been recommended.

Sam Naney

Note: if you are interested in the conditions for the races, look at the eBlasts that were sent out and that described the respective conditions. You can find them here.

January 14, 2014
Toko e-Blast: Absolute Warmest Glove Combination

Absolute Warmest Glove Combination

For those with circulation problems or for extremely cold weather

Start with either Toko Classic, Thermo Plus, or Arctic depending on your needs and the weather. They get progressively warmer from Classic to Thermo Plus to Arctic. Then put your poles on including the straps. Then put on the Toko Racing Overmitt. Because the strap goes through a small opening in the glove, the Racing Overmitt covers the hand and the strap. The combination of Racing Overmitt on top of Arctic ought to keep anyone’s hands warm, even those with really poor circulation in below 0f weather. Most people would be very happy with the combination of Racing Overmitt and Classic in below 0f weather. These combinations are warmer than mittens or split finger mittens.

The downside to using the Racing Overmitt over a glove is that it’s more complicated to get the Overmitts on and once they are on, you’re not going to want to take them off for a feed, to take a photo, etc.

The upside to using the Racing Overmitt outside of the obvious warm hands is that there is no performance sacrifice such as a loss of feel for the pole or the feeling of having lots of bulk with a pole strap wrapped around it. Because the Racing Overmitt goes on top of the pole strap, as far as your feel for the poles go, there is no drawback at all. Just warm comfortable hands!

The Racing Overmitt comes in two sizes: S/M and L/XL.

If a person did not have the Toko Racing Overmitts, the next warmest option would be the Toko Arctic Mitts.

Toko Technicians Visiting Mr and Mrs Claus

Word has it that Santa’s sled is going to be FLYIN’ this year!

Testing Testing Testing

We never stop testing and developing new products. Here, a sneak peak at our awesome new HelX 2.0 available in the fall!

We support development of all types of ski and snowboard racing throughout the US

Do the companies that you support in turn support you in some important way?

A Wax Room Party!

Sometimes the life of a wax technician can be lonely. Wax technicians spend a LOT of time in the wax room. Make them feel appreciated if you’re lucky enough to have one!

December 19, 2013
Toko e-Blast: SuperTour Field Reports and More

Toko Athlete Lukas Bauer Wins in Kuusamo!

American Tim Burke 3rd in Ostersund!

Toko athlete Tim Burke shot clean and finished 3rd in the Ostersund Biathlon World Cup 10k race

“We were once again on Tribloc HF Blue all day long. As you saw Sam qualified 3rd so his skis were good today. Red JS was in our mix as well .” – Scott Johnston, Coach (WY Sprint)

I started the skis with a layer of HF blue. Cold powders had been running fast all week so I put Jetstream blue powder on everyone’s qualification skis. In the qualification round, the blue flouro block tested the best and was a safe choice. Since the heats were almost 3 hours after the qualification started, I knew we’d have to do some rewaxing. I was confident in the range of our under layers and powder so I concentrated on topcoats. As the sun came out and made sections of the course “greasy,” Helix red spray began to run very fast. I used that for the rest of the day on every athlete’s skis, between every heat. (WY Sprint) With the overnight lows staying significantly warmer, I opted to use a mix of HF red and blue as the base wax. Mixing these waxes offers a very large range and is a “safe” bet for an under layer. Weary of applying powder at the venue because of the increasing wind, I gambled and guessed a mix of Jetstream red and blue powder would also be good. Upon arriving at the venue, I was confident I made the right call. It’s worth noting, there was storm cloud looming with a chance of snow. I knew that if snow came, the Jetsream would run very well. After the previous day’s success, I was quick to test the Helix sprays again. Both red and blue were good, so like everything else that day, I mixed the two. I put them on very close to the start of each race because I was unsure of how the Helix would react to new snow. Luckily, the new snow never came. We had very good skis throughout the day. (WY Distance)

Testing during the week showed a graphite under layer to improve ski speed. Thus, I started with a layer of the hardest graphite I could find. After that, a layer of HF blue with the x-cold powder mixed right in. This made for a very hard base and probably would have been good enough to race on. However, I felt that the blue Jetstream powder did help ever so slightly. I ran out of test skis but, I would have liked to have tested the Jetstream blue mixed in the x-cold powder.

I did not worry about any topcoats or structure for these races instead, choosing to focus on nailing the kick.

During the week, finding a wax that kicked was not hard. However, keeping that wax on the skis was a different story. Applying the green binder during the race morning was near impossible. When putting it onto a cold ski (which all of them were when waxing outside at -18F degrees), it was very difficult to make the wax adhere to the ski. After 2 km of skiing, the wax AND the binder had ripped off. The problem was not the wax rather, my application methods and setup. To solve this, I added in 6 drops per ski of very cold/hard klister into the binder. I heated it together with a heat gun and cork.

This method can often add speed and durability but, sacrifice kick. I knew kick was not going to be a problem. I started with 5 layers of the x-cold green kick. I then tested the blue, which I would have expected to add more kick. Oddly enough, it was faster but had significantly less kick. I suspect it was so cold that it caused the softer blue wax to freeze and become ineffective.

Because it was a mass start classic where I value kick over ski speed, I added two more layers of x-cold green. All skiers reported excellent kick with very minimal wear. An added bonus was that our skis also seemed to be gliding as well as anyone’s. That’s a great bonus when focusing on kick! (Bozeman) – Gus Kaeding, Head Coach

Team Gregg

(Congratulations to both Brian and Caitlin Gregg for qualifying for the US contingent for World Cup period 2)

West Yellowstone:

Went with a base of Toko LF Blue followed by Toko HF Blue Then we raced on another powder covered with a block. On the distance day we added structure with the Toko Red structure tool.

Silver Star (Saturday):

Temperatures were super cold and we continued to test powders and blocks. We found that LF Blue and X-cold powder ran the fastest.

Bozeman (Sunday):

We went with a race wax of Toko HF Blue. Montana State University assisted with kick wax and we found the fastest combination to be Toko Blue mixed with a fluorinated kicker. – Brian Gregg.

In Bozeman, extremely cold temperatures made for slow skiing. The job of the wax techs was to harden the bases of skis to keep the sharp wax crystals from slowing the skis down. For this we found Toko X-Cold powder to be the best. Unfortunately Saturday’s race was cancelled due to cold weather, but we mixed Toko X-Cold with our base layer for Sunday’s race. Conditions Sunday were again frigid, hovering around -4f, but the race went off and we were extremely impressed with the X-cold powder. – Andrew Morehouse, Assistant Coach

LF Blue with Xcold powder was the base. We tested HF Blue with cold powder as well but the LF/Xcold powder mix ran faster in the cold conditions. No flouros or top coats were running for us so we went straight on the Xcold powder/LF Blue.

For kick the green base was bomber, but a little slow on its own so we just ironed one layer in and covered it with Toko Blue. This gave great kick, but was still a hair slow so we topped it with the X-Cold grip and skis were ripping. As you saw Chelsea and Miles were pretty solid! (Bozeman) – Colin Rodgers, Head Coach

I went with an LF Blue with Cold Powder for both the Sprint Qualifier and the distance 15k skate. It was pretty good, but not lights out. The HF or any powders did not test or run that well. In the quarters we used red powder and the top end speed was very good adding that as the temps warmed. We roto corked and hand rubbed in a couple of layers. In the semi’s and the final I added a red liquid and the skis were lights out!! that helix was just hand corked in after it dryed. Dmitriy’s skis were exceptional with that add as the sun continued to warm the snow. (West Yellowstone)

In Bozeman I went with straight LF blue as a race base. For kick my binder was green base applied in two layers. I iron and cork in the first, and then add a few dots of green klister that I wipe so that the base looks just wet. Once that drys, I add one more layer of green base hand corked in. The cover kick was about 6″-8″ of mint layed in three thin layers centered under the binding bar. This worked excellent as the guys had excellent skis the whole way. If they came back for a touch up, I mixed a little blue in with the mint, but not much.

Two things were deceiving about the Bozeman snow. Though the snow was new, the base was thin and very abrasive and though the air temp was very cold, the snow was 8-10 degrees warmer. (Bozeman) – Bill Pierce, Coach

December 10, 2013
Toko e-Blast: Toko Christmas Items

Toko Christmas Items

Below are some ideas for Christmas presents. These ideas range from “too good to be missed” to products that will make a loved one happy when her loved one takes off his shoes, to easy waxing products, and a product that will keep a person dry and comfortable even in the rain!

NF Wax Kit

This wax kit contains a 40g block of NF Blue, Red, and Yellow, a nylon brush, and a 3mm plexiscraper all in a nice zippered cordura bag. Available at Reliable Racing, Tognar Toolworks, Backcountry.com, and REI.

Express Mini

The Toko Express Mini is a quick apply glide wax for recreational skiers. It helps the skis and snowboards turn better as well as glide easier. MSRP is $10.50. Available at ski shops all over including 123mountain.com, Tognar Toolworks, Sport Chalet, Alpine Base and Edge, and Suburban Ski and Bike.

Copper Brush

The Toko Copper Brush is our best selling and most universal brush. It easily exposes the base material and structure without the user having to be careful not to create hairs or damage. You can’t go wrong with this brush! MSRP is $31.50. Available at ski shops all over including Artech, Gear West, Racewax.com, Ski and Board Store, Slidewright, New Moon Ski Shop, Paco’s, and Jans.com.

Classic Hat

The Classic hat has been woven very finely for a soft comfortable fit and feel, has a polypro liner, and a mesh top for breathability. MSRP is $32. Available at Gear West, 123mountain.com, AEBike.com, and Wild Rose Sports.

Arctic Glove

This is the warmest 5 finger Cross Country ski weight glove out there that we know of. For those with chronically cold fingers who prefer a 5 fingered glove, this is for you! MSRP is $51.50. Available at jans.com, Gear West, Reliable Racing, Ski and Board Store, and Joe’s Sporting Goods.

Textile Proof

Restore your water resistant outerwear to like new by treating it with Toko Textile Proof. Enables garments to keep you dry yet at the same time breathe. Resists not only water, but oil and dirt too! MSRP is $16. Available at Reliable Racing, Out There, 123mountain.com, Gear West, Artech, New Moon Ski Shop, Start Haus, and Tognar Toolworks.

Toko Eco Shoe Fresh

Ski boots, running shoes, cycling shoes, and all other sorts of shoes can get stinky! Eco Shoe Fresh kills the bacteria that brings the smell. Simply one or two sprays per shoe when removing will eliminate odor for the long term. MSRP is $12. Available at Out There, 123mountain.com, New Moon Ski Shop, Gear West, Tognar Toolworks, and Artech.

Ski Vise Freeride

One thing we get asked for constantly are vises that open wide enough to accommodate carving and freestyle skis. The Ski Vise Freeride opens to a massive 155cm. Includes two brake holders. MSRP is $250. Might make a great centerpiece present? Available at Backcountry.com, Racewax.com, Skis.com, Slidewright, and Tognar Toolworks.

Start Duffel

This is the perfect bag for those who train or race in settings where your gear is left outside in the elements. The bag is waterproof and thus will keep your dry clothes dry. It also has a separate waterproof compartment for wet clothes and boots such that the wet items don’t contaminate the dry items. The Start Duffel has backpack straps on it so it can be skied with which frees up the hands to carry other items. For those with pick up trucks, this is also a great gear bag. The bag is made from black smooth tarpaulin and is fully “cold cracked” for extreme weather. This means the bag will not crack even in very cold temperatures. MSRP is $80. Available at Reliable Racing, Gear West, Ski Rack (VT), Jans, 123mountain.com, and New Moon Ski Shop.

December 5, 2013
Toko e-Blast: SuperTour Skate Sprint Photos

SuperTour Skate Sprint Photos on TokoUS Facebook Page

A photo album with selected photos from today’s SuperTour Skate Sprint can be found on the TokoUS fb page (please “like” so you can follow such postings in the future). Please visit to see lots of great photos including run away winner Caitlin Gregg. The photo album can be found here. All athletes shown affiliated with Toko Wax/Tools and/or Toko Gloves.

Sun Valley Elite Team Skier Rose Kemp

Team Gregg’s Caitlin Gregg running away with it

Stratton T2 Team’s Eric Packer and APU’s Reese Hanneman battling in the final

Sun Valley Elite team member Miles Havlick at the start

West Yellowstone Expo a Huge Success

West Yellowstone Fall Ski Festival attendees mob the Toko booth

December 5, 2013
Toko e-Blast: SuperTour Distance Skate Photos

SuperTour Distance Skate Photos on TokoUS Facebook Page

A photo album with selected photos from today’s SuperTour Distance Skate can be found on the TokoUS fb page (please “like” so you can follow such postings in the future). Please visit to see lots of great photos including run away winner Caitlin Gregg. The photo album can be found here. All athletes shown affiliated with Toko Wax/Tools and/or Toko Gloves.

Caitlin Gregg won the 5k by over 1:02! She was in a class of her own.

Brian Gregg was 2nd in the men’s race!

Sun Valley Elite’s Rose Kemp.

Far West Elite’s Patrick Johnson.

Sun Valley Elite’s Miles Havlick.

APU’s Kate Fitzgerald.

December 5, 2013
Toko e-Blast: Toko Textile Proof

Toko Textile Proof – Simply Outstanding

Below is ALL of the text from ALL of the reviews from fishhound.com‘s user reviews of Toko Textile Proof. You can also view these reviews yourself here.

“This product was a good product, it made the wear fuzz on my winter coat disappear and appear new. I did 3 boots, one summer hat and my coat and snowboard with one can. It wasn’t very effective for the boots because it wasn’t overly thick. This product does not affect the color of the garment sprayed”

“Love this product! I just sprayed my Camo hoodie and my boots so far. I wore them both out fishing this past weekend in the rain. My feet stayed completely dry even after having to walk on some submerged cat tails to retrieve a lure. Very easy to apply. Did it in my garage with one door open and let dry. I will be purchasing many more.”

“Sprays on easy, I used it on some mittens. Dries quickly and ready to use quickly. Instructions are a little vague and hard to find on the package but no complaints other than that.”

“I used it on my an older tent. I sprayed it on let it dry. Then tested it out. No leaks at all. I wanted to make sure it woundn’t leak. So I put the hose to it and it didn’t.”

“Went on easy when dry there is no odor and it works great, water just beads off, we’ll put it to the real test and see how long it lasts, but so far so good!”

“This thing worked. I used it on my backpacking tent. I sprayed it on let it dry. and tested it out. No leeks at all. it was an older tent so wanted to make sure it wound leek.”

“This product was well simply amazing ! too be honest i was absolutly leary about because having other products before that didnt always work. after recieving the product i imedietly sprayed a hat of mine. Following instructions i sprayed well and let sit for 30 mins to dry, after time elapsed i held my hat under a running faucet in the sink and low and behold it remained dry water beaded up and rolled off like fresh wax on a car !”

“I am very impressed with this product all the way around. It was very easy to apply and very effective on my old rain gear, a bag, and a T shirt that I sprayed. I took all of this up to canada on a duck hunt. The weather there was pretty wet and very windy and I was able to stay dry. The rain gear I was wearing was completely worthless before I treated it. I will definitely be getting more so I can treat anything else I am wearing in the field.”

“Good product overall. As we haven’t had a heavy rain recently, I applied it to my jacket and sprayed it with water from a spray bottle. There was no penetration to the jacket lining.”

“This stuff works really well. I used on my hunting clothes and kept the rain off. I really like this product. I would recommend anybody that was out doorsy.”

“After using several other brands of Gore Tex treatments, I was somewhat skeptical of this product. Every other product kept me dry but it did not renew the finish to bead up the rain. This product does. Not only does it renew the water proofing it beads up like a new jacket. My 15 year old Cabela Guide Wear repels water like new. Highly recommend this.”

“I bought all three sons new carhartt coats and treated them with this spray. I then sent the boys outside in a heavy rain storm where they stayed dry. Great stuff! Ordered more for our boots.”

“This seams like a great product I used some on a test cloth and it repelled water where I sprayed and soaked in on the spot I didn’t spray. Thank you and tight lines everyone”

“Of all the “waterproofing” sprays I’ve ever used, this one is definitively the best. I haven’t used it long enough to judge it’s longevity but so far the water is running off. We haven’t had any rain lately, so, I used a hose sprayer to test this product. Worked beautifully!”

“Has somewhat of a solvent odor when you first spray it on, but not overwhelming. I little bit better instructions on the can would be helpful. Works well. Water beads up and rolls off.”

“I had my doubts, and with my rain gear being pretty old, i was willing try anything out. This stuff totally rejuvenated my rain gear and I am very happy with this. Gonna be recommending to this to my fishing club.”

“I just bought my sons each a carhartt coat, and they tested them in the rain before spraying this gunk on, they all got wet. After drying we sprayed them liberally and the next time they stayed dry! Get it!”

Where do I get it?

December 5, 2013
Toko e-Blast: New Toko Classic Glove

New Toko Classic Glove

The Toko Classic glove has been vastly improved. It is no longer called the Classic Plus, but rather the Classic. The insulation has been taken out making the glove rely on its unique wind blocking yet supple materials. This is a true all around glove for most people and can be found for $42. Below is Reese Hanneman getting in some early season training at Hatcher’s Pass outside of Palmer, Alaska sporting his Toko Classic gloves.

Toko Wax Clinic in West Yellowstone

Toko US Brand Manager Ian Harvey will be giving a Toko wax clinic in West Yellowstone at the Holiday Inn (where the expo is) on Friday 29 November starting at 6pm. This wax seminar will be more of a question and answer session, so please come with some questions!

A complete Toko US wax clinic schedule can be found here.

As always, an index to the very popular Toko videos that demonstrate most ski preparation techniques can be found here.

Toko U.S. Brand Manager Ian Harvey

Great Video on Toko Glove Athlete Kris Freeman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEj7x-EYxxw&feature=youtu.be

November 14, 2013
Toko e-Blast: Here Are Some Things That You May Have Missed

We introduced a new product line called Toko Care Line. The Toko Care Line is a line of detergents and waterproofers for technical apparel. Learn more here. Find the Toko Care Line facebook page here.

Swiss Hockey Champion HC Davos using Toko Care Line

Anyone who has ever spent any time around Hockey teams knows that the locker rooms and equipment smells really bad. The Swiss record hockey champion HC Davos works with Toko Care – the power play against the stink.

Running a partnership with Hockey club Davos, Toko proves to be a competent supplier when it comes to washing and care of hockey equipment. HC Davos uses the following products: Eco Textile Wash, Functional Sportswear Care and Eco Shoe Fresh.

The feedback of the equipment manager and the players strongly underlines that Toko care products are the right choice against permanent and intense odours. As a part of the cooperation the ice washing machine of the hockey club Davos has been branded with Toko care.

Feedback from the team is that not only does the locker room smell far better, but the players have been healthier probably due being exposed to less bacteria in the locker room.

Review of Toko Textile Proof for Waterproofing Waders

It’s been a long standing tradition in the fishing and hunting world, that well worn equipment is best; it’s that “authentic”, used fishing hat with stains and old flies hung on the brim that implies years of experience on the stream and in the field. I’ve fly fished for over 30 years, and throughout those years I’ve watched scores of fisherman use their waders like a mechanic’s coveralls. The more stained and patched they were, the more pride the fisherman had in them, showing their days and weeks spent chasing big fish.

But the fact is, dirty, leaky waders are uncomfortable. And waders are expensive, running several hundred dollars a pair. For this kind of investment in high-tech materials, we should expect premium performance to go along with a premium price. I purchased a pair of Patagonia Rio Gallegos waders 2 years ago, expecting the highest performance under demanding conditions. I took them on a 2 week canoe trip to Victoria Islands last summer, and wore them non-stop in the high Canadian Arctic. After my return I noticed they seemed to become deeply soaked while using them in local intermountain trout waters.

For years I’ve used the high performance ski waxes made by Toko of Switzerland. Throughout my career as an Olympic Biathlete I’ve known that premium equipment, from skis, boots and poles and rifles, can be compromised by slow skis, meaning poor waxing on the ski bases. The same World Cup and Olympic performance that Toko brings to ski technology is now available for high tech fabrics of Gore Tex and other breathable fabrics like my Patagonia waders.

The Field Test:

The Toko Textile Care products are simple to use. First I washed my waders using Eco Wash according to instructions on the bottle. After thoroughly drying them inside and out, I sprayed on Textile Proof, only on the left half of the exterior of the waders. Then it was time for a field test. Fishing the S. Fork of the Snake River the other evening with friends I jumped out of the boat and headed into a nearby riffle to chase some big rainbow trout. I waded past my knees, mid thigh, and stood in the deep current for almost 10 minutes while casting to rising fish. At this point I turned and waded back to the boat, with a friend snapping the attached photo.

The results were astonishing! As I waded into ankle deep water I looked down and watched water bead off my left leg, and observed the waders almost completely dry, compared with the untreated right leg. Amazing! I waded the rest of the evening and time after time the results were the same. The Textile Proof had sealed the waders and performed perfectly under demanding real fishing conditions.

I’ll continue to test the Toko Textile products on all my technical rain gear, tents and fishing waders for my family.

A dry fisherman is a happy fisherman, and Toko has created another world-class, easy to use product that makes my outdoor experience even more enjoyable.

Erich Wilbrecht

Jackson, WY

A Heartwearming Story (Nice Hat!)

November 7, 2013
Toko E-Blast: Field Reports from U.S. Nationals

Field Reports from 2013 US Cross Country Ski Nationals

(For complete newsletter and to sign up for more, click here)

I want to offer a big thanks to Jason Travis, Barry Makarewicz, and Matt Johnson for all of the work testing they did for Toko at Nationals! Thanks for an awesome job!

— Ian Harvey, Toko USA

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation

Toko wax kicked some serious butt last week at the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships at Soldier Hollow, UT!Wax Highlights:Glide:Bases: Toko Tribloc HF Black DLC mixed with XCold Powder was great as a base haredening layer early on in the week when we were trying to get the bases hard in the cold abrasive snow! Race skis saw lots of K’s so hardening for the man made snow was key. As the week went on we had lots of the Toko DLC Black down as a solid foundation for the Toko tops.

HF: HF Blue Tribloc was a solid HF layer the entire time we were at Soldier Hollow. This HF wax in combination with other key Toko products lead to some fast wax combinations.

AX 134 was a key additive to the HF Blue Tribloc layer especially for the glide on the classic skis for the classic sprint day.

X-Cold powder was great in combination with the Toko JetStream Blue powder over HF Blue for the 10/15k Sk on 1.4.2013. No block or liquid cover was needed.

We ran a JetStream Blue/Red block mix for the 30km Classic race. It ran well in both the manmade and the new snow.

Helix Red provided an extremely fast “greasy feeling” ski on 1.8.2013 for the skate sprint. Helix was applied over the top of Toko JetStream Blue powder and even though the temperatures were warming the blue powder was still running. This is most likely because the snow temp was still really cold despite the warmer air temp.

Kick:

Toko base green proved to be a great wax for the classic days at U.S. Nationals. Various applications lead to great results both as a stand alone kick wax and a base binder. For the 20/30k Toko spray green klister was applied over a well roughened kick zone. A thin layer of Toko Base Green kick was then applied and then ironed in and cooled. We then applied Toko Green klister and Base Green again and created a hard wax/ klister binder “mix”. This applied with plenty of time to cool kicked extraordinarily well and did not tear or wear at all! The klister mixed with the green actually sped up the kick wax significantly.

Thanks to Ian for all of his support!

— Colin Rodgers, Head Coach, SVSEF XC Team

Cambridge Sportsman Union

I might have been one of the few people happy to hear that U.S. Senior Nationals would be held on mostly man made snow. My CSU team trains mostly on man made at the Weston Ski Track and we’re used to waxing and racing on the fast, hard tracks of man made. Last year at Rumford on their man made we had some great results so I was confident that we could have good skis again this year.

For the classic sprint race Toko HF Blue and Jetstream Blue were the obvious choice for glide. And for kick there is only one choice in fresh man made: Base Green stick. We were sharing a wax trailer with some good friends who were convinced that another kick wax was the ONLY choice for these conditions. I tested it against the Base Green and although it worked, it gave slightly less secure kick and had just a little more drag. Our skis were super fast and our athletes could stride up every hill. In the very abrasive snow we did have to freshen up the wax between heats.

In the skate race we went straight with the Toko recommendation of LF Blue, HF Blue, Jetstream Blue Powder and Cold Powder mixed and ironed on, a fine Blue rill, and hand-corked Jetstream Blue block. Our skis were ripping fast and I enjoyed watching our skiers tucking behind other skiers who were skating hard to maintain speed on the gradual downs. In the cold, abrasive man made snow there’s really no doubt that this is the best way to prep skis. We used the same wax last year at Rumford in similar conditions and had great skis.

For the junior classic race we needed more durability for our kick wax so we did a mix of Green klister and Base Green stick. It’s counter-intuitive, but the Green klister speeds up the Base Green. Application is the key to making this wax work with the right mix of the two waxes. We ironed on the klister, cooled it outside, rubbed on Base Green, then ironed that into the klister, cooled it again, and corked it smooth. It was key to keep the kick zone short and not go to the very end. For some skiers who needed a bit more kick we could add a layer or two of Base Green. All our skiers strode without slipping up the one kilometer opening hill and then passed many skiers on the long downhill on the sprint course part of the trail.

Thanks to Toko we had another great week with one skier on the World Junior Championships team and one on the U-18 Nations cup team. Our top man was 10th in the Junior ranking. Several skiers had best-ever results. See you next year.

— Rob Bradlee, Head Coach, USSA Coach of the Year

CXC Elite Team

Cold temperatures and dry snow for the first two races we found that Tribloc HF Blue over Tribloc LF Black ran great. We covered with Jet Stream Blue powder ironed in really hot (150C+). Having the iron really hot was very important. On the classic sprint day we kicked on a super thin Green Klister binder covered with Green Base and a hard kick wax.

Temperatures rose for the final two races but the snow still remained cold. We continued to find success with HF Blue over LF Black. We switched to Jet Stream Red powder, and again having the iron really hot was extremely important. For the long distance classic race we again used a klister Binder covered with Green Base wax. The klister binder was important for durability but had to be thin and on a stiff pair of skis so as not to drag. For the final sprints we ran Toko Red Helix. Our skis were really great with several athletes having personal best qualifier performances.

— Brian Gregg, CXC Elite Team

Bridger Ski Foundation

Due to the cold weather and abrasiveness of manmade snow it was important to harden the bases of the skis. For this we used a combination of Toko Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) wax mixed with Toko XCold powder. In our preliminary tests we found Toko HF Black (DLC) to be performing in our top three base layers on its own, so it was a natural choice for our first layer of wax. Mixing HF Black (DLC) with XCold powder served the dual purpose of hardening the ski base while also repelling dirt and creating anti-static properties within the base. For races early in the day, we put a layer of Toko HF blue on top of the HF Black/XCold Powder combination, while for afternoon races we used another combination of Toko XCold Powder mixed with another warmer wax. These base layers were the foundation of our glide waxing for the whole week of races.

— Andrew Morehouse, BSF Elite Coach

University of Alaska Anchorage

I was part of UAA’s 3-man waxing team which consisted of head coach Andrew Kastning, assistant Tor Christopherson, and myself as volunteer assistant. We collected waxing recommendations from Toko and from a variety of other companies and sources, and we conducted our own testing each day on a variety of products. We tested a wide variety of base layers each day, and we tested a variety of topcoats just prior to each race. Our athletes tested their own skis with matched waxes and they consistently chose skis with finer grinds throughout the week.

For Friday’s individual-start distance skate races, based on our own testing of multiple brands, we settled on Toko HF Blue over Toko LF Blue as a base layer, with Jet Stream Blue Powder and XCold powder mixed as the top layer. Our skiers uniformly reported very fast skis in the skate race, and our own observation of our skiers skiing down hills during the races confirmed that our skis were gliding very well in comparison to other skiers in the field. The rest of the week, I was tasked with doing other things, but I think this glide wax solution served us well all week.

— Adam Verrier

Methow Olympic Development

We were on Tribloc Toko HF Blue from day one at Nationals. We also ran Tribloc LF Black as an under layer all week. Even though we tested every day and across many different brands, Toko HF Blue won every single base layer test on every day. This despite some distinctly different temperature, humidity and snow aging conditions. Like many, the old Dibloc HF blue had been my go-to base layer in many conditions and I was loathe to give it up, but this Tribloc HF blue has earned its place in my wax box.

— Scott Johnston, Head Coach

Alaska Winter Stars

I think you had a good tester because our results were very similar to yours, so we ended up using very close to what you were recommending in every race.

In every race, we used Tribloc HF Blue either straight or mixed with XCold powder or Tribloc HF Red depending on what was going on. We covered this with JetStream Blue either straight or mixed with XCold powder in the first three races. In the Skate Sprint, we went with JetStream Red and then later on Yellow covered by HelX Red – like you recommended but it was later and there was more moisture in the snow for the juniors.

— Jan Buron, Head Coach Alaska Winter Stars

Just Ski

Classic Sprint. We went on JS blue roto-corked over HF blue. Kick was Green Base on klister skis with the kick applied short and thick just like klister. I think this kick wax y provided the best skis I have skied on in memory. Roller ski kick and very free–I tried a few covers over the base green but never found anything that made any difference. This made waxing very simple–which is how I like it. Like I said I cannot remember a kick wax that was this good.

Distance Skate. HF blue covered by JS blue powder/Cold Powder mix ironed in quick and hot. I had heard of this combo before but had never tested it. Took a 50 meter ski to conform that this was the wax. Pretty much gave up any other testing once I tried this wax. Once again a very easy application.

Skate Sprint. HF Blue/red base layer, JS blue rotocorked covered with Helix Red. Skis were good and Anika was able to ski off the front in her quarter final and win easily. She thought she would be too cool for school and try to put away the fastest girls in the US in her semi and tried to ski off the top in the lead–you know how that story ends. Skis were as fast as anyone else’s for sure though. She’ll learn.

I followed your wax recommendations every day and we had great skis every day–I could have gone crazy testing the alphabet soup of waxes and brands but found it to be quite simple and effective to just read your texts and follow your instructions. I have had great past results at SoHo with all the Toko wax jobs we used this week so it was a no-brainer to use what has worked in the past. I could have fit all the waxes I used this past week in my two hands–this is how I like it. Makes a coach’s life simple and allows us to focus on making our racers fast instead of worrying about a million wax combinations.

— Tuck Miller, Head Coach

Toko US fb Promo – LAST CHANCE!!

Toko US Facebook Contest! On January 21, we will randomly select 5 people who have “liked” this Toko US fb page and give each of them $300 of TOKO product (take your choice of wax, tools, gloves, hats, bags) from us.

January 15, 2013