David Norris winning the American Birkebeiner (photograph Paul Walsh)
Caitlin Gregg wining the American Birkebeiner for a record 4th time! (Photo USSA)
 
American Birkebeiner
CXC Wax Report
The American Birkebeiner is truly the “Super Bowl of Skiing” and the 2016 American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) schedule of occasions did not disappoint the 12,000 skiers who flocked to Hayward, Wisconsin to get pleasure from the festivities and trails of the North Nation. The crazy climate was a diverse story it induced a bit of tension for skiers, coaches, and wax technicians, which includes the Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC) wax staff of Karmen Whitham, Marty Donegan, and Bruce Manske.
The glide wax was the easy part of Birkie waxing. We cleaned the ski bases with Toko LF Blue (-thirty to -ten C) though the LF Blue is a challenging wax, it aids in harden the base of a ski, and tends to make them run quicker in transformed snow circumstances and, fluorine tribloc acts as a bonding agent for Best Finish products. Following, we utilized a two layer of a 1:1 mixture of Toko HF Scorching Wax Black and Toko HF Sizzling Wax Yellow (-six to C). The Black is quite similar to the temperature Toko HF Scorching Wax Red (-twelve to -4 C), except the Black includes DLC additive for greatest dirt repellency. The Birkie groomers did an amazing work of preparing the program, but due to the thin snow cover and rainy weather, the course had a fair mount of dirty snow. For that reason, it was essential to apply a double layer of wax. Toko HF Sizzling Wax Yellow has selected simply because of the high-fluorine content material and its quite sturdy, which aids in repelling water and grime, and can make for quickly skis.
The CXC wax staff best coated every ski with JetStream Bloc 2. Yellow. The JetStream was cranyoned on across each and every ski and then melted with a fiberlene-covered iron. A really thin 2nd coat of JetStream was then crayoned on the skis. This layer we rubbed into the ski with a focused cork followed by lightly brushing with a soft nylon brush and polishing with a Toko Thermopad. The JetStream enhanced the speed and glide of the skis due to its higher abrasion-resistant design.
The kick wax was challenging for most coaches and wax technicians due to the climate conditions, which included precipitation throughout the day, along with a glazing track, 1000’s of skiers, and the marathon distance factor. The CXC waxing crew, lead by Karmen Whitman, made the decision to use a mixture of Toko Klisters. Nordic Base Klister Green was utilized to the skis as a foundation layer this was followed by a one:1 mixture of Nordic Klister Yellow, made for moist snow, and Nordic Klister Red, which has a wide range and is designed for transformed snow Red is typically used as a universal application.
We tested covering the Klister with a number of various difficult waxes, such as Toko X-Cold the difficult wax cover had constrained good results, and we made a decision to largely continue to be with the Toko Yellow and Red Klister combination. In a few situations, we additional an added layer of the Yellow/Red for additional kick, along with extended the Klister zones. One more test, with constrained accomplishment, integrated adding a layer of a universal Silver Klister. Yes, the freeze and thaw problems of the trail, and the altering problems amongst coarse and transformed moist to wet fine grained snow produced a assortment of difficulties.
At the end of the day, The CXC Marathon Group, the CXC Masters Staff, and the CXC coaching staff had been really pleased with the performance of Toko wax and the results at the 2016 American Birkebeiner:
Alice Flanders led the CXC women’s staff in tenth in the 52k freestyle Birkie and Hillary Patzer completed 44nd. In the 55k classic Birkie, Nicolette Reker led the CXC females with a 20th place finish. Abbie Drach won the females’s Korterloppet in a time of 1:06:25.three. Duncan Douglas led the CXC men’s team finishing 31st in the 52k freestyle Birkie (as a 50year outdated!), with Cory Ellertson following close behind in 37th, whilst Chris Pappathopoulos finished 42nd. In the 55k classic, Nick Energy just missed the top of the podium finishing 2nd total, with Andy Brown following near behind in fourth.
Bruce Manske
Central Cross Nation Ski Association
CXC Development Coach
Birkie Wax Report
This year I was the only one particular of the Sugar Bowl to do the Birkie. Here are a couple approaches I utilised to have aggressive skis even though waxing for myself. The very first issue I did was to apply my LF Moly layer at house ahead of flying. This meant 1 less layer of waxing to do on Friday evening. 1 excellent thing about the Birkie is the large sum of testing and recommendations created public for the race. On Friday, I focused on getting a good straightforward ski, with some pickups, to get ready for the race as nicely as eating a whole lot of foods. Right after reading through via the wax reviews Friday afternoon, I wax my two wettest pairs of skis with Toko HF Yellow and Toko Jetstream Yellow Powder 2.. I also applied a reasonably aggressive framework pattern. The morning of the race I examined the two pairs of skis I waxed the evening just before. After I picked the more rapidly one particular I sprayed it down with Yellow Helix 2. and was ready to go. Toko can make wax suggestions for a ton of races you can find here. If you are traveling with out a wax tech, there is a great deal to be stated for employing wax recommendations, maintaining the number of race morning wax selections realistic, and generating positive you are physiologically ready to go.
– Spencer Eusden, Sugar Bowl Elite Staff
47 Year Old John Bauer finishing 30th (and winning age group of course) in the American Birkebeiner
47 Yr Outdated John Bauer finishing 30th (and winning age group of program) in the American Birkebeiner
John skied on Toko LF Black then followed by Toko HF Black which he then covered with JetStream Yellow block (ironed with fiberlene), and lastly covered with HelX two. Yellow. John also pressed in a Toko linear framework followed by the Toko Red and Blue Structurite bits. Congratulations John! (Photograph: Chris Younger)
 
Race report from Vuokatti, Finland Masters Planet Championships
Almost 1000 athletes representing 24 countries have recently concluded their competitions. Crew USA concluded their “Global Warming in Finland” expertise returning with sixteen medals for the United States. 10 of individuals medals had been won on Toko HF Yellow topped with Jet Stream Yellow!
Day 1 of the competition was held on 80% manmade moist snow on a program averaging 20cm in depth with temps hovering at -9C for the classic event. Toko Red dry wax kicking on HF Blue / Jet Stream Blue worked very effectively for all, making a Gold Medal for Trina Hosmer and a Silver for Bob Gray. Prime 10 finishes had been also recorded on Toko HF Blue for Carolyn Tiernan, Inge Scheve, Kent Murdoch, David Ford, and Louise Wholey who substituted Jet Stream Red and most likely other Toko options that have not nevertheless been confirmed.
Temperatures rose for the remaining events, turning into Zeros and klister type conditions for the remaining six races. All but the last Freestyle events have been carried out with rain/snow falling at -1C to +3C just prior to and typically throughout the races. Construction and massive fluoros grew to become the weapons. The tracks have been so thin, grey and brown on day 3, most traditional skiers elected to go on Zeros for the 10K. Trina Hosmer was golden, Bob Gray was Silver and Abett Icks was Bronze on Toko HF Yellow/ Jet Stream Yellow. Most Toko skiers utilized the Red Structurite tool even however there was a worry of dirt since tracks and shifting lanes were so sucky.
The 4X5K relays had the benefit of some added moist snow strengthening the dirt element somewhat. Several USA athletes had their highest putting of the week. 1 group in 5th, three teams in 4th, and a bronze for Katie Meyer, Donna Difolco, Carolyn Tiernan and Trina Hosmer. Toko HF Yellow/ Jet Stream Yellow were on the last two legs for certain for that staff.
The ultimate distance races became simpler calls on wax and ski variety. The classic occasion was all won on klister with the prior 4-day’s variety of all yellow combinations for glide. The skate occasion lastly cooled down to -2C enabling the HF Red/Yellow covered with Jet Stream Red to make the podium. Two confirmed employs with a substitution of AX 134 with the Toko HF option of the day developed wonderful large-finish speed of noteworthiness. Kent Murdoch and I were capable to be in the top three at 500 Meters in all races that we utilized AX134. I came out of the worst start lanes in all 3 races to a prime 5 place at the base of the first climb, thereby steering clear of the cluster.
Greatest finishes of the week have been recorded with a fiveth for Inge Scheve, 6th for Kent Murdoch, Bronze for Katie Meyer, Silver for Milan Baic, 5th for Donna Difolco, 5th for Nancy Bauer, eightthfor David Ford, fourth for Carolyn Tiernan, Gold for Trina Hosmer, 5th for Abett Icks, Silver for Bob Gray and a Bronze for Carol Devoe. A confirmed 9 of these skiers had a Toko HF and Jet Stream layer. Great week for Toko gliding! Considerable testing developed sound waxing suggestions throughout the week.
– Dave Ford, Toko Tech Team
Noah Hoffman battling it out at the Lahti Globe Cup last weekend
 
 
Report from Owl Creek Chase
Variable problems for this many years Owl Creek Chase 21k Traditional. Sunny every day highs in the mid 40s and lows in the teenagers produced for transformed snow but tilling brought fresh snow back for sections of the course. I prepped for glide with Toko HF Blue/HF Red mix at 1:1. I powdered with JetStream Red two., with a sprinkling of Yellow 2. on the tails. I utilized a Toko Green base kick wax and Blue klister binder ironed in. I covered with a combine of Toko green base and another brand’s blue (below the foot). Skis were super rapidly, even though I could have used a bit far more klister for extra kick on the steep climbs and south dealing with slopes.
– Brian Gregg