Toko: JetStream Application

Applying JetStream

There are various ways to apply JetStream (or any other fluorocarbon).  Sometimes the end result is the same and sometimes one method of application yields an advantage over another. Here are 3 main options and their merits:

1.      Rub on and rotocork.  Overall, this is probably the most effective method of applying JetStream.  It is certainly best in cold conditions (which we have a lot of in the US).  It is also the most economical.  Finish by brushing out with nylon polishing brush and polish with thermo pad.  It is a good practice to do two applications.  Rub, rotocork, then rub on over the top, rotocork, and then nylon polish and polish.  This ensures a good application.  Easy with the rotocork.

2.     Sprinkle powder (or rub), iron, and then rotocork.  This is a very common method of application as well. It is good to use a hot iron (around 150C – see iron temperature recommendations on www.TokoUS.com info center page) and then to pass over the JetStream quickly (around 6 seconds tip to tail).  If the ski is simply black behind the iron, the iron needed to move much quicker. The downside to moving the iron too slowly is that the finished product is slower, especially in fresh snow and cold snow.  Again, rotocork conservatively. Best is to let the JetStream cool before rotocorking.  This method is most advantageous in spring snow type conditions and is good all around.  It is the most common application method on the Cross Country World Cup.

3.     Rub (or sprinkle), cork, and polish.  This is a common practice on the Alpine circuit. The finish yielded is very fast.  Durability is poor.  Reapplication is quick and easy.  After a run, brush the ski out (use nylon polishing unless it is dirty and then use copper) and reapply.

Rotocorking Tips

There seem to be two general schools of thought for rotocorking JetStream with both achieving good results.

The first and most common method is to use high rpms and barely touch the ski base with the cork.  The waxer then goes back and forth over the ski with no pressure at all.  This is pretty easy to do, although I think for many people it is more difficult to keep the rotocork flat.

The other is to keep the rpms extremely low and to use light to moderate pressure. One good pass from tip to tail is enough.  With the low rpms and moderate pressure, it is easier to apply a clean finish with even pressure throughout the width of the ski.

In any case, do not rotocork for very long as it will be counterproductive.  Of course the direction of the rotocork is such that it is trying to move the cork toward the waxer (not down the ski) assuming the rotocork is being pushed.  Be conservative with the rotocork.

Field Report from Marshall Greene – Pepsi Challenge Winner

Temps for the Pepsi Challenge in Biwabik were cold.  Really cold.  Having delayed the start by two hours and halving the distance of the race to 24km, the race time temp. was expected to be about -5 Fahrenheit. The overnight low was around -18 and amazingly even at those temps, it was snowing lightly the night before the race.

Having waxed up my coldest pair of Madshus with HF Blue and ample X-Cold powder, followed by rotocorked Jetstream Blue, my boards felt fast from the start.  Adam Swank and I traded leads for the first 10 km or so and the lead group rapidly dwindled to 3.  After a painful sustained surge at about 19 km by Adam, I was just barely hanging on to him.  As we reached the top of every rise, he would start to gap me, but on the ensuing downhill I could easily glide back up to him.  After that effort, I could tell both of us were hurting and the pace slowed a bit on some of the rolling terrain near the top of the course.

Recognizing my faster skis, I tried to get Adam to take the lead for the beginning of the final descent which led immediately into the finish stretch.  Jumping in his draft, I was able to slingshot around him with about 75m to go and carried good momentum into the sprint, where I edged him out by a half a second.  It was a hard fought battle, but in the end, I think my good skis really helped set me up for the win.  Without faster skis, I would not have trusted my ability to tuck past Adam and would have been forced to try a different tactic.

Next up: the Noque!

Marshall

Boulder Mountain Tour Wax Tip as of Tuesday 31 January

Toko Boulder MT Tour 2011 Wax Tip

Toko WaxCoach now available as an iPhone app!

Click here to visit.

Toko Drawing Winners Announced

We randomly picked 3 people who were signed up for Toko eBlasts to win $500 worth of Toko product.  The winners are Tim Cowan, Joe Shaw, and Carol Bennett.  Congratulations!

Photo Credit Correction

In the last Toko eBlast, we credited Matt Liebsch for this photo. It should have been credited to Skinnyski.com