Toko: 2012 US Nationals Classic Sprint Report

Tested and picked glide waxes yesterday as was the plan as I anticipated that today’s kick solution could be a demanding one.  It did some freezing raining last night before they groomed.  Still, the tracks got an ice glaze on them which made things a bit tricky this morning.  We tested kick waxes, straight base green, straight klisters, and klisters covered.  Before qualifying, our best wax was Nordic Green Klister covered by Nordic Red Klister.  It kicked better than straight Base Green binder, especially on the hard ice sections on the climbs.  It glided better than Red Klister covered with Nordic Grip Red.  It was our best wax this morning and was also used to success.  After qualifying, it got progressively colder, the wind blew a bit more, and the tracks dried out. The snow became more of a dry granular sugar.  We rewaxed the test skis and checked it out again.  This time the “Base Green Trick” was the best. This is where a short thick layer of Base Green Binder is applied, heated in, and smoothed.  After it cools, add subsequent layers of Base Green trying to keep it as smooth as possible. Make the layers shorter working toward the middle.  It is important to keep this application short – klister zone.

It was a great week.  I was grateful for the super job Steve Bedard did testing and giving feedback.  He is a new Rossignol (and Toko) Tech Rep for New England.  I look forward to working with Steve in the future.

Also, a huge congratulations to all of the athletes, but especially to our Jessie Diggins and Torin Koos for taking 6 US national titles between them this year!

(Turns out Torin was DSQed.  This was a strange occurrence.  Here’s how FasterSkier covered the story.  Anybody who has witnessed World Cup sprints knows that as Eric Packer said, this type of thing happens all the time without incident or comment.  In fact, I saw other athletes do the same thing during Nationals including one of the top women 300 meters before the finish.  Nobody said a thing except “that’s racing”  Good luck with your appeal Torin!)

Visit the official event page here to see more photos.