Sometimes you read something that makes you go, “What the heck?” I just had one of those moments when I read a press release from our competitors about how our athletes “shined” for them.
Here’s the rundown of athletes and affiliations in West Yellowstone:
SuperTour Overall Standings After 3 Events
American Men
1. Garrott Kuzzy – Toko wax and tools (Swix poles)
2. Lief Zimmermann – Toko gloves (Swix wax and poles)
3. Chris Cook – Toko wax and tools, gloves (Swix poles)
4. James Southam – Swix
5. Simi Hamilton – Middlebury
6. Matt Liebsch – Toko wax and tools, Toko gloves
7. Andrew Johnson – Toko wax and tools, gloves (One way poles)
8. Noah Hoffman – Toko gloves (Swix wax and poles)
9. Brian Gregg – Toko wax and tools, gloves (Swix poles)
10. Mike Hinckley – Toko wax and tools, gloves (One way poles) (skis for APU which is Swix wax sponsored)
American Women
1. Holly Brooks – Swix
2. Laura Valaas – Toko wax and tools, gloves (skis for APU which is Swix wax sponsored)
3. Rosie Brennan – Dartmouth
4. Becca Rorabaugh – Swix
5. Nicole DeYoung – Fischer (Swix poles?)
6. Kristina Trygstad-Saari – Swix
7. Jessie Diggins – Toko wax and tools, gloves (Swix poles)
Then comes a bunch of really good skiers who are mostly unaffiliated (some Toko and some Swix in the mix)
Here are the facts as best as I know them whatever that is worth. Congratulations to the leaders for some really super racing.
Ian Harvey
Ian Harvey is the Toko Brand Manager in the United States.
![Chris Cook (Steinbock Racing) (Photo: Toko USA)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/11/IMG_0261.jpg" "Chris Cook (Steinbock Racing) (Photo: Toko USA)")
![Toko Logo](http://images.fasterskier.com/2008/11/toko-logo.jpg" "Toko Logo"){kind=logo}
8 comments
philsgood
December 1, 2009 at 1:47 am
Ian-
Was there something out of the ordinary about the Swix press release? All I saw was a bunch of photos of athletes kicking ass using Swix products. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
-Phil
deanerbeano
December 1, 2009 at 2:34 am
Haha, claiming toko glove users as toko skiers? thats a bit of a stretch.
bill mckibben
December 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Maybe someone should get Simi Hamilton some stuff? (Much as I love reading Middlebury up there)
donpollari
December 1, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Toko vs. Swix turf wars.
I like it…
Just a suggestion, to give credit where it’s due let’s stick to which glide was used. Though it’s probably not the deciding factor in a race I’m sure it’s a much bigger than the poles, zuitsuits, gloves, and hat’s skiers are using.
Hey Simi, ever tried FastWax? Good stuff…:)
Mike Trecker
December 1, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Patches? Patches? Simi don’t need no stinkin’ patches!
ianharvey
December 2, 2009 at 1:55 pm
That is exactly what I am talking about. When we bust our butts supporting Chris Cook or Garrott Kuzzy with wax and then Swix goes and writes a press release like they did, it is misleading and irritating as hell. They should write that they were using Swix poles and not gloss over it trying to give the impression that they were using Swix waxes. This is why I broke it down. Simi and Rosie are college skiers and thus any support that they might receive is not talked about due to NCAA regulations.
Ian/Toko
donpollari
December 2, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Agreed Ian, I’d be frustrated too.
nordic_dave
December 2, 2009 at 9:32 pm
To those who don’t know Ian:
He is tough as he is honest. I can’t think of someone with greater intregrity and hence he is now referred to as calling “a spade a spade” regarding his summer article that just nailed it on the Russian doping culture.
As it is clear that Swix and Toko battle hard for wax marketshare, Ian isn’t giving an inch to his neighbor and competitor (Kevin) at Swix. APU and CXC are prime battle grounds. One is sponsored by Swix the other by Toko.
Chuckles, kind’ve like good old days of NASCAR battles of the brands. In the old days it was Ford vs. Chysler. Now it is who knows what, i.e. Tide vs. Home Depot, Budweiser, Viagra, etc…
Guess you will have to check the USSA Super Tour Standings to find out if it is Swix or Toko that prevails in the wax battle. Looks like (Ford/Toko) is in the lead for now. Funny I ski on a different brand, Solda which works great by the way.
Cheers…