February 22, 2011 (Hayward, WI) – Below is the American Birkebeiner Wax Tip 2011. Sorry, on a personal note, I am really sick and will not be able to make it out to the Birkie this year – I have no voice, cold sweats, coughing spasms, etc.  There will be a team of knowledgeable, experienced, and helpful Toko Technicians there to help you, so our service will not lapse.

However, I will miss my annual visits with so many Birkie friends that I only see once per year who appreciate my help on a personal level.  I have developed a friendship with a great many people during our visits over the years.  It is a strange thing, but it is possible to form a friendship with people with whom you visit with just one per year (over the past 15 years).  That’s what I am going to really miss – checking in with my Birkie friends.  Good luck!

Also Race Wax Recommendations for the Masters Cross Country Ski World Cup 2011 will be posted at www.TokoUS.com.  Here is a direct link to the page.  They will also be tweeted (TokoUS) and posted to the Toko US Facebook page.

American Birkebeiner Wax Tip 2011

WAX RECOMMENDATION

American Birkebeiner
Cable to Hayward, WI
Saturday, February 26
Starts in waves from 8 to 10:15am
23/50/54k Classic or Skate

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Forecast/Conditions: Low of -3F Friday night with a chance of snow showers.  Cloudy on race day with a high of 17F.  Expect snow temperatures of 0F at 8am start and 7F at 10am start.  The course will be clean in sections and very dirty in other sections.  There will be brushed ice/transformed snow mixed with powder snow.  Dirt and powder snow are a slow combination.  Happily the Blue waxes are super dirt resistant as there is no oil in them (especially HF Blue due to the fluorine content).

Classic tracks will be abrasive.  It will be very difficult to keep kick wax on a soft ski through the duration of the race.  Glidewax:  Apply LF Blue, scrape and brush, then apply HF Blue, scrape and brush. Finish by rotocorking JetStream Blue, brush with a dedicated nylon polishing brush and polish with a thermopad.  Elite and wave 1 skiers can mix XCold powder in with the HF Blue for faster skis on the climbs (especially if it snows a bit).

Structure:  Fine grind or Toko Structurite Blue before applying JetStream Blue. Check the WaxTip page at www.TokoUS.com before all of your races for the latest waxing information. The Toko Race Wax Tips offer racers precise waxing advice on how to make your skis perform optimally for a given event. For racers who don’t have top end waxes, skip the Fluorocarbon (JetStream) and substitute the LF or System 3 wax of the same color (Yellow, Red or Blue). For those who do not have a rotocork for applying JetStream, the next best thing is to iron it in.

Racing Service

Kickwax:  Sand Kick Zone with 150 grit sandpaper.  Apply a good thick layer of Basewax Green.  Heat, smooth, and let cool.  Cover this layer with subsequent layers of Basewax Green until you can see the Green color coming through strongly (thick!).  Keep kick zone like klister. **If it snows significantly Friday night, thin out the Green wax and cover with layers of Carbon Grip Mint or White (early starters) or Blue (later starters)**