New guidance from Toko on how to use and apply waxes

Toko made a number of changes this season around what waxes to use when. These are based on reports from last season, and the arrival of the new Toko Powders. Here's Ian's guidance, followed by some questions I had about the new usage patterns for Toko's Liquid Paraffins, followed Ian's response, then new guidance on applying Toko's Liquid Paraffins.

What we will be recommending and when

Ian Harvey: With the addition of new products (High Performance Powders now in stock!), I have been asked about what I think we will be using and recommending for glide waxes this winter in various conditions. I recommend saving this email and referring to it.

Here are my thoughts:

Cold SLOW snow

High Performance Blue hot wax covered by XCold Powder. As the snow speeds up go with High Performance Blue mixed with XCold Powder 1:1.

Cold medium-fast snow

High Performance Blue hot wax covered by High Performance Blue Powder.

Cold fast snow

High Performance Blue or Performance Blue hot wax followed by High Performance Blue Powder mixed with High Performance Yellow Powder 4:1.

We need to test this. Otherwise High Performance Blue Hot wax mixed with High Performance Yellow hot wax 4:1.

We can also recommend High Performance Liquid Paraffin as an alternative in faster or skied-in snow.

Red range snow of all types

High Performance Red hot wax covered by High Performance Red powder.

High Performance Liquid Paraffin Red as an alternative (except in the intermountain west where I would recommend High Performance Liquid Paraffin Blue).

Glazing snow in the yellow range (wet but not super wet)

High Performance Yellow hot wax covered by High Performance Yellow Powder.

If super wet go with...

High Performance Yellow Hot wax covered by High Performance Liquid Paraffin Yellow. If a short race apply at the start and ski on wet. Otherwise let it dry for about 60 minutes.

Dirty wet snow (spring conditions)

Test XCold Powder covered by High Performance Liquid Paraffin Yellow. This was suggested as very good in these conditions by our Toko Finland friends.

Otherwise in dirty wet snow, I'd recommend High Performance Blue hot wax covered by High Performance Yellow Powder.

Some additional enlightenment from Ian Harvey

I sent an email back to Ian when he sent out these recommendations. In prior years, most of the recommendations including using the High Performance Liquid Paraffin except in really cold conditions. These new recommendations use High Performance Liquid Paraffin (HPLP). I asked if has to do with humidity levels. Here's Ian's reply:

HPLP generally performs well when the snow is faster or skied in. That means that if there is new fallen or new falling snow where the snow is not glazing (generally this is the case in the Rockies or intermountain west when it is snowing), HPLP will be poor and sometimes it is horrible (again in new falling or recently new fallen snow that is not skied in and in the Rockies).

HP Powder in blue, red, and yellow will normally be our fastest wax except mixed with XCold (or straight) in slow or very slow cold snow and covered by HPLP in faster skied in glazed snow.

HPLP can be absolutely amazing in super dry conditions. The humidity doesn’t have so much to do with it. It has more to do with the speed of the snow and if it is skied in and glazed/glazing or now. Also in the Rockies it is better in older snow or skied in snow. For example if it snows 2 inches cold and dry and the snow is not groomed or tilled in, it will be very poor. An hour later the groomer goes around and tills this cold dry powder into some underlying corn snow. Now the HPLP will be outstanding although the snow temp and humidity didn’t change at all.

A Quick Effective Way to Apply Toko Liquid Paraffin

Ian Harvey: Normally we recommend the following for applying Toko liquid paraffin if you are looking for best performance:

Blue - let it sit overnight and brush
Red - let it sit 2-4 hours and brush
Yellow - let it sit 1-2 hours and brush or if conditions are super wet, ski on a wet fresh application

For faster blue conditions as well as red and yellow conditions though, I have been testing a quick application finished by a roto fleece (also known as a fleece roller, but not to be confused with a merino wool roller) with good results (as good as the longer method). This is significant for those who want to test and apply the wax shortly before an event. In colder slower blue conditions, for sure the best results will be achieved letting the liquid paraffin dry and harden overnight.

Spray the liquid paraffin on the ski very lightly. Use less than you think. If the application didn't go on evenly, take a fresh or dedicated Thermo Cork and use the white side to evenly distribute the spray throughout the base. The application should be very light. Let it sit for a minute or two. Then use a rotary fleece on low rpms from tip to tail in one slow pass. Follow this up with a faster pass at normal rpms. Then brush the skis out with a liquid paraffin nylon polishing brush. They are ready to ski!