Cross Country Ski Waxing and Base Prep

How to be successful grip waxing with Toko

2/1/2023 - By Ian Harvey

Here are some general grip waxing principles and then some Toko-specific tips. How you wax your skis has a lot to do with not only the conditions but also your skis and how they are related to you.

How to race wax for cold conditions with best results

1/31/2023 - By Ian Harvey

I think the best way to look at cold snow from a practical or usable point of view is to break cold snow down into cold and slow, cold, and cold and fast. Each wax has its “sweet spot” and there is no one wax that performs best in each.

When and how to use Toko X-Cold Powder - One of our best waxes ever!

1/10/2023 - By Ian Harvey

Many people think that if the snow is especially cold or abrasive then this is when they should use X-Cold Powder. While this might work much of the time, I wanted to make clear when X-Cold Powder is the most effective.

Toko HP Hot Wax vs. HP Liquid Paraffin: What is Better When?

1/25/2022 - By Ian Harvey

In general, Toko High Performance Hot Wax covered with Toko High Performance Liquid Paraffin is faster, with one exception. Ok, make that two exceptions...

Toko tests new powder top coats at US Nationals

1/4/2022 - By Ian Harvey

Soelden 15 is a test wax (a non fluorinated top coat) that did extremely well in testing two weeks ago so I contacted our chemist and he flew some out to me for the races.

New Toko top coat powers beat old pure fluors

12/29/2021 - By Ian Harvey

At Soldier Hollow, we just tested lots of different new formulas of new fluoro free Topcoats and were surprised and pleased by the results.

Toko testing new products

12/28/2021 - By Ian Harvey

We have lots of new products, from many formulas of new fluoro-free topcoats (available next year) to new High Performance hot waxes and liquid paraffins.

How to scrape hot-waxed skis (Video)

2/12/2021 - By Mike Muha

This is a nice short video on how to scrape hot-waxed skis. Worth a review.

Brushes: what/when/why?

12/22/2020 - By Ian Harvey

Confused by what brushes to buy? Get an honest opinion by wax guru - what to get and what not to get - by Ian Harvey!

FIS recommendations on cleaning out that fluoro!

11/23/2020 - By Ian Harvey

We realize that the FIS fluorine ban has been postponed for a year, but there are many who will be entering a fluorine free racing year that will want to consider taking these steps.

Solda introduces non-fluoro ski waxes

2/28/2020 - By Bert Hinkley

Solda began to reformulate their waxes with fluorocarbon compounds of C6 or less. These new formulas conformed to the 2020 European Union regulations.

Testing Toko Base Performance Liquid Paraffin in cold conditions

1/3/2020 - By Ian Harvey

It has been cold lately where I have been, so I have been testing cold waxes. The performance of Base Performance Liquid Paraffin has totally surprised me to the point where it is now my new favorite glide wax.