Introducing Toko JetStream 2.0 and HelX 2.0

Pitztal Glacier in Austria

Cheever on Managing Yourself

I'm on a glacier in austria. ? a way from my first world cup. That's right, question mark. It's not exactly winter below 2300 meters in the Alps. The glaciers are in decent shape though.  However, rather than preaching to protect your equipment during the Euro low-tide preseason or make sure you know what structure is going to run at the first race. Athletes need to know how to adapt.

I was talking to a young Canadian snowboarder today. And he is 100 percent focused on training and riding better. That is all well and good; but it is impossible to be 100 percent focused 100% of the time.

 Our first World Cup... If and when it happens... Is 4 days long. Training, qualifiers, race, team race. One must allow themselves to drift in and out of focus. The sport simply doesn't allow it.. not to mention nobody got into snowboarding to be a hundred percent focused on racing all the time

One more important part of changing schedules is adapting training. Sometimes I have to remind my friends/team members that their job is to do well racing, not to put up the most weight in the gym or win practice.

Since this is a eblast for TOKO, here's my day's equipment advice... Stop throwing your race gear in holders outside of the gondola. Take care of your equipment.  You need fast gear. If it's going to get beat up,  let it get beat up on the track 

Coach Cody Brown on Early Season Board Prep

The 2015 season is quickly approaching and as your focus narrows there are several actions you should be taking. By fall, you should have your equipment out of your bags, scraped, and layering wax into your bases. At this point you should have done inventory on your equipment fixed or replaced any broken bindings, ordered new boards, and if necessary had them ground with their applicable structure. If the bases on your boards are still in pristine condition...just add wax. They are hydrated and should be running fast if you removed the fluoros, and travel waxed them with a soft hydrocarbon wax at the end of last season. If your board didn't warrant a new structure because it held up well and you did not have any major scratches then keep it fast. If you grind your board after it has been hydrated, you will essentially have to start from page one again. If you did order new boards the first thing you should do is have a structure put on it (by a reputable tech) as well as side and base bevels. Your bevels will vary by personal preference so if you are young enough or if you don't know, try different bevels and learn what you like long before your first race. Your early season training should be dialing in your equipment and stocking your race pack with spare parts, brushes, tools, and overlays. If you have questions about equipment, structures, or wax, ask your coach or local TOKO shop! That is what we are here for. In short, by this time of year you should have your equipment and be hydrating your bases by cycling wax into them. An example would be using hydrocarbon (Toko NF) wax of different temperature ranges. I would typically start warm to open up the pores and work my way to colder wax to penetrate and harden the base...wash, rinse, and repeat. If you have access to a hotbox it would not hurt to cycle the same temperature ranges. As always, make sure you brush.