Wasatch Nordic Ski Academy service report for West Yellowstone JNQ, 1/17 - 1/18:

Saturday 1/17:  5 km skate (individual start)

Air temp ~ 28 deg F, snow temp ~ 26 deg F, cloudy, snow showers through the day, tracks well groomed but medium-soft, snow a fine grained mix of fresh and transformed snow.

Based on testing and weather forecast, we went with Toko HF Blue paraffin as a base layer for our early starters, a 50:50 mix of Toko HF Blue and Red for later starters.  U14 skiers were on NF Blue paraffin (IMD wax rules prohibit LF and HF waxes for topcoats for U14 kids and younger).  Race day tests confirmed that HF Blue was fastest early, with the mix running better as air temperatures warmed to near freezing (snow temp increase lagged behind the rise in air temp, with snow in some areas remaining significantly below freezing all day).

Race day testing confirmed that Toko JetStream Blue 2.0 Block was fastest early.  The anticipated shift to JS Red 2.0 later in the morning never materialized, so we stayed with blue for all racers.  Note that the IMD waxing guidelines do not allow liquids, sprays, or powder topcoats, so we didn't test or use Toko Helx.  It would have been a killer wax if legal.

Structure:  no additional structure was applied to early starter's skis.  We adjusted late starter's skis with lightly applied Toko Structurite (red bit) on ski tails covered with a single light pass of the blue bit (full ski).  Excess structure was knocked down by rubbing a wood block (brush edge).  This combination freed up skis as the snow warmed later in the day.

• Basewax: Toko HF Blue early, 50:50 Blue / Red later.
• Topcoat:  Toko JS Blue 2.0 Block
• Structure:  cold grind in the early AM -->later Toko Red bit on back 1/2 of ski with Blue Structurite on top (full ski)

Results:  very good skis and good race results.

Sunday 1/18 5/10 km classic (individual start)

AM air temp 24 deg F, snow temp 22 deg F, overcast, occasional light snow showers --> mixing with very fine grained freezing rain for men's U18/U20 race in the late morning.

The forecast was for a cold night (low of ~ 10 deg F).  As is typical of West Yellowstone, overcast skies inhibited cooling, so it stayed relatively warm.  I made the call to basewax with Toko HF blue based on the forecast and the previous day's testing and experience.  I confirmed that HF Blue was good on race morning (Blue and Red had indistinguishable performance in early morning testing).  Knowing the challenges I would face testing and applying kickwax, I decided to stick with our original base wax for all classes.  Glide remained competitive even as the temps approached freezing and some light freezing rain began to fall.

Topcoat:  We found Toko JS Red Block 2.0 by far our fastest topcoat all morning.

Structure:  we needed to add structure to free up skis even early, and found the success with the same solution used on Saturday, Toko red bit on tail of ski covered with Toko blue bit on tips and tails, knocked down, then covered with Jet Stream Red.

Kickwax:  we used several kick combinations for different age groups.  We had good success Toko Red hardwax early.  As temperatures warmed and the tracks glazed, we mixed Red with more Toko Yellow. 

Paraffin:  Toko HF Blue

Topcoat:  Toko JS Red Block 2.0

Structure:  Toko red bit on ski tails covered with Toko blue (tips and tails)

Kick:  various solutions including Toko Red, Toko Red + Yellow, and Toko Sportline Warm

Results:  good glide all morning, good kick for most kids (two probably underestimated kick needs for the race) and good race results.

Wasatch Nordic Ski Academy service report:  Wasatch Citizen's Series #4, Soldier Hollow, UT 1/24/15

8:30 AM air temp:  16 deg F, snow temp 15 deg F

Mostly cloudy / partly sunny

5 km course:  1/2 man-made 1/2 transformed natural snow

Underlayer and base paraffin called the night before based on forecast and experience.  Fluoro topcoat and overlayer called race morning based on testing (feel).

Toko JS Blue 2.0 was the fastest fluoro block tested.  We chose to not test or use powders as experience has shown we get excellent skis at SoHo with Toko blocks alone.

Toko Helx Blue 2.0 overlayer increased perceived ski speed in race morning blind feel tests (slow speed, climbing, high speed, etc.).

Underlayer:  Toko LF Black

Paraffin:  Toko HF Blue

Topcoat:  Toko Jet Stream Blue Block (rotocorked)

Overlayer:  Toko Blue Helx 2.0

Bill Hokanson, Head Coach

A belated race report from our Methow JNQ last weekend: the conditions smiled on us with some fresh snow on top of very transformed sugar, and sunshine to boot! The first day, a classic sprint, was pretty easy waxing: Toko Red kick. It offered good kick for the early U14 starters and held well and stayed fast for the later U16/U18 starters. As the day warmed and the sun got on the snow it still kept on working great.