Comparison of performance between environmentally friendly and now-banned fluorinated cross-country ski wax

Engineering of Sport 15 - Proceedings from the 15th International Conference on the Engineering of Sport (ISEA 2024)

In cross-country skiing the friction between the ski and snow can greatly affect the performance of the skier. One important factor influencing this friction is the wax applied to the ski base. With the recent environmental concerns surrounding fluorinated waxes, there is an increasing interest in the applicability and performance of fluor-free alternatives. This study aims to shed light on the coefficient of friction (COF) of different waxes, including the newer fluor-free alternatives, at varying conditions using a novel ski tribometer.