 Poster: A snowHead
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New research into the performance of cross-country skis is claimed to demonstrate that waxing them actually slows them down.
Leonid Kuzmin, who will submit a doctorate thesis to Mid Sweden University next month, has tested the performance of skis with and without wax. He has concluded that skiers can achieve highest speeds by relying on the inherent low-friction properties of modern 'high molecular weight' plastic ski bases, rather than coating them with wax:
"It's a myth that you have to wax your skis" he says. "The waxed skis glide slightly better from the beginning, since the ski wax reduces friction, but after just a short while the wax has gathered so much dirt that the waxed skis glide slower. In some experiments this occurred after only 200 meters and in others by 3.8 kilometres at the latest."
Kuzmin has a background as a ski trainer and technician, and made his discoveries party as a result of observing his wife Antonina Ordina winning bronze medals at the 1995 World Nordic Ski Championships.
This report from ResearchInSweden.se.
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This is the first time I've encountered this theory. If it proves sound, would it also apply to alpine skis? Have ski technicians on the World Cup downhills and slaloms ever experimented with unwaxed skis ... or has the 'wisdom of waxing' always been accepted as standard?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 12-12-05 13:58; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Given that he says:
""The waxed skis glide slightly better from the beginning, <snip+paraphrase> but slow down by 3.8 kilometres at the latest."
I'd not expect this to be a problem in racing (as long as they don't use the 200m wax) - but it may affect recreational use.
Does the wax offer any wear protection?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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why should a wax base attract more dirt than an unwaxed one?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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==========================
WARNING GEEK SPEAK COMING UP
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well to begin with on alpine skis, they use the wax to help with the structure, and brush virtually all the hot waxed on stuff out. this takes all the dirt/junk with it, leaving a "fast ski". The remaining wax is a minimal amount and helps to smooth down the poly-fibres of the ski base.
Cross country skis with scales etc, have a lot more wax applied (per unit area) and more relevently left on the ski even after brushing. Cross country trails are usually in low lying areas, with a track made by a machine, in the sun for longer etc. the snow is inherently "dirtier" than a world cup "ice rink" piste which is watered/injected and slipped to get to good clean snow/ice. race pistes are aslo usually on north facing slopes away from the sun and are at a lower temperature. for indoor snow (nera zero snow temp and dirty snow) and for spring snow the base material, and structure is faster than any wax.
there is also a certain reduced amount of dirt pickup due to the speed difference. A cross country skier is more lilkey to encounter melting friction (or already water topped snow due to the sun) and hence the dirt is at the surface. An alpine downhill racer experiances more shear friction in the snow, and the snow does not have as much time to "melt". In this case the dirt is embedded in the snow crystal/corn.
The alpine racer also wants the wax to protect the ski form wear (base "burn") as the more agressive snow + speed really chews up the base.
Both types of racer also use fluro overlays (teflon powder to you and me), which bond to the top wax layer. Whilst this might only last less than 3.8km, that is at least as long as any downhill i know of. 20km race distance is possible for cross country skiers.
Interesting research though.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| hibernia wrote: |
| why should a wax base attract more dirt than an unwaxed one? |
the boundary layer of the wax does actually melt, and is softer than than ski base, and hence collects dirt.
a ski base collects some in the structure, but at a lower rate.
As in my post above, cross country races use a softer (higher snow temp wax) more often, which picks up dirt faster than harder wax.
For ref, swix CH4 (-20 or below) will not pick up any graphite if any attempt is made to rub it in, but CH10 (0 to +10 C air temp) will absorb it virtually without needing to apply any pressure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Why not use MrSheen ?
It certainly makes our vynyl covered kitchen floor so slippery as to be lethal when
a bit is sprayed on accidentally !
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Cross country skis with scales etc, have a lot more wax applied
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as a novice cross country skier I was told, both by the guy who sold me skis, and an instructor, that skis like mine, with scales on (used by beginners or receational skiers using the "classique" style) need not be, and should not be, waxed at all. They are very low maintenance. The skis used for the "skating" style are the ones that are waxed, but as far as I know they don't have any scales.
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| bernie wrote: |
Why not use MrSheen ?
It certainly makes our vynyl covered kitchen floor so slippery as to be lethal when
a bit is sprayed on accidentally ! |
Always did for dry ski races - don't know if it works on real snow mind  aj xx
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w,
| Quote: |
as a novice cross country skier I was told, both by the guy who sold me skis, and an instructor, that skis like mine, with scales on (used by beginners or receational skiers using the "classique" style) need not be, and should not be, waxed at all. They are very low maintenance. The skis used for the "skating" style are the ones that are waxed, but as far as I know they don't have any scales.
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Waxless skis (with scales) are not waxed with grip wax under the foot, but are waxed with glide wax at the tips and tails.
Waxing skis for classic are waxed under foot with grip wax after sand papering- the size of the wax pocket is determined by the paper test and the pocket used for klister is shorter than the pocket for hard waxes. The tips and tails are waxed with glide wax as per waxless skis.
Skis for skate are waxed over their full length as per downhill skis.
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