Updated October 2020
Fluorocarbons remain a hot button issue in the Nordic ski world, with the International Ski Federation choosing first to ban fluorinated wax products from the sport beginning with the 2020/2021 season and then reversing that ban at the 11th hour due to a lack of reliable testing. The ban will now go into effect next year, beginning with the 2021/2022 season.
The Outdoor Center still believes that moving away from a reliance on fluorocarbons will have a positive effect on skiers’ health, the environment, and the sport as a whole. In the environment, these substances can linger and accumulate. There is enough research on the negative health effects of exposure to PFCs and their byproducts to be a concern, particularly in pregnant women. Furthermore, fluorinated waxes are expensive and their use labor-intensive, contributing to a barrier to entry to the racing side of the sport.
Furthermore, due to more and more evidence being found in other industries of the harmful effects of PFOAs, local, state, and federal governments are taking a closer look at the use of these harmful chemicals. We may soon see more laws regulating their use here in the U.S.
For the 2020/2021 season the Craftsbury Outdoor Center continues to help lead the way toward a transition away from fluorocarbons. As it stands today, we see no need for skiers to wax with fluorocarbons for skiing at the Outdoor Center. This includes perfluorinated “topcoats,” paraffins containing fluorocarbons (colloquially “LF” and “HF” wax products), and kick products containing fluorinated material (our friends at Boulder Nordic Sport put together a good list of fluoro-free kick products).
We ask that all visitors to the Outdoor Center, whether racers or day skiers, refrain from bringing fluorinated material to our venue. This means do not bring it in your wax box, do not put it on your skis ahead of time, just don’t use it. If we find folks knowingly ignoring this policy, we will ask that you not return to the Outdoor Center.
We believe that all forms of skiing, from recreational touring to Olympic-development racing, can happen without the use of these harmful chemicals. Please help us spread the word and work towards a future that is a little better for our planet and our ski community.
We will continue to follow the developments with fluorocarbons and modify our policy as we feel appropriate to reflect our values and beliefs about their use. In the meantime, we urge skiers to take this opportunity to reflect on the impact our habits may have on our environment. And when you wax, please do so safely, in an area with good ventilation, wearing gloves and a respirator.
Learn more about PFAS in ski wax from Sweden’s POPFree effort.
Read the study on bioaccumulation in earthworms and voles near a ski area in Trondheim.
For more opinions on the role of waxing in racing, listen to FasterSkier’s podcast interview with legendary racer and current chair of FIS’s cross country sport committee, Vegard Ulvang.
Fluorocarbon Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about our policy? Maybe we’ve answered them below:
Break it down for me, what does “fluoro” mean?
Good question. In this case, “fluoro” is a catch-all term for waxes with fluorine added to them. In some cases these waxes contain chemicals PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). Those byproducts are the cause of the health and environmental concerns related to waxing. Fluorinated chemicals are a growing global concern, ski wax is merely a drop in the bucket. The U.S. is attempting to limit their use, as is the European Union and other countries around the world.
What is the difference between paraffin and “pure” fluoro?
Paraffin and “pure fluoro” refer to different types of glide wax. The waxes referred to as “pure fluoros” are treatments used to optimize glide. Paraffin waxes are usually the larger blocks of wax (though liquid paraffins exist). These waxes have hydrocarbon chemical bonds that include smaller amounts of perfluoro chemicals than the topcoats.
Are there any fluoros I can use at Craftsbury?
No. In order to comply with our policy you must use non-fluorinated waxes for both kick and glide.
How will this be enforced? What sort of testing will be in place?
We are primarily looking for buy in and compliance, rather than thinking about enforcement. There is no viable testing procedure available to us right now, so we are relying on the honor system. We hope that the available information about the potential negative health and environmental effects is enough to get folks to come along with us on this. As testing becomes available, we will consider instituting testing.
Will the GRP and junior programs continue to use fluoros?
No, this season the GRP and Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club junior programs will no longer use fluoro products in compliance with both our venue policy. GRP and CNSC skiers who qualify for the World Cup or other European race trips will likely ski on fluorinated products at those events.
Are all the races at Craftsbury fluoro free?
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is fluoro free venue-wide. This applies to all visitors to the Outdoor Center.
If my skis are waxed with fluoros, do I have to strip them before skiing them at Craftsbury?
We are trying to limit the introduction of fluorocarbons into our local environment, so if it is easy for you to cover or clean your skis, please do so. FIS introduced a fluoro cleaning procedure that may still be available on their site. We will note that waxing your skis with fluoros off-site and then coming to ski or race in Craftsbury is not in the spirit of our policy.
Why is Craftsbury making a policy when NENSA already has one?
Our policy is for our venue. We fully support NENSA’s policy (in fact, members of our staff were involved in writing NENSA’s policy).
What am I supposed to do with my existing fluoros in my wax box?
We are researching the proper methods for disposing of these products. We will publicize whatever relevant information we come across.
If these are as bad as you say they are, why aren’t they banned everywhere?
Despite announcing in November of 2019 that they would ban fluorinated material from competition beginning this season, FIS was unable to refine its testing to a point where the member ski associations were comfortable with trusting the ban. Accurate testing was necessary in order to make the World Cup fair for all nations and due to the pandemic, the technology just was not ready. FIS took the [in our opinion] unfortunate position that because they could not test on the World Cup, they could not enforce the ban at any level. We disagree and will continue to ask visitors to respect and follow our fluoro-free policy. If you have questions, feel free to email us.
How do I clean my skis to ensure they are fluoro free?
Good question! U.S. Ski & Snowboard provided a helpful guide:
Step 1 CLEANING - Clean the ski thoroughly using an appropriate fluoro cleaner. Once the cleaner dries, brush it well with a “dirty” (fluoro contaminated) brush. Repeat that process a second time. Wipe all dust off the ski with a shop towel.
Step 2 NEUTRALIZING - Wax two times with fluoro-free glide wax. Allow each application to cool thoroughly. Use “clean” (fluoro-free) tools to apply, scrape, and brush the wax.
Step 3 RACE WAXING - Use whatever fluoro-free race wax you’re planning to use. Go race fast.
Note: you may want to have dedicated “clean” (never seen fluoros) and “dirty” (previously used for fluoros) brushes for this season.
If you follow these steps it is unlikely that your skis will be 100% clean (in fact such a thing doesn’t exist), but you won’t be bringing any unfair advantages to competitions and you will have fully complied with the spirit of the fluoro-free poicy.
Where can I learn more about the research behind these policy decisions?