What is the main disadvantage of racing or competition ski base types?

 What is the main disadvantage of racing or competition ski base types?

 

For race skis the best ski base types are use. Normally three types are offered at least: race ski base for cold, wet and universal conditions. The individual types differ in many parameters (see our previous articles).

 

For rase ski base type a wide range of additives and special substances is used to optimize the gliding features under given conditions. These additives and additional substances also do differ depending on the ski type (different additives are used for cold and wet conditions of course).

 

Almost all race ski base types have one common thing: the UHMWPE matrix is filled with additives and additional substances to maximal possible extent for maximal possible performance!

 

This absolute advantage of race ski base types on the one side is the main disadvantage of race ski base types on the other side.

 

Rase ski base types are filled with additives up to the edge / to maximal possible extent for maximal possible performance. What does it mean?

 

Almost all possible free space inside the molecular structure of the ski base is already “occupied” by all possible additives. What does it mean?

 

All wax-based products (base waxes, powders, liquids, speeders etc.) rely especially on the mechanical retention in the ski base, especially in amorphous regions of the ski base. Chemical bonds of wax-based products are normally too weak.

 

Mechanical retention is so strong as many cavities inside the molecular structure can be filled with waxes. In race ski base types almost all free cavities inside the molecular structure are already filled with additives which were added in the ski base production process! What does it mean?

 

There is almost no space inside the molecular structure of race ski base types to absorb any waxes or gliding agents additionally applied. You can put them only on the surface. What does it mean?

 

You are losing the mechanical retention and your additionally applied products need to rely expecially on chemical bonds which are normally very weak!