SKIING WITH A SMILE
The Rise and Fall of Fluorinated Ski Waxes
PART I OF IV
No fluorine, no victory.
Fluorinated ski waxes are one of the most controversial phenomena in the history of efforts to improve ski glide.
Their story is one of technological revolution, extraordinary sporting performance, enormous commercial success and, ultimately, a dramatic downfall.
But let's start at the beginning.
A Little History
The desire to improve the gliding properties of skis is probably as old as skiing itself.
Back when skis were made entirely of wood, their performance depended heavily on the selection, preparation and protection of the timber.
Water repellency, or hydrophobicity, was particularly important.
A wooden ski exposed to prolonged contact with snow and moisture could absorb water, swell and change its surface properties.
And you can probably imagine that gliding on a swelling wooden ski wasn't exactly a thrilling experience.
When choosing the right wood was no longer enough, our skiing ancestors began looking for substances that could be applied to the surface of their skis.
Various oils, impregnating mixtures and tar-based preparations were used.
Their primary purpose was often to protect the wood against moisture, although they could also affect friction between the ski and snow.
Gradually, natural waxes and paraffin-based products became established.
A technology was emerging that would accompany skiing for many decades to come.
From Paraffin to the Fluorine Revolution
Glide wax development progressed from relatively simple hydrocarbon mixtures to increasingly sophisticated formulations.
Manufacturers began experimenting with various additives designed to improve glide under specific snow conditions.
And then fluorinated technology arrived.
In the late 1980s, highly fluorinated ski treatments began to appear.
Among them was a product that would become legendary: SWIX CERA F.
And this is where our story really begins.
A story of a spectacular rise, extraordinary commercial success and, eventually, a remarkable fall.
A story of technology that changed the rules of the game.
How It All Began
Fluorinated ski waxes were something extraordinary in those days.
Either you had them, or you didn't win.
All right, perhaps that's a slight exaggeration.
But sometimes the difference really did feel that dramatic.
I still remember one particular competition.
We spent almost the entire night preparing our skis.
If I remember correctly, we were combining blue REX with a silicone-based HOLMENKOL product.
We spent several hours just trying to find the right mixing ratio.
Endless work.
Countless experiments.
Another test. Another adjustment. And yet another test.
Meanwhile, our unnamed colleagues from a wealthier ski club went out partying.
And the next morning?
Still suffering from their hangovers, they turned up at the waxing tables, sprinkled a little CERA F onto the bases of their skis and simply polished it in cold.
No all-night experiments.
No complicated alchemy.
No endless testing.
Then we started measuring.
According to the timing gates, their skis produced results that seemed almost impossible to compare with ours.
It wasn't merely a tiny improvement.
The difference felt so enormous that we might as well have been competing in two entirely different disciplines.
At least, that was my first unforgettable experience with fluorinated ski waxes.
Fluorine worked. And it worked damn well!
No Fluorine, No Victory
But there was one rather serious problem.
Fluorinated waxes didn't just deliver extraordinary results.
They also came with extraordinary price tags.
As far as I remember, ordinary hydrocarbon waxes cost something like 10, 12, 15 or 20 West German marks.
And CERA F?
That could cost around 400 marks.
These figures are based on my personal recollection, not on an official historical price list.
But the difference was certainly enormous.
So perhaps our original rule needs a little adjustment:
No fluorine, no victory.
Or, to put it a little more accurately:
No money, no victory!
When a Technological Revolution Becomes a Commercial Gold Rush
At first, the exceptionally high prices of fluorinated ski treatments may have reflected manufacturing costs, research and development, and limited production volumes.
But an extraordinarily successful technology naturally attracts both competitors and commercial opportunities.
More and more fluorinated waxes appeared on the market, offered by different manufacturers with different formulations.
Eventually, several familiar product categories became established:
- LF – Low Fluor: waxes containing relatively low concentrations of fluorinated additives.
- HF – High Fluor: waxes containing higher concentrations of fluorinated additives.
- Fluorinated topcoats: special finishing products, often supplied as powders, blocks or liquids.
Fluorinated technology also began appearing in other ski-service products.
Manufacturers developed increasingly sophisticated ski-preparation systems.
And, of course, an ever-growing number of products that could be recommended for proper preparation.
A little fluorine.
More fluorine.
Even more fluorine.
And finally, a special fluorinated finishing treatment.
Naturally, with a price tag to match.
Everything was running like clockwork.
Give it a little longer, and someone might have started adding fluorine to baby formula!
But Nothing Grows to the Sky
Fluorinated ski waxes were undoubtedly an important technological innovation.
Their performance benefits under certain conditions were real.
But gradually, questions began to emerge that could no longer be ignored.
Did increasing the amount of fluorinated additives always improve glide?
Was it really necessary to apply so many different wax layers?
Did actual performance gains justify ever-increasing prices?
And, above all:
What were the health and environmental consequences of this technological revolution?
These are the questions we will explore in the following parts.
Because, as the saying goes, nothing grows to the sky.
And the story of fluorinated ski waxes was about to take a turn that very few people could have predicted.
To be continued...