Putting more science into ski waxing

- EN - FR
Because of the friction between skis and snow, the choice of skis and wax has a
Because of the friction between skis and snow, the choice of skis and wax has a major influence on the performance of elite athletes. Image pixabay

A Laval University research team has developed a system to help elite cross-country skiers choose the best ski-wax combination.

In cross-country skiing, a bad wax can lose you a race, and a good wax can help you reach the podium. That’s how important waxing is in this discipline. In an article just published in the journal Sports Engineering, researchers at Laval University present a system they have designed to help waxing specialists choose the best ski/wax combination for elite athletes.

"Currently, the choice of ski-wax combination is based on the expertise of waxing specialists, on the results of glide tests carried out on the slopes on race day, and on the "sensations" of skiers during pre-race trials".points out one of the study’s authors, Julien Lépine , professor in the Operations and Decision Systems Department at Université Laval, a mechanical engineer and former university-level cross-country skier.

This works in the vast majority of cases, but it can sometimes lead to poor choices that impact on athlete performance," he continues. "In addition, waxing ’recipes’ were developed using waxes containing fluorinated compounds. These waxes are now banned and we have to adapt to new waxing products. We’re back to square one."

To bring a little more science to the art of waxing, Professor Lépine, student researcher Nicolas Quirion Cantin and Professor André Bégin-Drolet of the Mechanical Engineering Department designed and built a tribometer to measure the friction forces between skis and snow.


Their system comprises a carriage mounted on skis, on which a load simulating a skier is installed. "The cart is connected to a winch, and we measure the force required to set the cart in motion and move it forward at a given speed," explains Professor Lépine.

This system was tested in March 2023 on an experimental track installed on the Université Laval campus as part of the Nordic Campus activities. "The prototype works well and has produced interesting results that have enabled us to simplify the testing protocol," sums up the researcher.

"Our tribometer is not intended to replace waxing specialists, but to provide them with data that will make their work easier. "

-- Julien Lépine In theory, this tribometer could be used before a competition to test different waxes on different ski models in given snow conditions. Our tribometer is not intended to replace waxing specialists," insists Professor Lépine, "but to provide them with data that will facilitate their work. We believe that our system could help them choose the ski-wax combination that will enable athletes to deliver the best possible performance."