Leonid Kuzmin

Dirt absorption on the ski running surface - quantification and influence on the gliding ability

We propose a thesis that minimising dirt on the running surface of skis improves the surface glide. Waxing usually improves the gliding ability of skis in the short term. But how does waxing affect pollution absorption in the long term? In this study a number of skis with a transparent base and a white background were treated by steel scraping and with different glide waxes. The gliding ability of waxed and unwaxed skis, the sliding surface whiteness and the hydrophobicity were tested and documented. Tests were performed before and after the skis had been used for different distances. It was observed that all the waxed skis (regardless of the wax used) absorbed more dirt than unwaxed, and as a result all waxed skis lose their glide ability sooner than unwaxed (freshly scraped) skis in wet snow conditions.

The relationship between the type of machining of the ski running surface and its wettability and capillary drag

This paper considers the mechanically treated dry ski running-surface. The difference in the shear wettability of ski running-surfaces treated using different types of machining was studied by measuring the advanced and receding contact angles on two different ski base materials. The hypotheses regarding relationship between the shear wettability and the capillary drag of ski running-surface have been presented. The study found that ski running-surfaces with a lower roughness (e.g. flattened by a steel drum or sliced) have a lower wettability factor and seem to be more effective in reducing capillary drag under homogenous wetting conditions.

Hot Glide Wax Treatment and the Hardness of the Ski Running Surface

In the cross country skiing community, hot wax treatment of the ski running surface (SRS) is used in order to influence the surface hardness of the skis in relation to the hardness of the snow crystals. This is discussed in a number of scientific papers and recommended in almost every ski waxing manual. The general idea is to decrease (soften) the surface hardness by the use of a soft glide wax treatment for wet snow conditions and to increase (harden) the hardness of the surface by a hard (synthetic) glide wax treatment for cold, dry snow conditions. The question is; does the hot glide wax treatment of the ski running surface influence the surface hardness? And if so, in what way?