2023-10-31 03:46:00
Fluor-Eklat
Do amateur athletes now have to do without ski wax?
A good ski wax is essential for winter sports lovers. However, the miracle drug fluorine is now banned in elite sports. Is the winter season in danger for amateur athletes?
von
Janina Schenker
Shanice Bösiger
Published31. October 2023, 04:46
This season a ban on wax containing fluorine was introduced in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
IMAGO/Action Plus
Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel became the first racer to be removed from the race on Saturday because of fluorine content on her skis.
IMAGO/NTB
The regulations only apply to all FIS levels up to the World Cup.
IMAGO/Mattiax Radonix
Currently, every sports store is allowed to sell fluoro wax.
Imago
However, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) advises avoiding fluorine waxes.
IMAGO/Panthermedia
Don’t worry, according to chemist Stefan Jung, you’ll be on the slopes quickly even without fluorine.
imago images/U. J. Alexander
Two brands that are revolutionizing wax development are the Swiss company Toko from St. Gallen and Swix.
imago images/Hentschel
According to various ski wax offers, waxes without fluorine are even cheaper.
IMAGO/Eibner
This season a ban on wax containing fluorine was introduced in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
The regulations apply to all FIS levels up to the World Cup, but not to amateur athletes.
Cheminfo.ch fundamentally advises against using ski wax containing fluorine.
Fluorine is harmful to the environment and the body in excessive concentrations.
The ski sports association FIS has for top-class sport Waxes containing fluorine are prohibited, there has already been a disqualification because of this. What does this mean for amateur athletes? What else am I allowed to do and what am I not allowed to do? What alternatives are there? And how dangerous is such wax actually for me and the environment? We have clarified the most important questions for you.
What happened?
Because waxes containing fluorine are carcinogenic and harmful to the environment, the international ski association FIS has banned them for the World Cup season. Athletes who have too much fluorine on their skis will be disqualified. Just two days after the opening the World Cup season This happened to the Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel: she was disqualified because of increased fluorine levels during a control.
So am I no longer allowed to wax my skis?
Yes, most of them are for popular sports Fluorine waxes still allowed, every sports store can sell them. So-called PFCA and PFOS compounds in waxes are already banned in Switzerland.
However, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) advises avoiding fluorine waxes. As long as such waxes can still be used by the general public, the safety and usage instructions from Cheminfo.ch apply: “Only use them outdoors or in well-ventilated rooms. Always store chemical products out of the reach of children. Dispose of ski waxes at collection points or disposal centers and not in garbage bags.”
Are the fluorine-containing waxes harmful to health?
“When hot waxes are applied, mist and smoke are created, so wax ingredients can enter the body via the respiratory tract,” warns the BAG. According to Cheminfo.ch, sprayable wax products or abrasion work can also lead to the absorption of wax ingredients.
According to the BAG, acute health symptoms rarely occur after the use of lubricating waxes containing fluorocarbon. “Long-term health consequences from fluorocarbon compounds include increased cholesterol levels, negative effects on hormonal balance, reproduction and the immune system,” says the website. Furthermore, some substance compounds are classified as “possibly carcinogenic”. Since most fluorocarbon compounds are difficult to break down and excrete, they accumulate in the body over time, increasing their harmfulness.
Do all conventional ski waxes contain fluorine?
No, not all waxes contain fluorine. Alternatives are silicone additives. According to ex-ski racer Danielüger, they were there until 1989, then they switched to fluoro – and now they’re back again. Two brands that are revolutionizing wax development are the Swiss company Toko from St. Gallen and Swix. These two companies develop wax without fluorine.
Are the alternatives more expensive?
No, according to various ski wax offers, waxes without fluorine are actually cheaper. Already in 2021, the former coach at Swiss-Ski Adriano Iseppi told SRF that wax with fluorine was just expensive and not necessary.
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