The final ban on fluorinated wax has forced Norwegians to seriously look for a viable alternative that would give Norwegian skiers and biathletes gap again.
«The goal is to make the world's fastest cross-country skis without fluorine», says Audun Formo Buene, associate professor at NTNU's Department of Chemistry.
NOK 30 million (around €260,000) has already been allocated for the project. Swix, Madshus and Olympiatoppen are participating.
«Well, we've been set back a couple of decades, and we need to find something better to make the world's fastest skis again», says Stein Olav Snærud, spokesman for the Norwegian Ski Association.
Regarding quick results, the scientist is quite sceptical: «I don’t think there is any hope that we will make any contribution to the upcoming World Cup, but perhaps the result will be there by next season», says Formo Buene.
