At ski races across the US, competitors are starting to abandon a type of wax that many count on for speed amid concerns that it contains toxic chemicals that threaten human health, and could reach streams and other critical groundwater sources.
The International Ski Federation, the governing body for international skiing, announced plans to ban the use of fluorinated waxes in all disciplines next season.
Those waxes contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS. They are commonplace in the environment and have been linked to a growing list of health problems.
Nordiq Canada, the governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, also prohibited high and medium-fluorinated waxes in most cross-country races this season.
The Norwegian Ski Association banned the use of fluorinated glide wax — used in both classic and skate skiing — for all athletes aged 16 or younger two years ago.
That leaves skiers to use hydrocarbon waxes on their skis.
“I’m very happy with the decision not to use it,” said Sverre Caldwell, director of the SMS T2 team of elite cross-country ski racers, including US Ski Team members, based at Stratton Mountain in Vermont. “For two reasons: one is the potential danger and the other is, anything that kind of evens the playing field is good to me. It should be the athletes racing, not the skis racing.”
The move to shift away from those particular waxes goes well beyond the professional circuit and the skiers themselves.
In Vermont, the VPA Nordic High School Coaches Association decided to stop using all fluorinated glide waxes this season, and in Maine, high-fluoro waxes were banned at the state championship.
Wax technicians, coaches and athletes have been heating the so-called fluoro waxes with irons on the base of skis and then scraping it off for years — often in wax rooms and trailers before a race.
Many now wear masks and work in highly ventilated areas and wonder if they have suffered any health problems from all that exposure to the wax.
RAIN CANCELS RACE
A men’s World Cup combined race that was canceled on Friday because of bad weather has been rescheduled for today.
The International Ski Federation said that a giant slalom initially scheduled for that day has been moved to tomorrow.
Earlier on Friday, the federation called off the Alpine combined race “due to the rain and snowfall during the night, the current weather situation and the forecast for the day.”
Today’s race would be the third and last Alpine combined race of the season.
Alexis Pinturault of France, who won the discipline title three times, leads the season standings with 180 points, followed by Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway with 112 and Loic Meillard of Switzerland with 110.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and