Why Fluorinated Ski Wax Was Banned and How PFAS Affect the Environment
Fluorinated waxes helped racers chase fractions of a second. But the chemicals they left behind could outlast the snow, the season, and the race itself
What are Fluoros?
Fluoros are:
- a fluorinated synthetic wax additive
- were once prized for making skis and snowboards faster in competitions.
But:
With every run, wax wears off your base as you ride,
fluorinated waxes leave behind PFA's, often called “forever chemicals,” which break down extremely slowly, and build up and remain in the environment
with harsh, toxic effects for long after the snow melts...
This pollutes:
- ground water
- runoff-fed waterways
- soil that feeds natural flora and trees
Which ultimately contaminates the plant growth, animal foodchains, and waterways which house thousands of fish, aquatic animals and plants.
That's a big cost.
Because their speed came with an environmental cost, fluorinated waxes were banned from US competitions in 23/24.
FIS fully implemented its ban on fluorinated wax in the 2023–24 season, driven by environmental and health concerns. It was a major change for competitive skiing and snowboarding, and a reminder for everyone who tunes their gear: what goes on your bases can end up in the places you ride. [1]
If you love a fast base, but care about preserving the mountains beneath it. Here is why moving away from fluoros matters, and how your next wax choice can help:
What fluoros and PFAS actually are
“Fluoros” is the common name for fluorinated wax ingredients and treatments once sought after for their ability to repel water and dirt. These synthetic ingredients belong to the broader PFAS family, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Their water-repelling properties made them useful for racing, especially in wet conditions. [1]
PFAS include thousands of manufactured chemicals. Many break down extremely slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment. That persistence is why they are often called “forever chemicals.” [2]
The concern is not simply that an ingredient is synthetic. It is that these particular chemicals can remain and spread long after they have served their purpose.
How ski wax becomes environmental pollution
Wax does not stay on your bases forever. As skis and snowboards move across the snow, some of it wears away. With fluorinated wax, that leaves PFAS behind.
Researchers studying an outdoor recreation area after a collegiate ski race measured PFAS in melted snow, soil, and water. Their findings pointed to ski wax as the main source of PFAS contamination at that site. A separate study also examined PFAS in waxes, snowmelt, and soil at recreational skiing areas in Austria. [3, 4]
Think about what happens when winter ends. Snow melts into the ground and drains toward streams. Contamination deposited on the slopes can move with that water or remain in the soil.
The snow disappears. The pollution can remain.
This is why wax choices matter beyond race results. They can introduce persistent chemicals directly into an outdoor environment.
Why the impact can last beyond one winter
Many everyday materials gradually break down. Many PFAS resist that process, allowing contamination to persist and repeated releases to add to the problem.
Some PFAS can also accumulate in living things. EPA identifies contaminated fish as one route of human exposure and notes that PFAS can build up in animals and people over time. Pollution in water and soil therefore matters beyond the place where it first lands. [2]
PFAS are a large family, and their effects vary. The environmental concern is their combination of persistence, movement through the environment, and potential to accumulate.
Ski wax is one source among many. Choosing a different wax will not remove existing contamination, but it can prevent another avoidable contribution.
Why fluorinated wax was banned from competition
FIS fully implemented its fluorinated wax ban in the 2023–24 season after years of preparation. Environmental and health concerns were central to the decision. Testing was introduced to check compliance at competitions. [1]
That date refers to the FIS competition ban, rather than a nationwide ban on every recreational use or sale in the United States.
The lesson extends beyond racing: a performance advantage does not erase the environmental cost of the ingredients used to achieve it.
What goes into more environmentally considerate waxes
Moving away from fluoros gives you several options, but it helps to understand what the labels actually mean.
Fluoro-free wax avoids fluorinated ingredients. This addresses the specific problem of adding PFAS from fluorinated wax to the snow. It does not automatically mean the wax is plant-based or biodegradable.
Plant-based wax uses ingredients sourced from plants. Depending on the formula, these can include plant oils and waxes. For example, WEND describes its Natural Plant range as entirely plant-derived and petroleum-free. It also uses meadowfoam seed oil and wax in its wax technology. [5]
Fully plant-based formulas replace petroleum-derived ingredients with plant-derived alternatives. A blend containing one plant ingredient, however, is not necessarily entirely plant-based.
Biodegradable wax is formulated to be broken down by biological processes. How quickly that happens depends on the formula and conditions. The label should not be read as a promise that wax disappears immediately in cold mountain soil.
Look for a manufacturer that explains its ingredients and supports its environmental claims. Specific information is more useful than a broad “green” label.
The positive difference your wax choice makes
You do not need to be a racer to make a worthwhile change.
Choosing fluoro-free wax avoids adding fluorinated wax ingredients to the snow. Choosing an entirely plant-based formula also reduces reliance on petroleum ingredients in that product. Where biodegradability is supported by testing, that gives you another useful factor to consider.
These are practical choices you can repeat every time you prepare your gear. Your purchase also helps show manufacturers that customers value clear ingredient information and more responsible product development.
Care at the tuning bench matters, too. Collect wax shavings and brushing dust rather than letting them scatter outside. Even wax marketed as environmentally friendly should be handled thoughtfully.
Our commitment to a greener Racewax
At Racewax, we do not sell any fluorinated products. Period.
We are taking practical steps toward a greener Racewax, from reusing shipping materials to helping our customers understand what goes into their wax.
We want you to feel good about both the performance of your gear and the choices behind it. That means clear information, useful education, and a shared commitment to the mountains we all enjoy.
Your next wax choice is one small part of caring for those places. Together, those choices help move our sport toward a more responsible future.
Care for your bases. Care for the mountains beneath them.
Racewax
Make snow faster.
