Utah's famed Park City ski resort bans certain brands of ski wax due to ... trends now
Famed ski area Park City has chosen to ban ski wax containing toxic ‘forever chemicals’ after contaminants were discovered in local drinking water.
The ban in the small Utah city - just east of Salt Lake City - applies to fluorinated wax, also known as ‘fluro-wax’, which reduces the friction between the surface of the ski base and the snow. This increases speed and makes turns smoother.
Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a class of synthetic compounds that don't break down when released into the environment. They are found on many household goods, such as non-stick pans, food packaging and stain-resistant gear.
These chemicals have been linked to kidney and liver damage, cancers, fertility problems, and thyroid issues. Federal officials are set to crack down on their prevalence in drinking water in the coming weeks.
It has been long known these chemicals are in fluro-wax, but concerns were raised when they were found to be contaminating the city's drinking water last June.
Ski wax industry leader SWIX ceased including harmful PFAS in its waxes as of 2021 so as to be in compliance with the ban for the 2021-2022 season set in place by the International Ski Federation and U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the Canadian Ski Association
Park City caters to recreational skiers as well as competitive skiers and contains several training courses for the U.S. Ski Team,
Park City’s Recycle Utah and representatives at the White Pine Touring Center are encouraging skiers to drop off their contaminated ski waxes for disposal.
The move to ban fluro-wax is not unprecedented. Preeminent racing organizations have already taken steps to phase out the use of problematic chemicals in ski wax.
The International Ski Federation and US Ski & Snowboard and the Canadian Ski Association banned many fluorinated waxes ahead of the 2021 season.
It was also banned at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games last year.
The wax hit shelves more than 30 years ago and was unparalleled in its ability to turbocharge cross-country and alpine skiing.
Ski wax cuts friction between the skis and the snow, which slows the skier down.
After PFAS was found in Park City's groundwater last year, officials said they would soon move to protect the local community.
Michelle de Haan, the city's water quality and treatment manager, told read more from dailymail.....
