The International Skiing and Snowboarding Federation (FIS) has presented the fluor test procedure and protocol for enforcing the fluor ban for the upcoming winter. Before starting a race, those skiers who receive a red light may not start. The skier’s skis can also be tested again after the competition. If the skis test ‘red,’ the athlete will be disqualified.

Read More – The fluor ban: “We will only have ‘green’ skis.”

Since May, the experienced wax tech Stein Olav Snesrud has been employed as a full-time fluor-free coordinator in the Norwegian Ski Association to ensure that no Norwegian athletes are caught for illegal fluor use.

For several years, Snesrud has worked closely with developing the test equipment to check the skis during the races and with testing new procedures to clean skis and equipment previously in contact with fluor. Now, he discusses the guidelines and suggestions for cleaning skis and equipment. 

The article continues below.

How to clean skis and equipment 

This is what the former head of waxing for the Norwegian national cross-country skiing teams says about the fluor ban. 

“The most important thing we can do now is to get information out to cross-country skiing Norway about how the testing will take place and how they should prepare. It’s a lot about de-dramatizing it all,” says Snesrud to Langrenn.com and adds: 

“For those who have only used fluor-free products, this is nothing to worry about. But those who have a bunch of skis on which a lot of fluor has been used before, those are the ones who have a job to do now.”

And precisely for those who have skis and equipment on which fluor has previously been used, Snesrud has created a procedure for how such equipment should be cleaned to avoid fluor control problems.  

“What we see is that it is often not enough to clean a ski once,” says Snesrud, and explains: 

“We can clean a ski and have it test ‘green.’ But fluor is a type of substance that reaches the surface so that where there is more fluor in the base material, more fluor can emerge even if the ski has tested ‘green.’” 

If fluor in the base material comes to the surface during a competition, the ski may show traces of fluor when tested after the finish. This means that a ski approved as fluor-free before the start can still result in a disqualification.

Furthermore, Snesrud has experienced that grinding skis is not enough to eliminate traces of fluor. 

“Grinding skis as a method of cleaning skis has so far not produced good enough results,” he says.

Therefore, Snesrud recommends cleaning the skis carefully at least twice and repeating the process a couple more times before the season starts. He also points out that working only with fluor-free products is essential for cleaning, training, and transport.  

Also Read: FIS commits to fluor-free competitions with a full waxing ban from 2023/2024 season. 

How to clean traces of fluor on your skis and equipment

Cleaning fluor from skis and equipment is relatively easy but requires time and accuracy, Snesrud states. He also points out that cleaning clothes and bags, surfaces, and waxing places where fluor has been used is important. 

A good approach is to start cleaning the most extensive surfaces, such as ceilings, walls, and wax tables. 

“If you don’t do this, there is a risk of larger surfaces being contaminated on the road, which means that you have to redo the process several times to have control,” says Snesrud.

Waxing room/trailers

You must start with the largest surfaces to ensure the best possible result. The most important thing is to remove all dust particles from the equipment using a vacuum cleaner.

Clean the wax box

• Remove all fluor-containing products
• Vacuum and clean all surfaces 
• Use fluor-free waxing cleaner for cleaning 

“Also, remember to clean equipment according to the recommendation below before putting equipment back in place,” says Snesrud.

Equipment

Equipment can be cleaned using both compressed air and a vacuum cleaner. If you use compressed air, this must not be done in the already-cleaned waxing room.

Brushes: Soak the brushes with fluor-free glide cleaner, then allow the brush to dry before using compressed air to blow away the dust particles and a vacuum cleaner to collect the particles.

Softer brushes, rotor brushes, and rotor fleece (used for powder and liquid) are more challenging to clean. It is recommended to replace this equipment with new equipment instead of cleaning them.

Scraper: Clean with fluor-free glide cleaner.

Iron: Clean the iron by applying fluor-free wax to a hot iron and wipe over with clean paper.

The article continues below.

Skis

Grinding skis as a method of cleaning skis has so far not given good enough results. After grinding, waxing and re-heating the fluor-free wax several times is still recommended.

Start by cleaning the skis at least twice with fluor-free glide cleaner. Brush between cleaning, and let the ski dry after the last use of fluor-free glide cleaner. Wipe all surfaces of the skis. Brush the base well with a fine wire brush.

Then, wax and heat fluor-free wax and scrape off the wax at least twice. Be careful only to use fluor-free wax and equipment here. Use a gliding wax that is easy to work with (ideally, start with a soft wax and then hard wax), and most importantly, check that it is fluor-free.

REMEMBER: If you have fluor wax under your skis, you must be extra careful when removing this and doing the first cleaning so as not to contaminate the further process. This also applies after you have done the first fluor-free glide cleaning and applied fluor-free wax for the first time. 

It is recommended that you use fluor-free wax on all skis used for training at the start of the season, clean the skis with fluor-free glide cleaner, and use fluor-free wax after the skis have been used. The skis will then be clean and ready for competition with fluor-free wax.

Ski bags

Carefully clean the bag with compressed air and a vacuum cleaner. If the ski bag has been used to transport skis with products containing high fluor, they should also be cleaned with fluor-free glide cleaner.

Wax boxes/drawers

Thoroughly clean all boxes/drawers by vacuuming up all particles, compressed air, and cleaning with fluor-free gliding cleaner.

Working clothes

Wash all working clothes and aprons before starting to use fluor-free products. Contamination from dusty clothes and aprons is a significant danger.

Fluor-free products

Be careful that only certified fluor-free products are used. Contact the wax supplier if you are in doubt.

Do not use “unofficial” products with their external additives if you are unsure of their content. Experience from FIS indicates that many products contain prohibited fluor additives.

Still trying to figure out what to do before winter?  

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) prepared guidelines & suggestions about cleaning methods that you can read HERE.