C8 fluoro waxes would be legal in Beijing – unlike in Europe. But there is no point in using them, says leading coach on the ground in China

C8 fluoro waxes would be legal in Beijing – unlike in Europe. But there is no point in using them, says leading coach on the ground in China

Gear News, Newsfeed
The scandal around the use of ski waxes containing banned C8 fluorocarbons , at the Scandinavian Cup in Falun keeps on flaring. Perfluorooctanoic acid known colloquially as C8 is banned in the European Union , Norway and Switzerland to name but a few. Therefore using it in ski waxes is illegal as of 2021 - both in FIS and IBU competitions since those take place in Europe, almost exclusively. There are three problems with that: - C8s do give advantage in certain situations - at least that's what majority (not all) ski waxers are saying - Anyone who is anyone in xcskiing had amassed a lifetime supply of very expensive C8 lubricants and is not terribly keen to just throw it away - Most importantly,there is still no reliable detection…
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Planica gets cancelled too. Time to talk changes?

Planica gets cancelled too. Time to talk changes?

Newsfeed
The second stage in a row of the FIS World Cup 2021/22 just got folded. The Planica cancellation announcement mirrors that of Les Rousses: COVID fears, " safety of stakeholders cannot be guaranteed" etc. etc. ". Meanwhile, a double weekend of mass skiing just finished in nearby South Tyrol - including two Visma Ski Classics races. Without a hitch. Meanwhile, the IBU Junior Biathlon Cup event is about to kick off in Pokljuka. Is it in some different Slovenia than the one where Planica is located by any chance? Perhaps it is a time to start openly saying that the current system whereas national ski federation and LOCa (local organising committees) hold all the cards and can pull the plug at any moment, is antiquividated? Yes, if words become deeds…
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Les Rousses World Cup stage cancelled – organisers admit it could have been held, but …too much trouble. And who are we to blame them?

Les Rousses World Cup stage cancelled – organisers admit it could have been held, but …too much trouble. And who are we to blame them?

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
The Les Rousses World Cup scheduled for January 14 to 16 is canceled It's the first time in the " Covid era" when the major event is not cancelled on the direct order from local health authorities - but because, you know, things don't quite add up, the troubles outweigh the gains. The organizers of would-be Les Rousses stage are quite blunt: "...The presence of spectators would entail the implementation of substantial technical and human resources to ensure the health security ...In addition to the concern for the health of the teams on the eve of an event not to be missed, Jura Ski Events also fears the financial consequences...” It's not a secret that financials of the most FIS World Cup stages were iffy even in those blessed pre-Covid…
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Rumor Mill: Fischer Speedmax Helium

Rumor Mill: Fischer Speedmax Helium

Newsfeed
Fischer is about to roll out a new model of race skis called Speedmax Helium. It will sit a notch above currently top-shelf Speedmax 3D. The very word helium hints at some tinkering with trapped noble gas bubbles but we don't know for sure so won't speculate. We won't reveal what color palette the Austrians chose, we found it rather surprising - but that's a matter of taste, clearly. Our sources - multiple - expressed their concern at expected price sticker that would put Helium into unchartered uber-premium category. Having said that, here on Dailyskier.com we always argued for a need of uber-premium products that would attract attention of well-off customers the way Rolex watch attracts them. It would be expected that selected few athletes would run on Heliums at…
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IOC recommends ignoring testosterone levels in female athletes. It is relevant- xcskiers often have very high ones

IOC recommends ignoring testosterone levels in female athletes. It is relevant- xcskiers often have very high ones

Leaders, Newsfeed
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a new framework policy regarding allowing transgender athletes to compete. With that the IOC is basically saying goodbye to its old policy, that said transgender athletes would be allowed to compete only provided their testosterone levels were below a certain limit for at least 12 months before their first competition. It's a big move. The World Athletics, for instance, now has a set of rules for female athletes requiring them to have levels of testosterone in their blood under 5 nanomoles per liter of blood (5 nmol/L) - or lower it by taking medications. As of today it applies only on 400m to 1 mile - nonetheless, it's a harsh barrier and does have a relation to skiing: World's best female xcskiers routinely…
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