What To Know About Banned ‘Forever Chemicals’ At the Olympics

After several 2026 Winter Olympic hopefuls were pulled from races for trace amounts of banned substances on their skis and snowboards, we took an interest in learning why.

EPA Calls out Wax with PFAS

In 2022, the EPA identified several high-performance ski products that contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS put people at risk for diseases like cancer when exposed to them over time. These ingredients have been used in wax for decades for lots of water-proof products because they help keep out water, and also help elite athletes perform at top speed.

It’s In the Water

Park City, Utah, is a mecca for skiers and snowboarders. Water treatment managers who collect and test water for all kinds of chemicals began to notice an uptick in these insidious chemicals, which, because they are good at evading water, also evade filtration systems. They researched other ski areas in the U.S. A 2020 study in the journal Chemosphere found elevated levels of PFAS in snow melt on cross-country courses in Maine. Connecting the dots, they realized it was the wax on the skis leaving more than tracks in the snow. PFAS were leaving chemicals behind that made their way into the soil, which is hard, maybe impossible to remediate.

What Ski Wax Techs Know

Elite athletes competing at top-level events like the Winter Games and Olympics need to have their skis and snowboards waxed and their bindings adjusted between runs. Wax techs know what works best to achieve the best results. They have to melt the hot wax, iron it on deep into the ski, scrape off excess water, and finally brush it into a smooth layer. Whether you wax tip to tail or vice versa is a matter of debate. Some experts say it doesn’t matter at all.

The Ski and Snowboard Industry Is Changing

So, the industry is at an inflection point. New companies are popping up to promote their PFA-free waxes and other products to stay in compliance and keep athletes shredding responsibly. But the wax has to be as good as the existing products, or athletes won’t adopt them for long. It’s an iterative process that requires a lot of research and development (R&D). Here’s why it matters.

PFAS Increase Risk of Cancer and Other Diseases

For men, exposure to these chemicals over time can disrupt their reproductive systems and puts them at risk for testicular and prostate cancer. An ecological study published in the journal Nature found that PFAS in drinking water increased cancer incidence in digestive, endocrine, mouth, and respiratory problems for men and women.

The quicker elite and regular weekend skiers and snowboarders make the switch, the healthier the slopes will be for the next generation.