Several years ago, Nordic skiers were all excited about “skin” skis. They marveled at how well these skis performed. Diehard skate and classic waxable skiers were being converted to new technology. These skis were much faster and quieter than no-wax skis. Skin skis took the hassle out of getting “kick” wax right, especially in variable conditions. They might not outperform waxable skis, but they came close. They were the new ski on the block — everyone had to have a pair.
What are “skin” skis? The original ones were used by Scandinavian hunters in the 1800s. They attached seal skins to the bottom of a short ski for grip and traction while using a longer ski for glide. That’s how they negotiated the snow and ice of their hunting grounds.
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