Hot Skis

As every skier knows, waxing a ski makes it slide more easily over snow. Applying wax to wood has become a ritual and a pseudo-science among skiers. But it may soon become a lost art. Last week Dow Chemical Co. announced the first successful all-metal ski. It needs no waxing.

Made of magnesium (aluminum proved too costly), the new, non-splintering, un-warpable slat travels a hot 10% faster than hickory on a 20DEG slope, is just as flexible. In its strength lies the new ski's lone weakness: so easily does magnesium glide over snow that herringboning or side stepping is likely to be a backsliding proposition. Once on the market (next year perhaps), the magnesium ski promises new records for the expert, extra pratfalls for the novice.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.