For ecological considerations, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has imposed a 
prohibition on the use of fluorinated waxes in ski and snowboard race preparation. Current
substitutes exhibit inferior friction-reducing properties. This assessment aims to corroborate
frictional performance in both laboratory-based evaluations and field trials. The evaluation 
employs a categorical approach, introducing incremental considerations for cost, lead time, and 
representativeness of actual competition conditions.
Traditional base material in snowboards, Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene 
(UHMWPE), serves as the baseline. Insights from aerospace investigations indicate that polymer 
composite structures with fibers aligned in the normal direction (NOFRC) exhibit performance in 
environments involving ice adhesion suggesting potential suitability for the cold and wet 
conditions characteristic of ski and snowboard competitions. Laboratory examinations include
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), tribometer 
tests utilizing a ball-on-disk linear tribometer (Anton-Paar TRB3 tribometer), contact angles, and 
time trials on High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) synthetic ice. 
Field testing incorporates the use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) alongside 50-meter 
time trials conducted by athletes. Comparative analysis is conducted utilizing metrics such as 
surface energy, material composition, surface roughness values, coefficients of friction, and trial 
time. The findings reveal that, under conditions of dry friction and elevated temperatures, NOFRC 
demonstrates favorable tribological effects. However, UHMWPE emerges as the superior�performing material across all low temperatures and moisture instances. The consistency of 
categorical evaluations throughout the testing environments provides a valuable framework for 
appraising potential material alternatives for snowboard bases.