Mysterious Invention Set to Revolutionize Skiing World

A Finnish company is causing a stir with a mysterious invention and leaving the cross-country skiing community puzzled. The inventing brothers are keeping details under wraps, while athletes are already expressing enthusiasm.

In many sports, the athletes' performance is closely connected to the quality of their equipment. This is particularly true in cross-country skiing or biathlon, where varying weather conditions can significantly influence victory or defeat. Well-prepared skis allow for smoother gliding, requiring less effort, thus enabling faster progression.

Every federation has a team of technicians responsible for preparing the equipment according to the weather and conditions, ensuring athletes can perform at their best. The competition between the various tech departments of top nations is fierce.

Mysterious Invention Stirs Cross-Country Skiing

Every team is constantly searching for advancements to gain a competitive edge over others. Recently, news has emerged about a mysterious invention that could revolutionize the skiing world—new skis that claim to make skiing easier.

Finnish cross-country skier Johanna Matintalo had the opportunity to test these skis under competition conditions. At the World Cup in Falun on March 16, 2024, she secured an impressive second place in the ten-kilometer race, contending with windy and challenging snow conditions—while using the new skis.

There was evident tension among her competitors from Sweden and Norway post-race; many experienced issues with their equipment, with complaints ranging from "sandpaper" to calling them the "worst skis of all time."

Innovation from a Finnish Brother Duo

Matintalo was ecstatic at the finish line but evasive when asked about her skis, which is unusual after such success. The reason: The 27-year-old had signed a confidentiality agreement prohibiting her from disclosing what is underneath the skis.

What exactly the new miracle skis entail remains a secret. What is known, however, is that the Finnish brothers Asa and Pasi Vironen run the ski brand Custom Ski and have developed a new, highly confidential product. The brothers are concerned about their latest invention being revealed.

High Levels of Confidentiality

The secrecy surrounding the new skis is attributed to a unique treatment applied to their underside. Despite this new innovation, the brothers remain tight-lipped. To protect their invention, they applied for a patent in Finland back in January, which is not yet fully processed.
"It’s not about waxing since no chemicals are involved in the process. It has nothing to do with grinding, patterns, or making the bottom rougher—it’s something entirely different," Pasi Vironen explained to Yle, the Finnish national public broadcasting company, adding, "It repels dirt very well. Maybe it’s best to simply call it the treatment of the attachment zone at this stage."

The entrepreneur understands that the secrecy may appear excessive but emphasizes, "It’s about preventing industrial espionage. Even a picture in the wrong hands could be fatal for us. We’ve invested a lot of money and even more time into this product."

Athletes Already Enthusiastic

It seems the investment has paid off. Swedish skier William Poromaa was able to test the new skis this summer and stated to NRK, Norway's public broadcaster: "What I can say is that something under the skis has made skiing easier."

Matintalo, now released from her confidentiality agreement, gave a clear assessment: "Best in Test" was her verdict. She believes that the product held better under race conditions towards the end than the traditional ski treatments.

Whether the skiing world is truly facing a revolution is uncertain for Swedish national coach Anders Byström: "We know too little about it. But we are a traditional sport that does what we’ve always done." However, he acknowledges that it’s a positive development for something new to emerge. The new World Cup season begins on November 29 in Ruka, where further news about the impending revolution in cross-country skiing may arise.