No room for error: How wrong wax can turn snow into treacle for Olympians

In cross-country skiing, athletes must ensure they get their "kick wax" right in order to keep pace in the uphill stretches, says former biathlete Jean-Marc Chabloz

It is the one subject skiers and snowboarders cannot stop obsessing about at the Winter Olympics - how best to wax their equipment to ensure maximum speed and stability.

Get it right in the waxing shed and you can glide your way to Olympic glory. Get it wrong and the snow can turn to treacle.

In cross-country skiing, athletes must ensure they get their “kick wax” right in order to keep pace in the uphill stretches and former biathlete Jean-Marc Chabloz told Reuters there was no room for error.

“It is completely crucial, completely crucial,” the four-time Olympian said as he demonstrated the