Effects of ski warming on ski–snow friction: some preliminary results

Some experiments were performed to determine the effect on the friction coefficient of a little temperature increase caused by a small electrical resistance inserted in different ways in a ski or a ski-like device. It appears that at a low speed, this warming is able to reduce significantly the friction coefficient. The conditions of the experiments cover only reduced speed and temperature intervals. A possible interpretation of this phenomenon is based on the modification of the quasi-liquid layer existing on the surface of snow at temperatures higher than −30°C. A wider set of parameter conditions should be analyzed to confirm this interpretation.