A short review of the interfacial energetics problems in winter sports

In all winter sports the central physical phenomenon is the friction and the interaction between the surface of the sport equipment and the ice or snow. Such an interaction is controlled empirically by material, surface geometry and finishes and it depends physically on the interfacial energy between the material (stone, wood, metal, polymer) and snow or ice. The interfacial energy must be understood in a wide sense, since adhesion, friction and wear are involved. The problem may seem relatively simple, but allowance must be made for the various materials involved, their structural details and the conditions of ice and snow. So far, the detailed study of the phenomena did not lead to a complete understanding of the relationship between chemistry and geometry of the surfaces in contact, and it is therefore just strongly empirical in character. In this report we show some critical aspects of the research on curling, ski and ice skating mechanisms and we present a possible multidisciplinary scientific approach to tackle at least some of the open problems.