A Study of the Physics of Cross-Country Skiing

Unfortunately, due to time constraints I was unable to preform any tests related to the classic stride. I had planned on using a force sensor to collect data for the kick and setting of the kick wax onto the snow. While skiing if the kick isn't preformed in the right way there isn't enough friction and the foot slides backwards. I wanted to research why this is. I believe it has to do with the characteristics of static friction. The force of friction depends on the materials and the force that is being exerted down or the normal force. The kick of this foot is the normal force. If the kick isn't strong enough the normal force is smaller causing the force of friction to be less than the forces opposing it and so the foot slips.