Racing FC 739, non Fluoro, The wax that can't kill
WAXFAX PODCAST
Racing FC 739 — The Wax They Couldn't Kill
Welcome to WAXFAX… where skiing, science, speed, and controversy collide.
Today we're talking about one of the most talked-about racing waxes ever created: Racing FC 739. A product with a 55-year history tied to racing victories, Olympic success, underground technician loyalty, and performance claims so strong they made parts of the ski industry deeply uncomfortable. Because FC 739 was never built to follow the industry. It was built to outperform it.
The 1.5 Second Advantage
According to documented Hertel testing and race evaluation data, Racing FC 739 demonstrated performance gains of up to 1.5 seconds under certain racing conditions. Think about that. In elite ski racing, hundredths of a second matter, tenths of a second can win medals, and 1.5 seconds is massive. That kind of performance advantage changes races.
According to Terry Hertel, FC 739 was engineered differently from traditional race waxes. Instead of focusing only on initial acceleration, it was designed around sustained glide, speed carry, reduced drag, smoother acceleration, and lower fatigue over an entire run. The result was skis that many racers described as freer, smoother, faster, and easier to control at speed.
The Longest Lasting Wax Most Racers Ever Experienced
But speed was only part of the story. One of the most revolutionary aspects of Racing FC 739 was durability. According to Hertel testing and decades of rider feedback, FC 739 was capable of lasting up to seven days under many skiing conditions.
Seven days. Most race waxes are lucky to maintain peak performance for a single day. Many begin fading after only a few runs. FC 739 was designed differently — with deep penetration into the base, smoother long-term glide, reduced friction over time, and durability under aggressive snow conditions. For racers, technicians, and serious skiers, that meant less rewaxing, more consistency, lower maintenance, and more confidence run after run.
Why the Industry Reacted
When an independent product begins outperforming established systems, politics usually follow. According to Terry Hertel, FC 739 developed a quiet but powerful following among racers and technicians because the product simply worked. Many technicians privately blended or used Hertel products because: "It makes our skis work."
But Racing FC 739 was never backed by giant corporate marketing budgets or multinational ski conglomerates. In fact, Hertel believes products like FC 739 were heavily suppressed by dominant industry players for decades because they challenged the traditional wax business model.
The Industry Changed — Social Media Changed Everything
For decades, large companies controlled advertising, race exposure, dealer networks, magazine coverage, and ski shop influence. Independent innovators often struggled to be seen. But modern social media changed the game. Today, skiers and snowboarders can finally hear directly from inventors, technicians, racers, independent manufacturers, and real users on snow.
And because of that, products like Racing FC 739 are experiencing renewed recognition from a new generation of riders searching for genuine performance instead of marketing hype.
Built From 55 Years of Snow Science
Since 1974, Terry Hertel has focused on understanding snow friction, water management, surface tension, glide consistency, rider fatigue, and real-world mountain performance. FC 739 became one of the highest-performance expressions of that research. Not designed for trends. Designed for results.
The Legacy Lives On
Today, Racing FC 739 remains one of the most legendary products in Hertel history because people remember what it felt like on snow. The glide. The carry. The smoothness. The durability. The feeling that the skis simply would not slow down.
Some products survive because of advertising. Others survive 55 years because they work.
This has been WAXFAX. The stories behind the speed.