mountainFLOW
mountainFLOW makes plant-based, biodegradable ski and snowboard wax for all rider levels. Founded in 2016, the company sources raw materials from North American forests to cut toxic chemical runoff into alpine streams. Their wax works down to -20°F. They run a free take-back program for used tins.
The Story
In 2016, backcountry skier Josh Kriz grew frustrated with the toxic, chemical-heavy ski waxes that dominated the market. The standard products left greasy residue on snow, irritated his skin after 10-hour days on the mountain, and released harmful perfluorinated compounds that persisted in alpine ecosystems for decades. He began mixing plant-based formulas in his small Bend, Oregon garage, testing combinations of beeswax, coconut oil, and other natural ingredients to build a high-performance alternative that wouldn’t sacrifice grip or glide for environmental safety.
Early testing was full of setbacks. The first batches melted too quickly in warm spring conditions, failed to grip icy morning slopes, and left a waxy buildup that required extra scraping to remove. Kriz spent two years refining his recipe, working with material scientists at a local university to test how different natural compounds performed across temperature ranges from -20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. He also faced pushback from industry insiders who claimed plant-based waxes could never match the durability of traditional fluorinated products, and struggled to secure small-batch manufact...
