Temperature effects of black versus white polyethylene bases for snow skis

Basal temperatures of skis were measured to assess the impact of color on basal energy balance. The skis were identical except one had a black base and the other had a white base. The black-based ski ran at higher temperatures than the white-based ski, even when only diffuse sunlight was reaching the snow surface. Heat production calculations suggest that solar radiation absorption at a ski base can contribute significantly to the production of the meltwater film on which skis glide. Since ski-base color affects the energy balance of the base, color should affect ski friction.