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Hertel Wax: Innovating Wax Chemistry for Over 50 Years   Two big advances in ski wax chemistry—the use of surfactants and fluorocarbons—initially took place out in the open and away from the alpine World Cup circuit.   Terry Hertel was a recreational skier from Northern California. He had made his investment money during Silicon Valley's computer boom and in 1972 created an electric waxing drum he called the Original HotWaxer for home use. To go with it, he embarked on a research program to create a line of all-temperature waxes. As a Lake Tahoe skier, Hertel was fascinated with the...