Wax is essential to surfingboards, providing your feet traction when standing up and your body while paddling around.
Selecting wax appropriate to the water temperature is of utmost importance. Different brands and products work best at specific temperatures; be sure to read all product instructions prior to applying any of them to your board.
Clean the Board
Surfers understand the significance of keeping their board clean – it will extend its lifespan and enhance performance, so whether just beginning or experienced, cleaning it regularly is crucial to staying on the water and surfing!
Always rinse off after each session to rid your board of saltwater deposits that may remain. Doing this helps prevent any stains from building up on its surface and makes wiping off easier.
Once your board has been cleaned, use coconut oil to condition and protect it for optimal results. This will give it a glossy sheen while preventing scale or dirt accumulation on its deck surface.
Start by scraping off all of the old wax from your board, either by placing it directly in sunlight or using a hair dryer to melt it – either will soften and make scraping easier with a wax comb.
Use WD40 cleaner to thoroughly penetrate any crevices on the surfboard, or purchase pickle wax remover from a surf shop to completely decontaminate it after it has been rinsed off.
Surfboard wax is highly durable and will withstand repeated use without disintegrating; however, at some point it must be removed to maintain peak performance of your board and look its best. Cleaning after each session is key in maintaining its appearance and functionality at its highest levels.
Before beginning, you’ll require a warm water wax comb with both serrated and smooth flat edges – one side for making diagonal cuts in wax that extend its longevity, and one with smooth flat edges – on either end of it. This tool will enable you to make cuts that prevent large chunks of it peeling away at once.
Wax combs can also come in handy for scraping off old wax from your board, as they make it easy to reach all those hard-to-reach places on its rails. Furthermore, surfboard cleaner can help eliminate any additional dirt or grit.
Apply the Base Coat
A base coat is the first layer of wax you will apply to your surfboard, which serves to hold its top coat in place and provide more traction while surfing.
Apply this layer in a gentle circular motion for maximum bump formation in your basecoat, providing more traction as you ride waves.
Note that over time the base coat will wear away, so to get maximum use out of your board it is wise to apply a fresh layer each time before heading out surfing. This will help ensure that it stays looking its best and stays looking good as long as possible!
There are various different kinds of wax available, each designed to work best in its respective environment. When selecting your wax, consider which conditions you are most likely to surf under: cold water wax may remain more stable under these circumstances than warmer waxes; for instance, cold water waxes tend to stay in place better in cooler water than warmer waxes, which have more difficulty staying put when exposed to warmer waters.
Many surfers favor waxes that best suit their style of surfing. If you are an aggressive surfer, for instance, then using sticky wax will provide optimal grip when riding waves.
Frustrating surf wax choices such as Fu Wax have long been touted by professional surfers for providing optimal grip. There are various options available; many pro surfers have praised its traction capabilities as an example.
If you are new to surf or are uncertain which wax will best meet your individual needs, it would be beneficial to visit a surf shop and speak to their representatives. They will recommend suitable options.
Wax should be applied evenly across your surfboard’s deck from tail to nose; longboarders usually walk their board, so applying wax where their feet usually rest will enhance its effectiveness.
Apply the Top Coat
Waxing a surfboard requires using the appropriate product and applying it appropriately; this process may seem complex but is essential to its success.
Clean the board thoroughly to remove dirt or debris and this will enable the wax to adhere more easily to its surface. Next, begin applying your top coat of wax.
To do this, position one edge of a bar of wax against the board surface and rub in small circles until bumps appear on it. Continue this process until your entire board is covered in small circles.
Use this technique on any type of board, but longboards in particular. It gives a firm grip that will also prevent it from moving when shifting your feet.
Once your top coat has been applied, use a wax comb to wipe away any excess wax – this will leave your board looking shiny and clean!
Select the most appropriate wax based on water temperature and level of “stick.” A stickier wax will provide greater traction, yet can inhibit how you move on the board. A sticky wax that’s too sticky could make moving feet on it difficult, leading to slips or falls if used on too thick of a board surface.
Softer wax will allow your feet to remain on the board without making it too slippery, while also helping ensure it sticks firmly to the water’s surface and doesn’t slip when surfing.
It is essential when applying a top coat of surf wax that it be done lightly and consistently; otherwise, too much wax could end up on your board and distorting its shape. In addition, all sections should receive equal coverage with wax.
Apply the Pattern
Surf wax is an integral component of every surfer’s toolbox, whether they specialize in longboarding, shortboarding or freesurfing. Without it, takeoffs and turns would become very challenging without grip – not only that but surf wax also protects decks while adding visual enhancement.
There are various kinds of surf wax available, and choosing the one best suited to you depends on several different factors – for instance your water temperature, personal preferences or budget, as well as grippiness of both base and top coat waxes.
To choose a surf wax, first assess the condition of your board deck. If any areas contain worn, dry, or flaky areas that need to be cleared away prior to applying new layers.
In order to clean off the remaining wax from your board, a wax comb (like the one shown below), paper towels, and some clean water is all you’ll need. After wiping down, ensure to wipe down your board to remove any remaining debris.
If using a bar of base coat wax, apply it directly onto the flat part of your board’s deck, taking care not to get any around its rails or curves. Make small hand-sized circles before repeating until all areas of your board have been covered with the coating.
Step two is to rub the edges of the bar of base coat wax diagonally across each line in an undulating diagonal motion for three to five passes per line, and perpendicularly across those same lines to form a crosshatch pattern. As always, it is up to you what looks and feels right; just be sure that the entire deck is covered and don’t hesitate to use more of your bar if wider lines reminiscent of crosshatching designs are desired.
Once the application process is complete, spray your board with cool water to help the application adhere more securely and prepare for your session. Finally, add another coat of soft top-coat wax in an alternating diamond-pattern over what was created previously in step four.
Waxing your board may not be easy, but with proper execution it should make sessions much simpler and more enjoyable! Just follow these guiding steps below and nothing should stand in your way!