So you’ve got the surf bug and want to make sure you have the best possible sesh every time you paddle out. A great way to ensure quality surfing is to make sure your board is properly waxed.
So how far up your surfboard should you put wax? If you’re waxing a longboard, wax from the nose to the tail. For a shortboard, start approximately two thirds of the way down the board and wax to the tail. Think about where you stand and where your feet need grip. Remember to always keep the wax away from the rails.
Why Is Waxing A Surfboard Important?
Wax on a surfboard is essential because it provides the surfer with grip and traction. Without wax, a surfer can slip off their board much more easily. For this reason, properly applying wax can be the difference between riding a wave and wiping out.
Waxing a surfboard is easy and you can greatly improve the quality of the adherence by reducing slip potential with a few steps of preparation.
Surfboard wax is more important than ever. Both old and new school surfers and demand a tight grip between their feet and the surfboard, so a perfect wax job is often necessary. Both simple and more advanced surfing maneuvers benefit from a properly waxed up surfboard. However, the temperature of the water, hardness of the wax, and natural or synthetic materials can vary depending on a surfer’s needs.
What Supplies Do I Need To Wax A Board?
First thing’s first, if you’re going to wax your board you’re going to need some supplies. To wax a surfboard you’ll need one bar of base coat or tropical water wax, one bar of temperature-appropriate wax for the top coat, a wax comb or plastic scraper, some liquid wax dissolver and surfboard wax removal.
Surf wax is not a one-size-fits-all product, so be careful about what you purchase. There are different waxes depending on where you’ll be surfing and its physical environment. It’s the water temperature that will determine the type of wax you’ll want to buy for your topcoat. In warm water, you want to use hard wax with a high melting temperature. In colder conditions, you’re looking for a softer wax with a low melting temperature. Follow the temperature guide listed on the surf wax package and you’ll be set.
What’s The Best Way To Wax A Surfboard?
The best way to wax a surfboard is to first remove old wax from the surfboard deck using the wax comb. Then, clean the remaining wax residue off with a wax remover, until your deck is glossy. Apply the base coat wax over the surfboard with your technique of choice until you get small bumps. Pick the right topcoat wax for the water temperature you’re surfing in. Then, in your next surf session, remember to comb your deck and add the extra layer of topcoat wax that was lost in the previous surf. You should remove and clean all of the wax on your surfboard every two months. Surfboard wax loses its gripping properties with the passing of time, even if you don’t surf regularly.
What Are Some Different Ways To Apply The Basecoat?
When it comes to getting the basecoat to stick onto the board, surfers tend to use different techniques; sometimes in isolation, sometimes in combination.
The Circle pattern is when you rub the wax onto the board in small circles, moving up and down the board until bumps start forming. The Straight line pattern is when you rub the wax onto the board in straight lines up and down the board, parallel to the rocker. The Crosshatch or Criss-Cross pattern is when you rub the wax onto the board on a diagonal, and then perpendicular to that diagonal, completing a crosshatch pattern. Another is Kitchen sink or Random where you rub the wax onto the board in any direction, using any of the patterns listed above or making your own.
Which Wax Technique Is The Best?
There are many successful surfboard waxing techniques. Generally, the most popular ones are Criss-Cross, Random and Circular rubbing. All of these techniques are effective; just make sure you never apply new wax over an old, dirty, sandy or less sticky layer.
Although there is not an official method of applying wax, the rule of thumb is to always try to get a few horizontal strips of wax layered from the nose to the tail of the surfboard. This will prevent your feet from moving up and down inadvertently. Feel free to experiment with different waxing techniques to figure out which one works best for you! After all, everyone has different preferences.
Is There Any Prep I Need To Do Before Waxing?
Why yes there is! First of all you’re going to have to clean your board unless you’re waxing a brand new board, of course. Leave your board with the wax exposed to the sun for about five minutes. Then use the thin side of your wax comb or plastic scraper, make long straight lines up and down your board until you’ve removed your surf wax. If you don’t have enough sun to help melt your old wax, use a bit of liquid wax remover to help remove the excess wax.
How Do You Apply A Basecoat?
If you are using a longboard, wax the entire topside of the board from nose to tail and edge to edge. If you are using a shortboard, wax the topside of the board from the front logo to the back edge (about two thirds of the length) and from edge to edge. You can get by just fine without a basecoat wax, but your wax won’t last as long. If your board doesn’t have the right basecoat, the topcoat won’t stick to the board, leaving you with a naked spot that could cause a gnarly wipeout.
Your basecoat should stay on the board until you re-wax your board. Your topcoat clings on to the basecoat. Use one of the techniques previously mentioned until there is a bumpy coat. Your topcoat will adhere to these little bumps. Depending on the size of your board, you may need to use an entire stick of wax, or up to two sticks, in order to get the basecoat right.
How Do I Apply Topcoat?
Apply the topcoat wax over the entirety of the area you just covered with base coat. Rub the edge of the wax onto the board in small, 3 to 6 inch circles, or using any of the techniques listed above. To be safe, it’s recommended that you use a different-colored topcoat wax than your basecoat. If your topcoat wax is the same color as your basecoat it will be harder to tell where you have applied it, so be sure to wax in one direction if this is the case.
Is There Anything Else I Have To Do Once I Apply The Wax?
The next step is to comb the wax. Run your wax comb through the wax on your board. Run the comb in diagonal crosshatch lines to rough up the wax and allow you to grip to your board even better. Be sure to run it through all of the wax on the board.
You should use the wax comb each time you surf if you haven’t applied a new topcoat. In the same way you need to replace griptape on a surfboard, you need to replace wax for your board. Sometimes, your wax will get flat and lose some of its traction. If you don’t want to apply a new layer of topcoat, take the comb-side of your comb and make a crosshatch pattern using diagonal scrapes. Then, spray cool water over the board. This will make the wax harden and stick to the board better. Once the basecoat and topcoat is applied and combed, you’re officially ready to surf.
How Often Do I Need To Apply Surf Wax?
You’ll want to get your feet on some fresh wax every time you paddle out. For the first few surfs after a fresh coat, only apply a very thin coat to “freshen up” and keep a good grip. But once you’ve built up a decent layer, you can use your wax comb to scratch criss-cross lines on your board to expose some fresh wax for great grip. And if you find yourself at the beach without a bar of wax or a comb, don’t worry. Get into the water about knee deep and rub a handful of sand into your wet board’s wax to roughen up the surface.
When Should I Remove My Surf Wax?
The honest answer to this question is that it depends. Some surfers love riding on a clean white coat of wax while others couldn’t care less about the looks. If you’re a shortboarder who surfs multiple times a week, you may want a fresh, thin coat of wax each month. But if you’re a longboarder who only surfs on the weekends when there’s some swell, you can probably surf on the same coat of wax until the temperature changes. Remember that wax adds weight, so you don’t want to pile it on too thick.
What Kind Of Wax Should I Buy?
Not all surf wax is created equal. When it comes to selecting the right wax for your local waters the first thing you should do is consider the ocean temp. Most surf wax manufacturers make products for tropical, warm, cool and cold waters. Use a cold-water wax in the tropics, and it’s going to melt right off. Use a tropical wax in the cold, and you’ll be lucky to even get it on your board. Know your water temp and pick your wax accordingly. If you don’t use the right surf wax, you’ll be slipping and sliding all over the place. Some popular wax brands include Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax, Sticky Bumps, Mrs. Palmers and Bubble Gum Surf Wax.
What Are Some Things I Should Avoid When Waxing A Board?
The first thing you should never do is apply wax to a dirty board. Whether you’re applying wax to a brand new surfboard or re-waxing an old board, be sure to get rid of any old wax, dust or dirt. If you don’t, your basecoat will not stick. A tip for removing old wax is to put your surfboard out in the sun for a couple of minutes or use hot water to soften the wax prior to scraping it off with your wax comb.
You should also avoid being too heavy handed. When applying the topcoat don’t press too hard. Rub it softly across the deck until you have a good coverage of small bumps. Your choice of wax will depend on whether you’re surfing in cold or warm water. You should rough up your wax with a wax comb or add more wax prior to each surf, and removing and reapplying your wax when it starts to get dirty or lose its adhesiveness. Aside from a few cardinal rules, most of waxing is based on preference so feel free to experiment and find out which technique and wax fits your surf style best. Happy surfing!
