Surfing on a soft top surfboard is a great way to get used to the feel of a board when you’re starting out and a less physically tolling way to get beyond the break when the waves are smaller. But the texture of a soft top board is significantly different than other kinds of surfboards.
So should you wax a soft top surfboard? The answer is yes. Soft top boards appear rubbery but will get slippery when wet. A layer of wax will add extra grip to your soft top board.
Should I Wax My Soft Top Surfboard?
When you take out a soft top surfboard or “foamie” for the first time, you’ll probably be surprised by how slippery it is. But have no fear, there’s a solution. Generally speaking, you should wax it with a thin layer to prevent slipping, but you don’t need full on bumps like with a normal board. You also don’t have to re-wax as frequently as with a normal board.
How Do I Wax My Soft Top Surfboard?
So first things first, start with a clean surface. You can use any degreasing solvent you can find, preferably the eco one, as it’s not toxic for your hands or the foam.
Then apply a basecoat wax. This may sound like a lot of steps for a foamie sesh but this will really shorten your future wax hassles because a base coat wax is a more solid wax that will help the regular wax to stick better. The base coat should cover the whole surface of the board where hands and feet might touch it.
When applying top coat wax on a foamie, a grid wax pattern tends to work best. Surf wax comes in varying degrees of softness. Generally, a softer chunk of wax applies for colder water where a stiff wax works in warm water. On the wax packaging you’ll find indicators for water degrees. Most short soft top boards also come with a track pad to help grip traction. If your foamie doesn’t have a traction pad you can quite easily stick one on yourself.
Over time, the wax might wear off or get greyish. At this point you might consider scraping everything off and give your board a brand new wax job because it just feels so good to start with a clean slate. However, you should only reapply a basecoat every 4 months or so to avoid wasting wax. This will save you time allowing you to get to the surf faster and shred longer!
What Kind Of Wax Should I Use For A Soft Top Surfboard?
Like any kind of surfing, make sure you apply the appropriate surf wax that matches the climate you live in. You should also make sure you do the wax job somewhere shady and cool. Waxing your foam board in direct sunlight can melt the wax, which will inevitably result in a big mess and harsh the vibes of your surf. You should also be sure to keep your board wax inside a plastic bag to prevent sand from getting inside the wax container. And it should go without saying but you should also make sure you store your wax in the shade or inside a bag to stop it from melting.
As far as different wax types go, the tropical waxes are suitable for the water temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer. The warm waxes are suitable for temperatures between 64 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cool waxes are suitable for temperatures between 58 and 68 degrees. For water temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit it is advisable to use a cold wax.
If you surf in cool or cold waters, it is highly recommended to use a basecoat wax, before you apply a generous coat of suitable surf wax. The application of the basecoat or surf wax is usually done in a number of different ways. For example, you could rub it into the board using horizontal or vertical lines, small circles or make a checkerboard pattern. Regardless of what method you choose, just ensure you have applied the wax well to the important areas, where your feet usually go on your board.
When Should You Change Your Surf Wax?
Deciding when to reapply a wax coat and remove the old wax will all depend on how frequently you surf. For example, if you enjoy surfing every day, you may need to reapply the top coat wax before each surf session. As time goes by the wax will create a build-up, which will become a slippery and gooey mess. If this occurs, use a good quality wax comb to aggravate the old wax, which will make the wax tacky again. However, eventually, you will need to completely strip the old layers of built-up basecoat wax before applying a new coat.
One of the most important tips to remember when it comes to applying wax to your foam surfboard is to make sure you do it gently. If you are pressing too hard the wax will start smearing. You should be rubbing the wax down and up your deck that starts developing tiny beads. It is these beads that provide better grip and traction when you are out riding those waves. Generally speaking, you will need to wax soft top surfboards less frequently than hard top surfboards.
How Do You Remove Old Wax From A Soft Top Surfboard?
The first step to removing old wax is to melt the old wax. You can do this with a little help from the sun or even a hairdryer. Don’t overdo this as too much heat and sunlight isn’t going to make your board happy. Most wax will get liquid around 30 degrees. More than that can harm your beloved foamie.
Next, use a wax comb to scrape off the top coat of the wax. This will result in a hand full of old wax. You can recycle used surf wax in various ways. Some even reuse the material to make surf wax candles! You can use an old cloth to wipe the thin pieces of wax that are harder to remove. If you want to strip your foamie from wax in no time, the Sex Wax Surf Pickle is an effective, eco-friendly tool. If you really want to get your foamie shiny clean, you could also use degreaser to remove wax. Though this is really only necessary when you’re selling or giving away a board to a new owner. Think of this like giving your car a deep clean before you sell it. There are plenty of degreasers to be found at your local store. Be sure to select one that is both effective and non-toxic to prevent serious damage to the board and your hands as you use it.
What Exactly is a Soft Top Surfboard?
A soft top surfboard is just as its name describes, a surfboard with a soft deck top. Traditional surfboards are made with either polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam, and then covered with a polyester or epoxy resin that creates a hardened surface around the board. Hence why they’re called hard top surfboards.
Soft top surfboards are made with an EPS foam core (like epoxy surfboards) wrapped in either fiberglass or a synthetic wrap. The big difference is that they replace that hardened fiberglass or epoxy top layer with a soft, Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) sheet. Think exercise mats, the insoles of your sneakers, yoga blocks, and kick boards as they’re all made of the same material as a soft top surfboard.
The EVA top layer combined with the compressed EPS core make soft top surfboards lighter, float better, less susceptible to rot, and harder to ding than traditional hard top surfboards. The soft deck top also allows for an easier and more comfortable paddle. And unlike hard top surfboards, soft tops don’t require wax or any additional material to prevent slippage.
Though they are frequently associated as longboards, soft tops come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, Mick Fanning’s Little Marley goes as small as a 29L 5’2”. But no matter how big or small they are, all soft tops are characterized as being more buoyant, lightweight, and stable than most fiberglass or epoxy surfboard of the same size.
Selecting a soft top or a hard top board really comes down to what the waves are like and what you’re trying to do on the aforementioned waves. In many ways soft tops give classic surfboards a run for their money. Soft boards quite literally often come with a much smaller price tag. You can easily get a quality soft board for a fraction of the price of a quality hard top classic surfboard.
Are Soft Top Surfboards Just For Beginners?
While soft top surfboards or fomies are good for beginners due to their superior balance which makes popping up easier, they aren’t just for the uninitiated. Long gone are the days where beginners are the only ones getting stoked on soft tops. Nowadays you can find any style soft top for all conditions and skill levels. For your small wave days there’s the perfect summer surf longboards that any surfer can ride, like the Storm Blades.
For your medium size days there are what is referred to as “fun shape” soft tops which are more high performance than your longboard, can make steep drops and do radical turns. Finally, there are also soft tops that are like high performance short boards in which you can get barreled and throw airs on.
Soft top surfboards are a great board to have in any surfer’s quiver. In fact, most believe that every surfer should have one. Say what you will about them, but soft top surfboards are one thing above all else: FUN! And isn’t that why we all started surfing in the first place?
Everyone uses soft top surfboards from world champions to the first time surfer. Jamie O’Brien shredded Pipeline on a soft top. Then he did it again at Jaws with Kalani Chapman. Mick Fanning has his own line of soft boards. Big wave ripper Shawn Dollar founded the soft-top-only Wavestorm World Championships. And surf schools from Maui to Bali, J-Bay, Bells, Nosara, and Huntington Beach all use foamies as their go-to teaching boards.
How Does Surfing A Soft Top Board Compare To Other Boards?
Soft top boards allow surfers to paddle way faster than a long board of their size, and of course than any short board. This means wave entry is easier, meaning moving down the line happens faster, and you can focus more on maneuvers. This is great for any one of any ability level, not just beginners!
Foamies bottom turn quite nicely as long as you get way back on the board. The fins could honestly use a little more size and stiffness to them, but it’s not really limiting factor on many waves that the average surfer enjoys. Crumbly weak waves that don’t have a lot of speed can be a lot of fun on a soft top. A more powerful, faster wave will likely favor a more performance fiber board.
This is due to the fact that soft top boards simply cannot take as much of a beating as classic surfboards. If you’re surfing significantly sized waves you can certainly break a fiberglass board but it’s rare. Soft top boards on the other hand don’t ding, they just snap in half way easier. The leashes that come with them also tend to break way easier. But for their price point they’re a great time! Just be advised that if you want to go big, they are fragile.
Overall, surfing on a soft top board is great for both beginners getting used to the feel of a surfboard and novice surfers looking to get more out of small to medium sized waves. Their lightweight makes getting beyond the break much easier and you’ll find yourself catching more waves and popping up with ease. Different situations call for different boards so worry less about the reputation of each board and more on getting the most out of every surf. Happy surfing!