How to apply surfboard wax
Surf wax ensures a secure stand on the board. In contrast to skis and snowboards, the wax is not applied under the board (to improve the sliding properties) but on the top to increase the slip resistance.
If you practice surfing or bodyboarding, you must have heard the word ” wax “. This English word (which means “wax”) qualifies the paraffin bar used to increase the grip of the surfer/bodyboarder on the board.
1. Soften the wax to make it easier to remove
- There are several ways to soften the wax. You can put the board in the sun, use the hairdryer or pour warm water over it, although you should be careful with the last variant, because the surface can be sensitive, especially with hardboards.
- It’s best to wear older clothes, as you could get a bit dirty as the wax is a bit stubborn to get out of the clothes.
2. Removal of the Wax
- The softened wax can best be carefully removed from the board with a wax remover or a soft plastic spatula. Please make sure that you don’t scratch your board and that you lend a hand carefully. You can completely remove the remaining wax residue with a wax solvent.
3. Apply Wax
- There are different techniques for waxing your surfboard. Circular, diagonally crossed, or chessboard. You are free to decide which variant you use with yourself. Here at our surf school we mostly use the diagonal crossed method. Apply evenly and forcefully with the corner of the wax block over the surfboard. The board should not be too warm. Every time a wax strip meets, small wax strokes occur, which give you the necessary grip.
- The wax is an excellent thing for learning to surf, but it needs to be looked after and mastered. Especially in the beginning when learning to surf, wax is not necessary, it depends entirely on the soft board you want to use.
Choose the wax that suits the season
Wax has several types of hardness, and I want to choose it according to the water temperature and temperature. It is recommended to choose a harder one that does not melt easily in the summer and a softer one in the winter.
The wax package is labeled with TROPICAL or COLD. This is a description that represents the corresponding water temperature. Be careful not to use the wrong one.
Water temperature correspondence table
- COLD: For midwinter
- COOL: For autumn-winter
- WARM: For spring-summer
- TROPIC: For midsummer
By the way, wax is sensitive to heat, and if you leave the board on a sandy beach or in a car under the scorching sun, it may melt into muddy. When repainting, let’s work after lowering the surface temperature by cooling the board with seawater. Also, when placing the board on the beach in midsummer, you can protect the wax from direct sunlight by turning the bottom side (backside) up.