If you’re reading this post wondering how to wax a surfboard, it’s because you probably know what wax is. In case it’s not totally clear, wax is a solid substance that dissolves easily. This substance is obtained from the distillation of petroleum or natural bituminous materials. Wax is used to make candles and for other uses. In this case, wax is essential when surfing. Do you know why? Keep reading!
How to wax a surfboard
Surfboards are made with the perfect shape to be able to catch waves and glide on them. But they have no grip, which makes you slip when you step on one of them. And for this there is wax: this substance acts as a non-slip, making it possible for the person to stand up without slipping.
Below, we will explain how to wax a surfboard:
- The wax is placed in the upper part (called “Deck”) of the surfboard;
- Before applying the wax, make sure that there are no traces of the previous one in case the existent wax is dated or suitable for another temperature. If these remnants are not completely removed, the new wax layer will be on the surface of the board in poor condition, so it will not be fully effective.
- There are waxes for cold, cool, warm and tropical waters, and you should use one or the other depending on the water temperature of the place where you are going to surf. This is important, because if you use cold water wax in hot water, it will become soft and slimy and won’t hold on well. The same is true on a reverse side: if you use wax for hot water in cold water, the wax will harden and won’t hold well either.
- For a more effective grip, we advise you to apply two layers with two different wax: a harder type called “base” and the top layer suitable for the temperature of the water. In case you don’t have the base, you can directly use the one suitable for the temperature by drawing a grid on the table following by circles. In this way, small dots will form which will act like a pad for a better grip.
- In case you don’t have a new wax to apply, you can use a special surfboard comb (called a “wax comb”), which will roughen the existing layer on the board.
- If you have slippery feet, a great trick to avoid slipping is to place wax on the instep. And when in the water, rub the sole of your foot against your instep to increase grip!
- Do not forget to renew the wax from time to time so that the table stays clean and the wax can have an effective grip.
- We recommend that you always carry some wax even in the water, perhaps under the sleeve of your wetsuit. It is a way to avoid going out of the water if one day you have no wax after a long session.
If you pay attention to everything we have just told you, your board will be perfectly maintained with an excellent grip. Now you know almost everything about wax!
How to remove wax from Surfboard
And if you’ve been wondering how to apply paraffin wax to your surfboard, you’re probably also interested in how to remove it. In this case, find out how to do it in our post “how to clean your surfboard” in order to reapply the wax correctly!
Types of wax
Depending on the water temperature, there are different types of wax:
Cold: for very cold water (temperature below 15 ºC).
Cool: for cold water (temperature between 14-19 ºC).
Warm: for temperate waters (temperature between 19-24 ºC).
Tropical: for warm waters (temperatures over 24 ºC).
Where to buy wax?
Two great wax brands we recommend are Sex Wax and Sticky Bumps.
After all the tips we have given you, take a look at our website and discover our surf school in Fuerteventura, Corralejo. Go ahead and learn to surf in the best surf school of all, you won’t regret it!
