Why would you wax your surfboard? The sides of the board in the water need to be slipper, but when your feet hit the surfboard, you want to have some kind of wax. How do you know you've done a good job at waxing your surfboards? One cue is when there are bumps. These bumps will give you something to grip with your feet. If you are new to waxing your board, then this guide will help you to do a good job.
1. Tools " You'll need a handful of tools and supplies. These include a wax comb, topcoat wax, and basecoat wax. If you are working with a previously used board, or you've already put some wax on your own board, then you'll also need to get your hands on some wax cleaner. In addition, some paper towels may also be in order.
2. Clean The Board " Next, you'll want to go ahead and clean the board if it has been previously used by you or someone else. Start by cleaning the deck and get rid of any old wax. If you don't clean off the old wax, then the whole job could turn into a messy mound of flakes. Scraping off the wax with the wax comb will be sufficient. Use the straight side of the comb. Remove wax from the rails by using the curved portion of the comb.
3. Apply The Basecoat " This is the most important portion of waxing your surfboard. Your topcoat will be removed as you proceed to surfing, but the basecoat will remain intact. If the basecoat has been rubbed away, then you're going to have an area that is exposed and does not have any wax, despite adding topcoat. The purpose of having the basecoat is to have those bumps available. They will give you something to grip as you ride the waves. Push down the wax and rub the board. You may notice bouncing. This is a good sign, as the bumps are starting to develop. There are many different ways to apply the wax. There really is no wrong or right way, and you should do whatever works best for you.
4. Apply Top Coat " This kind of wax is not as hard as the basecoat wax. This is a lot softer. It tends to stick to your feet. Temperature of the water will affect how your basecoat reacts. Due to this, you want to be certain that you use a good quality wax that will withstand the various water temperatures. Check the labels on the wax, as they usually have temperature indications right there on the label.
5. Surf! " This is the last step. Just go out and surf! As you surf the waves, there will be a portion of the top coat that will begin to start flaking off. Some of it will be stuck to your board shorts or wetsuit, while another portion will go into the water. To remedy this, apply a little wax before you surf each time.
Proper maintenance for your surfboards is important, because you want to be able to keep your equipment in top shape. You never know what the waves will be like, from one day to the next, and that is why you need to always have things ready, just in case. Surfing is a great sport, and having the right equipment can make a world of difference. Even cheap surfboards need the proper care and waxing to give you the best performance.
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