SURFING TIPS - Choosing and applying the right wax.

Choosing the right surfboard wax is important for your session, choose a wax that is too soft for the climate and your feet will move around, too hard and you won’t be able to get the grip you require.

Surfboard wax is generally composed of a mixture of paraffin, beeswax and petroleum jelly to create a softer wax. There are also natural alternatives available containing only organic substances like beeswax, vegetable oils (such as coconut or hemp oil), pine resin, tree pulp and natural essential oils.

Surfboard wax is optimized for different climates and water temperatures and sold in every surf shop. Try out the different hardnesses to see what suits you and the climate, each person has their own preferences.

The waxed area on a surf board  tends to be about half way between the middle and nose of your board  all the way back to the tail section, if you don’t have deck grip.

For cold water surfers who wear gloves, its helpful to put some wax on the top of the rails on each side of the board where you place your hands for duckdiving. This will make it less likely that the board will slip through your hands when Duckdiving.

Firstly, it’s important to put a thin base coat of a high temperature wax on a clean board, usually labeled for tropical water, to build up bumps and texture. Apply the base coat by firstly scoring it on the board in diagonal crossing lines, then secondly rubing the wax on flat over the board.

Then choose a wax that is temperature-appropriate and add a layer of wax on top of the base coat. Rub the wax on flat in a circular motion, you should see bumps or nipples forming. 

Wax should be replaced every couple of months before it gets too thick. Removing old wax can be really satisfying, it only takes a few minutes. A plastic scraper (typically found on the back of a wax comb) can be used to remove the wax in large chunks. Residual wax that has not been removed by scraping can be dealt with using a soft cloth, either on its own or in combination with (for example) coconut oil. Various commercial solvents are also available. Solvents, however, are usually avoided as they can damage the surface or paint job of the board.

Another method that many surfers prefer is to let their board lie in the sun with the deck side up. After about ten minutes, This method enables surfers to take all the wax off at once. The board is then left smooth and ready to be stored away or to be re-waxed.

But! Wait for the board to cool down before you reapply new wax.