Waxing a surfboard is absolutely necessary before you can get into the water. It’s important to wax your board because it will provide the grip and traction your feet need to help you stay on the board! Without it, it would be much like running on a wet floor: dangerous, and you will end up falling down.
While it may not seem as attractive to smear wax all over a brand new board, you’ll find like many other surfers there’s something addicting about it, like peeling off protection plastic of new appliances, or popping bubble wrap…
Follow along with Sam Quennell, who will take you through the steps of waxing your surfboard in the video, or read the steps below.
A step by step guide to waxing your surfboard
Pick the right wax
First off, you’ll need to make sure you pick the right wax for the waters you’ll be surfing in. If the water is warmer than your wax can handle it could melt right off, and warm wax for cold waters means it won’t be tacky enough to provide the right grip.
Start with a clean board
If your board is brand new, all you need to do wipe it with a towel or cloth to remove any dirt. If you’re rewaxing a board, you’ll first need to remove the old wax. This is most commonly done with a wax comb, scraping the old smooth wax away until your board is clean again. You can also look at
Rest your board on a steady, soft, surface
To wax your board you’ll need to put on a little pressure, so make sure your board is on a steady surface that’s soft enough not to make any dings or scratches. The last thing you want is to fix the top to break the bottom!
A carpeted floor would be perfect, but an outside table covered with your (clean) beach towel will also do the trick.
Applying the wax
For longboards, the wax would be applied across the entire surfboard - so plan in a little time for this. For short boards, focus on the areas that your feet and hands grip the most. Try and find a happy middle in pressure, as to light will not leave a wax coating, and too much pressure can make you apply too thick a layer.
The most standard approach is the crosshatch or “criss-cross” technique. Layer your wax by making diagonal lines across the board. Once you have finished one direction, you overlay it with the other diagonal direction.
You’ll see the wax gather and create little bumps - that’s exactly what we need, as these are the ones that will provide your grip. After applying the diagonals for the crosshatch pattern, add another layer of wax using circular motions. Some find it easier to do this with the side of the wax block.
You can also apply the circle method instead of the crosshatch. What’s important is that for longboards you apply it to the entire board, and for short boards it’s the tail end and center that’s important.
When do I need to re-wax my surfboard?
Luckily you won’t need to do this every time you surf. As long as the wax is still tacky and provides you with enough grip, you can go ahead and surf. Most surfers like to apply a thin layer just before they go in just in case.
When the wax has smoothed out, it will be time to remove the old wax and get yourself a fresh new layer. You’ll know it’s time not only by feel, when there just isn’t enough traction, but you can also spot the wax becoming smooth and shiny grey.
And if you're interested in a couple of other surfing accessories which are going to make your experience pain free, check out Sam’s recommendations in Surfing Accessories - Sam's Picks.
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