What is the wax for surfing?

Question

how much should i apply on my board? do i need to ever take it off or cont to put it on top of the old wax? and how should i waxx my surf board? thanks

Answer 1

The type and amount of wax you use as well as where it is placed depends on;

a) the type of board you have (longboard or shortboard)

b) the water temperature

c) personal preference

You wax the part of the board you stand on, that is, you are obviously not going to wax the nose of a shortboard. Longboards require a lot more wax than a shortboard will, as well. Its used for grip, much like a stomp pad is. And, instead of a stomp pad on a couple of my boards, I use wax instead.

The idea is to make small bumps, hence the brand name Sticky Bumps, on the spots of your board which you stand on.

There are four principal types of wax, which are used for different water temperatures.

Tropical: Above 75 degrees F

Warm: Up to about 74 degrees F, not below 68

Cool: Up to 68 degrees F, not below 60

Cold: >60 degrees F

The way it works is the tropical wax is the hardest, so the high temperature doesn’t completely melt the wax, and the cold formula is the softest.

There is also something called basecoat, which is a harder wax and you use it first, putting down a layer and then applying the right temperature. Its not absolutely necessary, but I find it certainly helps.

You want to create small bumps, and there are different ways to do it. I wax my board both side to side and up and down, sometimes going in small circles as well. Everyone has their own method, find what is right for you, your board and the type of wax you choose.

I recommend you use either Mrs. Palmers or Five Daughters, both of which are very good. If you can't use those, Sticky Bumps is the best alternative. I also urge you never to use s*x Wax, its pretty much a joke and I'd never use it on any of my boards.

Citizen King is a kook, through and through. He has no idea what he is talking about, has probably never surfed in his life and just got everything off of Wikipedia.

Waxing and de-waxing your board is a very tedious process, and the price of wax has also risen to a couple bucks per bar. Its fine to re-apply wax, but not to take off all the wax and put it on again, that would be retarded.

The only time you really need to take all the wax off your board is if you are changing the type of wax to a different temperature or you are applying stickers, etc, or the wax has been on for a long time (e.g. you haven’t used the board in a while). If you continually surf, like every day, then maybe its more to your advantage to occasionally de-wax and then wax your board, but on the East Coast, continual surf just don’t happen. At some point, the wax will just be not work, and you simply can't apply more on top of it, thats when you may need to take it off and start over again.

To take the wax off your board, use a wax comb. You can get one in a surf shop for a couple bucks, or sometimes they are attached to a pair of board shorts. With that, scrape off all the wax, as much as you can. If you have a PU board, don’t be too rough or you’ll get pressure dents. When that is done, use wax remover, a good one is made by Sticky Bumps, but all you really need is Acetone, which I bet your girlfriend has (Nail Polish remover).

Answer 2

Surfboard wax is used because it prevents you from slipping off the board or falling off while paddling out.

You should apply the wax by rubbing it on the board from rail to tail. Make several layers of it also.

For me, I usually scrape of the wax after I am done surfing and re-apply when I go back. I know its a waste, but I perfer fresh wax everytime I got out.

Enjoy

Answer 3

wax for surfing is to help you stay on the board so that while paddeling out and actually surfing a wave you can stay on the board. you do need to take it off and reapply it not everytyime though. just take the wax and go in circles. only wax the parts where you are going to be standing at but mainly just wax the middle and close to the ends you dont have to get the very ends though.

Answer 4

Surf wax keeps your feet stuck to your board. Depending on the size of the board, use at least one whole bar of basecoat. Rub back and forth from rail to rail, then from nose to tail. Keep this cycle up until some nice beads form. Once you have some nice round bumps all over your board, switch to the top coat. Be sure to use the appropriate wax for the temperature of water you are surfing. Rub the topcoat on using a  circular motion about 3" in diameter. As long as you don't leave your board in the sun or a hot car the wax should be good for at least a couple of months. Just freshen up the topcoat from time to time. When the bumps get smashed down, or the wax turns black its time for a new coat. Leave the board in the sun for a few minutes and then scrape wax off with a wax comb or credit card....and your ready for basecoat again.

Answer 5

dont take it off each time you surf! you will end up spending half your life scraping wax.

just redo it every few months, it works h**l good if you just put more wax over the top when you go out.

Answer 6

the wax make you not slip off the board. very useful.

Answer 7

Wax is used for TRACTION. So you don't slip off the board. Whenever it gets all clumped and dirty looking,you should clean it off. Sit the board out in the sun on a hot day. Then scrape off what hasn't melted off with an old credit card. You can use commercial wax remover or acetone to clean it the rest of the way. Use a good brand of undercoat wax (I like s*x wax) and then rub on wax that is the right type based on water temperature (they make cold, cool and warm water wax). I prefer sticky bumps or poor boys for my top coat.

When you go to the SURF SHOP. to buy your wax, talk to the folks there, they are far more reliable at answering surfing questions than people on line.