If you’re just purchased a snowboard, you’ll need to learn about waxing.
Properly waxing your snowboard will ensure that it stays strong for years to come, and it’s something that you can do with ease in the comfort of your own home.
Is Waxing A Snowboard Easy?
Waxing your own snowboard is easy once you know what you are doing.
It’s even easier to do the second time around after you have some experience.
What Happens If You Don’t Wax Your Snowboard?
The wax on the bottom of a snowboard provides a thin protective barrier between your snowboard and snow, rocks and other elements you ride over.
The wax also helps your ride faster because the wax also repels the water from the snow.
Not waxing your snowboard will result in slowing riding and will expose the bottom of your snowboard to rust and damage from abrasions from riding.
How Often Should You Wax Your Snowboard?
You should get your snowboard waxed professionally after every 3 or 4 snowboarding sessions.
If you wax your snowboard yourself you may want to wax it more frequently.
Our assumption is that a professional wax is slightly better quality.
Be sure to get a hot wax at the end of the snowboarding season to protect your snowboard throughout the summer.
You will thank yourself when it is time to snowboard again.
How to Wax a Snowboard
To wax evenly and sufficiently, you’ll need all of the following:
- A waxing iron or old clothes iron
- A block of wax
- A plastic wax scraper
- A buffing pad
- A base cleaner
You will also need something to hold the snowboard while you wax it.
Step One: Clean Your Snowboard
The first step is to clean your snowboard, removing any old wax and dirt.
This is where the base cleaner comes in as it will help to remove all of that debris.
Step Two: Melt the Wax
You need to set the iron temperature to around 120 or 130 degrees.
It’s hot enough to melt the wax without burning it.
If you’re waxing your snowboard in a cold garage or shed, you may need to increase the temperature a little for the wax to melt.
You should also wrap the snowboard beforehand to increase the temperature, as hot wax adheres much better to snowboards at room temperature.
Step Three: Drip the Wax
Start dripping the hot wax over the base of the snowboard.
Make sure you leave a couple of inches between each drip and get them close to the edge as well, albeit not close enough so that they run over.
Step Four: Apply the Hot Wax Evenly
Using the iron, make sure all of the snowboard is covered in an even coating of wax.
Move in small circular patterns and don’t let the iron linger on the same area for too long.
Once you have covered the snowboard in wax, simply wait for it to cool, a process that should take between 10 and 20 minutes.
Step Five: Remove Excess Wax with a Plastic Scraper
Use the plastic scraper to remove excess wax from the snowboard.
Too much wax will dampen the experience and reduce performance.
The idea is not to cover your snowboard in a thick coating of wax but to ensure that enough wax is absorbed into the pores of the snowboard and all excess wax is removed.
You can finish this process by buffering the snowboard.
Do You Need to Wax a Brand-New Snowboard?
A brand-new snowboard should be good for a snowboarding session or two, as it will come with a thin layer of wax.
However, it’s still a good idea to purchase some more wax for future use.
Can You Wax Your Snowboard Yourself at Home?
You can wax your snowboard at home.
As noted above, it’s a relatively simple procedure and it gets easier with time.
However, if you’re not very confident and are worried about using hot wax and damaging yourself or your snowboard, you can take it to a shop and they will do it for you.
Why Do I Need Snowboard Wax?
Snowboard wax helps the board to glide better over the snow and prevents it from drying out.
It improves performance and durability and while it’s not essential, it’s definitely recommended.
Summary: How to Wax a Snowboard
Waxing the base of your snowboard is an important part of the maintenance process.
It will improve performance and ensure that your snowboard has a long life.
Just be careful with those hot wax drippings, make sure you remove any excess wax, and don’t leave the hot iron on a single spot for too long.
Waxing your snowboard is easy, but there are still a few things that can go wrong.
