How to properly apply wax to your surfboard.

When you purchase a new board it will be a fresh, slick, fiberglass surface. This is great for moving through the water, but is too slick for griping with your feet when standing up and riding a wave. Make sure the wax type matches the water temperature where you plan to surf as there are varying degrees of densities and composition of the wax that will react best in specific water temperatures.

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Cleaning the Board

First you are going to need to ensure that the board surface is clean so the wax will adhere it. If the board has old wax on it then use a wax comb to remove all the wax that you can. There will still be some residue left on the board surface which can be removed using a solvent such as mineral spirits or acetone. You can also leave the board out in the sun and put sand on the hot surface then wipe the residue/sand combo off. Finally wipe the surface with a clean dry rag and you will be ready to apply a new coat.

wax comb

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Applying the Basecoat

The next step in a proper wax job is to lay down the basecoat. Purchase a basecoat bar and apply it first as the foundation for the top coat to lay. Apply the wax in a pattern. First you are going to make a grid pattern essentially "X's" on along the board. Next, you will make a cross pattern; "+'s" along the board. And finally apply the wax in small circles. You will need to press hard with the basecoat bar as this type of wax is a harder in composition.

wax pattern after the X, +, O's

The above wax job illustrates the patterns described. Once the basecoat begins to pop off the board surface and appears to have "bumps" then it is ready for the top coat. What you are looking for is texture for the top wax to stick to.

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Applying the top coat

Now that you have a solid bumpy foundation of base coat, it's time to apply the top coat which is the softer wax that will be sticky and give your feet something good to grip on to. Apply the top coat in the same manner as the base. Be sure not to press quite as hard because you don't want to flatten the bumps. The top coat tends to be a bit softer anyway, so a light pressure will be enough to get the wax on the board. you'll notice the bumps starting to rise up more quickly with the application of the top coat. Keep alternating through the X, +, O pattern until a nice layer of bumps is distributed evenly over the board surface.

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Keep the bumps

Each time you surf you are flattening the bumps with the pressure of your feet and body along the wax job. Freshen up the board periodically with fresh bumps. Its easy, just use the comb side of the wax comb to rough up the surface, then apply the top coat wax in the same patterns discussed earlier.

The point of no return

After a while the amount of wax build up will get ridiculous, so periodically you should strip all the wax off the board and get apply a whole new wax job.