If you are into winter sports, then you, probably, like skiing or using a snowboard. If you are using a snowboard, or just planning to use it, you should know that it requires taking care of your “toy”.
One of the reasons why the snowboard slides down the snow so easily is the waxing applied to the snowboard. But wax is useful not just to make the board slide down easily, it also protects the snowboard from damage. The current article is focused on how to wax snowboard, what types of wax you can use, and why you even need wax.
Why Do You Need To Apply The Snowboard Wax?
There are several reasons why you should always apply a snowboard wax to your board. The very first and obvious reason is for protection. When you are riding your favorite snowboard, you are damaging it, even though you might not see the damage.
You won’t notice the smallest scars on the surface of your board, but they will affect the performance of the snowboard. Make sure to reapply the wax to protect the surface and decrease the chance of further damage.
Another simple reason is that the snowboard slides down the snow much easier if you apply proper wax. Depending on the weather conditions, you can choose the snowboard wax. It will perform much better if you choose the perfect wax considering the weather conditions. More details below.
The Different Types Of Snowboard Wax
Depending on the weather conditions of the spot where you prefer riding your board, there are different types of waxes that you can benefit from. For example, if you are in extremely cold conditions, it is best to use cold wax that protects the board and performs well. If the weather is not as cold, you can use warm waxes, other details are described below.
Warm waxes
Warm waxes are used in areas where the temperature doesn’t fall below 32 degrees Farhenheit or -3 degrees Celsius. But how to hot wax a snowboard? Just as you apply any other wax – with an iron.
Cold waxes
If you prefer colder weather when riding the snowboard, then cold temperature waxes are the way to go. Cold temperature waxes are designed to protect that board at low temperatures, so if you are riding the board where it’s cold, better use this type of wax.
All-temperature waxes
These types of waxes are applied no matter what conditions you are riding your board in. Some types are rubbed on the snowboard or traditional melt-on ones.
Waxing Your Snowboard – Step-By-Step Guide
So, how to wax a snowboard? There are a few things to focus on before you wax your snowboard. For example, no professional or amateur snowboard user would apply wax before actually cleaning the surface. And more doesn’t mean better when it comes to the amount of wax you should apply on your snowboard. More details on waxing a snow board are described below in the article.
Step 1 – Clean your snowboard
Getting rid of all the contaminants off of your snowboard is one of the most important steps. Without cleaning your snowboard, you can’t properly apply the wax. You should also keep an eye on the expiration date of the wax. Moreover, scrape off the residue of old wax prior to applying the new one. And note, tuning of the edges and base repair is performed prior to applying wax, so if you need to repair any damage, do it before waxing or it will be a waste of money and time.
Step 2 – Use wax on the snowboard
Waxing snowboards isn’t as difficult as it may seem at the beginning. You need your fresh wax and iron to apply it perfectly onto the snowboard. The temperature should be between 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit or 45-60 degrees Celsius. Irons are different, so adjust yours to the wax that you are using. You may need a lower or higher temperature.
Step 3 – Get rid of the excess wax
Apply one to two drops on each spot. The best idea is to start applying wax from the edges. If you need more drops, apply more, but note, it’s always better to apply less since later it will be easier to scrape off the excess wax. When you iron the wax onto the board, start scraping off all the bumps and flaws that make the surface less even.
Step 4 – Check the work
Before you go testing your snowboard, it’s important to test your work. Make sure to check the snowboard from different angles, at different lights. You can see different bumps of wax that you might need to scrape off before you use your snowboard.
Step 5 – Test the snowboard!
The best way to see whether your work is done perfectly is to test out the snowboard in the mountains! Go ahead and have fun.
