Surf Board Wax Info

Surfboard waxing is important, at least if you want to stay upright.

But both the wax you use and the technique you use to apply it depend on personal preference and the environment you surf in.
The surf wax you choose and the method you use to wax your board are primarily based on personal preference. There are just a few actual rules or guidelines.

• A wax comb is great item to have at hand. You can use it to rough up the wax on your surfboard to give your wax better grip. This reduces the number of times you need to re-wax. This saves you both time and money. It will also help you to strip the wax off your board when you need to apply a fresh coat.

• Applying a fresh coat of wax about once a month is a good guideline if you are surfing regularly. The wax becomes dirty, absorbing both your body oils and your sunscreen which will cause your board to become slippery. A light coat of surf wax before each session will optimize your grip.

• If you use deck grip do not wax over your deck grip or it will end up actually making it slippery.

Everyone has their ideal method for waxing and their ideal wax, the important thing is that the method you choose works for you. Working means that it prevents you from doing a slip and slide when you try to stand up. When waxing, experiment with different waxes and techniques until you find your ideal solution. Vary the application, linear movements or circular movements. Try thinner coats or thicker coats. When you get the right waxing combination it will click for you.

Helpful Hints:

Cold water or winter - use the softest surfboard wax.Temperate water - use a middle hardness surfboard wax Warm water - use a semi hard surfboard wax Tropical water - use the hardest wax

You can also use a “base coat” style of wax on your surfboard. This is a very hard wax that creates solid lumps on your surfboard that thinner layers of softer wax applied over it can cling to.
Using the correct hardness of wax is extremely important. If you use a wax that is to soft for warm water conditions the wax will actually begin to slip off the board. The converse is true as well, wax that is too hard for cold water conditions creates a slick surface that will send you flying.
Remember the purpose of surf wax is to make sure you have an ideal amount of grip so that both you and those around you are surfing in the safest conditions.

Correct paddling trim

Ever see the bumper sticker "I'd rather be paddling?" We can all attest to spending lots of time paddling while surfing. I remember how surprised I was not only by how much paddling was required to surf, but how tiring it could be. Although paddling can be a pain at times, it is necessary for good surfing. Getting your technique down pat will help you surf better, up your wave count, get you in the wave sooner, and keep you and those around you safe. Here is a quick article that does a a great job of explaining proper paddling trim and technique and why you need it: 

http://www.surfing-for-girls.com/paddling.html

Excerpt from article:

The confidence that knowing your paddling ability is the best it can be is also important. It will allow you not only to get past the white water, get to the waves and stay out of danger, but it will also help you to remain calm and composed when faced with new situations. As a beginner not panicking can save you a world of trouble. Additionally, if you have stronger paddling skill you will have a lot more momentum when you do catch a wave. That makes it easier to maintain you balance and you can also stand up sooner and get ready for the drop.




Important Safety tip!
As a safety tip when you are waiting for waves, always sit with your board pointing towards the waves and not parallel. This is extremely important. The force of the water hitting your board when it is parallel to a wave is amazing. It can knock you unconscious. For your safety, always point your board into a wave and do not begin a turn if you risk only half completing it and ending up parallel to a wave.

Words to Live by

Very simple.....Very true....

Remember this when you have a moment in surfing :)

Words to Live by

Our Last Video!

Hey Gals!

Last week for videos and this one is great right before our first meetup. This is a video on surfing etiquette which goes great with my posting in our discussion section of the meetup. So check it out and I'll see you tomorrow. M

Surfing 12