What is waxing a surfboard? Why is it important?

Waxing a surfboard is really putting wax on the bottom of a surfboard (also done with skis). It reduces the friction between the water and the board (yes, there is friction). There's also wax for the top of the board to keep feet from slipping off, but it's not exactly wax, and it's not polished, but sort of scraped on in a combed pattern. You can actually use any kind of wax (even household paste wax) on the bottom of the board, and on the top, if you want to save money, you can even use Vaseline.

Well plain and simple, if you don't wax your surfboard, you wont be able to sit stand or do anything on it, you will slip off, it grips you. Favorite brand of wax you ask, why sex wax of course, its classic. But recently I put some buble gum wax on one of my boards and it works extreemly well, even though a bit more painfull to put on than sex wax.

It's rubbing a thin layer of wax on the top of the board in order to reduce slipping of your feet. In a circular motion rub the wax in until beads or small bumps appear. That is your base coat. Do from the tail to about 3/4 of the board where you will be standing. As you use the board and the wax wears off or becomes slippery put another thin coat. The wax will eventualy build up and start flaking at which time take the old wax off by softening or melting in the sun scrape off and start over. In the old days of poverty we used straight parffin which was called Gulf Wax. I've been out of the sport but any good hard wax should do. The soft beeswax type lke sex wax don't last as long as the hard wax. Wax on top of the board is all that is necessary