Waxing a surfboard.

About surfboard waxing?

• So i just bought a NSP 6'8 funboard and i am going to take it out for the first time tomorrow. When i bought it, the worker gave my a warm and a cold stick bumps wax. I want to ...show more

• Answer:

  I don't think you went to a very good surf shop my friend. First of all, they sold you an NSP popout. NSP boards are made in sweat shop factories in Thailand by under paid, over worked people, many (most?) of whom have never even thought about surfing. They are popouts, built with little or no quality control and of marginal design quality. They are built with substandard materials and do not last. They delaminate quickly and will be a disappointment. However, the NSP people sent me E-mails the last time I said this, and they complained that i criticized their boards, and said that they weren't "popouts" just because they weren't made in a mold. So, in fairness to the NSP people, I do have to tell you that whatever you buy with your money, is your choice. And, I guess having a junk surfboard can be considered better than having no surfboard. Read a little about popouts:http://www.mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm Secondly, they didn't explain much to you about waxing your board. As a matter of fact, the very idea that you don't understand that sort of thing makes it obvious that you have never had any kind of intructions or lessons. Lessons are the best way to start. Lessons can come from a professional instructor, or surfing family members or experienced surfing friends. You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up don't want to drown you), how to paddle and take off on a wave, and how to ride a wave. The last thing experienced surfers want is for inexperienced people to just grab a board, rush into the surf and get in our way. Lessons shorten the learning curve significantly. And they help keep ignorant, un-prepared kooks out of the water and out of the way of more experienced surfers. Beginners should take advantage of renting boards and wetsuits while taking lessons. If it turns out you don't like surfing, you haven't wasted a whole lot of money on gear that you are not going to use. I would most seriously suggest that you find someone (pal or paid instructor) to give you some lessons. Then I would suggest that you always use a base coat of wax. But, waxing your board isn't like waxing your car, something that takes any great deal of time. I bought my most recent board and was in the water with it ten minutes after I left the shop. You rub it on, rail to rail, wherever your feet will be on the board. You use a basecoat (I like Zog's) and then put on a top layer of temeperature appropriate wax (cold, cool, warm, tropical etc.) I like Sticky Bumps, it's good wax. If the water is warm (high 60's-70's) use the warm, otherwise use the cold. The whole process happens pretty quickly, and you can wax your board today and ride it next week if you want. Personally, I always rub on a quick coat before I start a session, or rough up the old wax with a wax comb.