How to Maintain a Snowboard

A snowboard needs to be regularly maintained to ensure optimal performance. Any snowboard shop will tune your snowboard, but the process is simple enough to be done at home. To properly maintain a snowboard, follow these steps:

Things You'll Need

  • Carborundun or diamond stone
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Snowboard base cleaner
  • P-Tex candle
  • Scraper
  • Snowboard wax
  • Hot iron
  • Abrasive pad
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      The metal edge of the snowboard needs to remain sharp to deliver solid turns and control in the snow. Take a carborundum or diamond stone and drag it around the circumference of your snowboard edge. This is called deburring and removes nicks and burrs that dull the metal. Once complete, run your finger along the edge to locate additional burrs and repeat if necessary. Ideally, deburring should be done after each day of riding.

    • 2

      Next, you'll want to clean the bottom of the board to maintain smoothness. Wipe off excess dirt with a clean cloth, then use a specialized snowboard base cleaner to dissolve the wax and further remove impurities. Allow the cleaner to evaporate and then wipe the surface again with the cloth.

    • 3

      Check the base of the snowboard for gouges or scrapes from rocks and other mountain debris. Small gouges can be fixed by lighting a P-Tex candle and allowing the wax drops to fall into the damaged area. Let the wax cool and then use a scraper to smooth out the surface. Larger gouges should be repaired at your local shop.

    • 4

      Once the bottom of the snowboard is nice and smooth, it's time to rewax. Use a hot iron to melt snowboard wax onto the base of your board. Run the hot iron over the length of the board to smooth out the wax. Let the wax cool and use a plastic scraper to remove any excess wax. An abrasive pad can also be used if necessary.