Do You Comb Longboard Wax?

Although it sounds strange, combing wax is essential for every type of surfboard, from the shortest board -- the fish -- to the longboard. Waxing a surfboard keeps your feet and hands anchored to the board. Combing the wax into patterns with ridges and bumps further increases your traction. You also use wax and a wax comb to strip your board of wax to apply a new base coat, which should be done at least once per year and perhaps every three months if you are surfing frequently.

  1. Base Coat

    • Waxing a longboard requires a base coat wax, top coat wax and a wax comb. As the SurfScience website explains, the base coat is the most important step of waxing a board. Top coats get rubbed off as you surf, but the base coat is intended to remain intact. Base coat wax is a harder wax. Apply it using broad strokes on the board until you see a bump pattern begin to emerge. There is no single recommended technique to apply a basecoat, so feel free to experiment until the find a pattern that works best for you.

    Topcoats

    • The wax used for top coats are much softer and tackier, allowing it to cling to your feet and hands. Use a top coat designed for the temperature of the water where you're surfing. The temperature range is listed on the label. Apply the top coat wax the same way you apply the base coat. It's softer ,so you won't have to push down as hard. Replace top coat that flakes off in the water before your next session in the surf. If the wax become flat, use your wax comb to scratch a checkerboard pattern in the top coat to improve traction.

    Longboards vs. Other Surfboards

    • Because you move around a lot on a longboard, with your feet and hands in different positions, SurfScience recommends waxing all of your longboard. The base coat should be 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches deep and the top coat 1 to 2 inches deep. With shorter boards, there's no need to wax the top, except for waxing handholds on each side.

    Considerations

    • Soft and pliable waxes such as beeswax are good choices for combing. In the 1960s, companies began selling waxes in different colors and even different fragrances.

      When you have to comb the top coat frequently to keep it bumpy and sticky, it might be time to refurbish your longboard with a new base coat. You can use your rubber wax comb to
      strip away the base coat until the longboard is in its original slick condition.