How to wax your snowboard

We're going to state the obvious: A clean, well-waxed snowboard will ride better and faster than one that is rough! So it's always surprising to see so many people queuing at ski shops in the resorts to pay top dollar to have their boards waxed. This year, why not plan ahead? With the white stuff just around the corner, now is the time to dig out your snowboard and give it a close inspection. How to wax your snowboard This is fairly easy if you have the right tools. To start with, clean the base of your board with cleaner or wax remover. Fill any small dents with a P-tex candle. Drip it less than a few centimetres above the base of the board. Once it has cooled to room temperature scrape off the excess with a metal scraper or flat metal tool. Now you're ready to wax. It depends on the type of riding you're planning – and the conditions, so take your time to choose the right snowboard wax. To apply the wax use a hot iron and melt the wax on to the board. With a solid coat of wax applied to the base of the board, you can rub the iron from front to back to even it out. Use a plastic scraper to remove all excess wax. An abrasive pad to rough up the wax will make your board glide even better. If in doubt, take the board to a local store to be waxed but never leave it until you arrive at the resort as it will cost you so much more.