You don’t want to wax the wrong areas on your bodyboard, but forgetting to wax the right areas is just as bad.
Do you want to enjoy your day, as opposed to getting thrown around in the waves like a hundred pound cowboy riding a crazy bull?
We’re going to look at how to wax a bodyboard like the professionals so you’ll be able to tackle anything in the water.
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How To Wax A Bodyboard: Main Steps
Let’s assume you’ve messed around with the best bodyboards but you’ve never actually waxed one before. When starting from scratch you’ll need to do a few things in a particular order for optimum results. Here is a quick list of the main steps you’ll need to take:
- Choose the right wax
- Waxing the right areas
- Avoiding certain areas
- Applying the wax
1 – Choose the right wax – Depending on where you are on holiday it might be possible to pick up good bodyboarding wax. It’s still better to take some with you just in case. You need to make sure you get the right kind because surf shops might only carry certain waxes.
Sticky Bumps wax is extremely popular in bodyboarding circles. It’s environmentally friendly and works effectively. There are even different kinds based on the sea temperature, which we’ll look at later on. Keep some in your bag and you’ll always be ready to top up when necessary.
2 – Waxing the right areas – When it comes to where to wax a bodyboard there are only two rules you have to follow:
- Only wax areas where your body comes into contact with the board
- Avoid areas where you want to have more freedom of movement
Most bodyboarders will wax two specific areas on their boards:
- Nose
- Rails
Nose – You’ll spend the majority of your time grabbing onto the nose of your board. It’s important you’re able to grip it as tightly as possible. If you don’t understand now, you will once you come up against huge waves. Focus your efforts on the corners of the bodyboard nose.
Rails – When you’re lying on your board your forearms and elbows will be resting on the top of the board beside the rails. Plus when you’re trying to maneuver in waves your hands will grab the sides of the board. So the wax should be spread around the entire upper rails section.
Please Note: The reason wax is crucial in these areas is because it has a big impact on your performance. If you want to take your performance to the next level don’t forget to wear the best bodyboarding fins too. They’ll be just as important when you’re tackling monster waves.
3 – Avoiding certain areas – There are some areas of your board where wax might leave you at a disadvantage trying to catch waves. The main part of your board where your chest and stomach rest is a good example. If your bodyboard is too sticky you might not be able to slide your body up and down.
Stickiness on certain parts of the bodyboard could affect your ability to shift your weight around easily too. There is no rule saying you must wax your board in certain places. The nose and rails are pretty important, but as for everywhere else follow this simple advice:
- If you feel like you need to apply wax somewhere do it
- If you feel like you need to remove wax somewhere do it
I know it might sound confusing if you don’t have a lot of experience bodyboarding, but it won’t take long until you’ll know exactly what suits your needs.
4 – Applying the wax – Less is more when it comes to putting wax on your boogie board. You can always apply another layer if you don’t have enough, but removing wax in the middle of a bodyboarding session is a nightmare.
Using too much is also a complete waste of money, especially if you have a large bodyboard for big guys with more area to wax.
The circle method is a popular way to apply wax to your bodyboard. You just need to use light pressure to rub the wax in small circles. Due to the fact bodyboards are much smaller than surfboards it’s not going to take too long.
Don’t go too fast or you might end up missing an area. And don't bother waxing an inflatable bodyboard because they're quite popular at the moment.
Bodyboard Wax vs Surfboard Wax
Is there a difference between bodyboard wax and surfboard wax? Yes, but it’s not going to make a huge difference to you. Wax designed specifically for bodyboards tends to be stickier than normal surfboard wax, which surfers don’t like because it feels like standing on glue.
But it doesn’t cause the same problems for bodyboarders and it's probably better when you're bodyboarding in large waves.
You’ll be able to use either kind of wax without any problems. Just make sure you don’t apply the wax under direct sunlight. The intense heat will cause the wax to smear and you won’t be able to apply it effectively.
How Often Should You Wax Your Bodyboard?
You should apply wax to your bodyboard before every session, especially in large powerful waves where you're doing cool tricks. But don’t fret if you accidentally leave it at home. The real question should be how often you remove the wax from your board and start from scratch.
How To Remove Wax From Your Bodyboard
Eventually your board will end up with a thick heavy layer of dirty wax you’ll be desperate to remove, because it feels as horrible as bodyboarding without fins.
But before you can start afresh you’ll need to take the old wax off correctly. Let’s look at some of the most obvious ways you can accomplish it without damaging your bodyboard:
- Hot water
- Blow dryer
- Towel
- Hot sand
Hot water – Once you get home you can fill a bucket up with hot water and pour it over your board. You’re not trying to melt your bodyboard so make sure the water isn’t too hot. Do not use boiling water from a kettle. Apply small amounts at a time until you notice the wax starting to soften up.
Blow dryer – If you have easy access to a blow dryer it’s a good way to melt the wax on your board. Hold the blow dryer at a diagonal angle so it’s not directly blasting hot air onto your board. And avoid holding it too close. Check regularly and you’ll soon notice the wax begin to melt.
Towel – Using a towel isn’t the optimum way to remove the surf wax on your bodyboard, but it’s one of the easiest ways if you’re still at the beach. When you rub the towel back and forth the friction will cause the wax to heat up. When it’s soft enough you’ll be able to scrape it off.
Hot sand – Lastly, you can use hot sand to remove surf wax if you have no other choice. If you scoop lots of sand onto your bodyboard where the wax has been applied it will start to warm it up. Don’t waste your time if the sand isn’t hot because you’ll be waiting around forever.
Surfboard/Bodyboard Wax Comb
These are the top ways to melt the wax on your bodyboard. When it’s soft enough use a good wax comb to scrape everything off. Get into the habit of following a certain pattern so you don’t miss any areas. If you don’t have a wax comb you can always use something like the side of a credit card.
Please Note: It’s also possible to melt the surf wax on your bodyboard using direct sunlight, but it’s definitely not recommended. It will only have a negative impact on the longevity of your bodyboard. You should never leave your bodyboard out in the sun for too long.
The Right Bodyboard Wax Based On Sea Temperature
In warm tropical conditions it’s best to use hard wax on your bodyboard. Softer wax is used in colder conditions where the water temperature will dip below a certain level. Once you know where you’ll be bodyboarding check the temperature rating on your surf wax.
How To Wax A Bodyboard Easily
Although it might seem daunting at first waxing your bodyboard will become second nature after a few sessions in the waves. You’ll quickly find out which areas it should go on and how often to apply it. But more importantly you’ll realize how hard bodyboarding would be without it.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the specific surf wax you use as long as it’s suitable for the water conditions you’ll be bodyboarding in. You can always click on the links to read the unbiased reviews on Amazon because collecting information from multiple people is never a bad thing.