Have you ever slid down a kamikaze slide at a water park?
Imagine flying down Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon when you visit Disney World.
It might be how you’ll feel when you’re gaining lots of speed rocketing down the face of a massive wave on a slippery bodyboard.
Should I Wax My Bodyboard?
Yes, you should definitely wax your bodyboard. It’s something the majority of bodyboarders do in a few specific areas at the very least. There are no hard and fast rules saying it’s absolutely essential, but you’re less likely to run into problems when riding bigger waves.
Why You Need Bodyboard Wax
You’ll always be able to find some people who say you shouldn’t bother with wax. There is some truth to what they say and we’ll look at their arguments later on. But first we’re going to discuss some of the biggest reasons why it’s worth using wax especially if you’re a beginner:
- Best bodyboard features
- Performing cool tricks
- Different riding styles
- Easier to keep improving
1 – Best bodyboard features – Even the best beginner bodyboards come packed with unbelievable features to help you tackle big waves. Here are a few examples of bodyboard features engineered to provide you with a better riding experience:
- Shaped tails designed to give you more control
- Channels to give you much more grip when riding
- A rail ratio offering you extra boost in control
Those are just a few of the features you’ll find on excellent beginner boards like the Custom X Titan, but do you realize what they have in common? Every single one is meant to help you stay in control even though you’re riding thunderous and powerful waves.
So why would you make life harder on yourself by throwing away some of that control? Don’t forget large waves are unforgiving and you want to be in charge of your own destiny. That isn’t easy when you keep slipping off your bodyboard every 5 minutes due to a lack of wax.
2 – Performing cool tricks – Riding waves is fun when you’re just getting started. But after you’ve been bodyboarding for a while you’ll want to start learning amazing tricks. Will you be able to resist these kinds of tricks when the waves you ride start to get boring:
- Inverts
- Wave face 360s
- Aerial roll spins
Let’s focus our attention towards 360s for a few seconds. When performing spins you’ll get into position using your bodyboard fins. Once you start spinning your hands and belly will be the only things in contact with the board. How will you be able to stay on without wax?
It will feel like riding a bucking bronco after someone has cranked it up to full speed and there will be nothing to hold onto. Bodyboard wax will be one of the main things stopping you from falling into the water. The same thing applies to all kinds of tricks including landing big airs.
3 – Different riding styles – It’s not hard to ride smaller waves in the prone position without bodyboard wax. The large surface area of your body will be in contact with the board automatically giving you extra grip. But there are a few other ways you’ll want to ride your bodyboard:
- Drop knee bodyboarding
- Stand up bodyboarding
In each of those riding styles less of your body will be touching the board. Less surface area contact means more chance of sliding around. We’ve not even touched on the fact that each of these styles will require a lot more balance than riding lying down.
Once you begin to master bodyboarding you’ll eventually move onto these styles. If you already have a good bodyboard for big guys you won’t even need to get a new one, so don’t limit the amount of ways you’ll be able to have fun when you hit the water for the sake of a little wax.
4 – Easier to keep improving – Everyone who starts bodyboarding begins their journey on smaller waves. Over the course of a few months or years they begin riding big ones. The amount of progress you make depends on how quickly you get used to extra powerful waves.
You won’t be able to improve at a quick pace if you keep falling off your bodyboard every time you go out. If you can stick to the board instead of sliding off you’ll be flying around on monster waves in no time. So a great bodyboard, flippers, and wax are three essentials you’ll need.
You Don’t Need To Wax Your Bodyboard
Waxing your bodyboard might come in extremely handy, but it’s not absolutely essential. We know this because lots of bodyboarders (even professionals) don’t bother using it. Some people find it’s best to avoid wax for a couple of big reasons:
- Sliding up and down
- Shifting weight around
There will be times where it’s important to slide up and down on the board, as long as you don’t fly off the end. Shifting your weight around aggressively offers you massive advantages too. It’s much harder to do when you’re almost stuck to your bodyboard like glue.
In the beginning, it’s quite difficult to resist using wax because new boards have that shiny and slippery look unless it's an inflatable bodyboard. But it doesn’t last when you’ve been out in the sea a few times. Polyethylene is a lot less slippery than one might think.
Waxing Your Bodyboard In The Right Places
If you want to wax your bodyboard there are a few places in particular where it’s useful. Waxing around the nose is the number one place you should aim for because it’s where your hands will be most of the time. Other places where your body comes into contact with the board help too.
Here are the body parts you’ll need to pay attention to:
- Chest
- Elbows
- Forearms
- Hips
- Lower abs
Your hands will grab the board up and down the rails too. If you hit those areas there will be less chance of having a big wipeout in dangerous waves. Just don’t use too much wax because less is always more and it’s not easy to get off.
We mentioned the fact some bodyboarders hate using wax. They definitely wouldn’t use it anywhere near their chest or stomach, but they might wax the nose of the board. Some riders will use it occasionally depending on the waves they’re tackling.
Applying wax to your board is a very personal thing, so you should figure out what works best for you. This even includes the type of wax you use and the size of your bodyboard.
The Best Wax For Your Bodyboard
Don’t go out and buy the first surf wax you find. All wax isn’t created equal even though it’s almost identical. There are a few things you should take into consideration before picking any up. Here are the most important ones to look out for:
- Water temperature
- Environmentally friendly
- Color
Water temperature – Some bodyboard wax is designed to be used in tropical waters. Maybe it’s best for water temperatures over 75 degrees fahrenheit. One the other side of the spectrum you have surf wax that excels when used in colder waters.
Environmentally friendly – The ocean shouldn’t have to suffer because you want to go bodyboarding. If you want to stay eco-friendly make sure you use non-toxic wax, which is completely natural and biodegradable. The fish and flora will thank you.
Color – Stick to white wax if possible. It basically just helps to keep your board looking good.
If you’re looking for a good recommendation that fulfills all these requirements you should check out Sticky Bumps Original surf wax.
Bodyboard Wax Combines Well With Bodyboard Fins
I’m sure you’ll have a bodyboard with amazing features designed to give you more grip and control on waves. You’re obviously interested in boosting these by using wax, so don’t forget to use the best bodyboard fins too.
It’s the perfect trifecta when you’re riding big waves. Bodyboarders with no fins and wax really struggle in massive ones.
If you want to take your control to the next level while increasing your kicking power at the same time check out the Churchill Makapuu Pro bodyboard fins.
