Surf Talk Guru

Keeping your surfboard deck clean is one of the least discussed topics in surfing, but it is an important one. A lot of surfers keep their boards waxed up all the time, never cleaning it off and looking underneath. Dings can occur on the deck and you’d never see them if you didn’t strip the wax once in awhile. The top can also delaminate, or separate the fiberglass from foam, which you’d want to know about before it’s too late.

If, in this soon-to-be dreary Oregon coast weather, you plan to take a surf trip to somewhere warmer, you’re going to need to strip off your cold water wax with a wax comb and wax remover and get your boards ready for the heat. Start with the base coat of your favorite surf wax (mine is 100% natural and organic Matunas Surf Wax). Research the water temperature of the place you’re going. Cool water wax is designed for water about 56F to 68F, warm water wax will work best in 64F to 74F water, and tropical is for water 75F and above. Buy a few bars of the correct wax to bring along with you.