Iʻve been surfing for a long time, but just picked up my first soft top surfboard just a few months ago to teach my 6 year old son to surf. The perfect board for learning on, I thought Iʻd try it out to see how it rode.
I figured that since the deck of the board was a little rough that I wouldnʻt need to wax it like I do my normal surfboards. Boy was I wrong. I managed to get up, but it was slippery. I fell off on almost every wave. Good thing I tried it out first before pushing my son into waves.
While it is possible to pop up on an unwaxed foam surfboard, we recommend applying a thin layer of wax to give the deck of your board more traction. The best type of wax to use for a foam surfboard would be bodyboard wax, specially formulated for foam decks.
Once I applied some onto my soft top board, the whole experience changed. I was able to stand up with ease and even begin to ride it more like my traditional surfboards. So even though some may insist that waxing a foam surfboard is not necessary, I am here to tell you that a little cube of wax will be your best friend.
If youʻre interested, you can click here to learn a bit more about why surfers wax their boards.
So how do you wax a foam (soft top) surfboard? Letʻs find out.
First Off, What is a Soft Top Surfboard?
Soft tops are made from Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam blanks that are then shaped into the typical surfboard shape, before being treated with fiberglass or synthetic wrap. The final stage is the addition of a textured sheet called Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA).
Just as the name suggests, this particular type of surfboard is one that has a soft and dentable deck, squidgy and spongy to touch, and unlike the similarly composed hard top surfboards, these boards do not have an additional polyester or epoxy resin layer.
Let’s look at surfboard manufacturer South Bay Board Co. for example. Their Verve series, with it’s custom fingerprint-textured IXPE (Irradiation Cross-linked Polyethylene) foam, claims to remove any need for wax.
Sure, these new and improved boards can help you land waves without the assistance of wax, but if someone told you that you could drive through snowy conditions with less mishaps by having chains on your wheels, would you turn down this additional help? My first guess is no.
So, let’s get waxing.
How To Wax A Foam Surfboard?
If, like me, you’re itching to get out there, so let’s just stick with the basics and keep it simple. Just a nice, thin and evenly applied coat. Save yourself time, money and an aching arm by avoiding inch thick waxing with perfect little bumps, there’s no need!
The criss-cross method:
- Before you start, double check your board is nice and clean.
- Figure out roughly where you place your hands and feet on your board when you stand. You can even practice a pop up on land to gauge where you need to wax.
- Apply the wax at a slight angle with some pressure in long, diagonal lines across the deck in one direction, down the full length of the board. Try to keep a few inches between each line.
- Then, in the opposite direction, repeat this process again, starting from the top. As you do this, you will see a crosshatch pattern forming. It can take some time before you notice much of a build up of wax on the board.
- Try not to go below the rail with the wax, as this can cause extra resistance and slow you down in the water.
- Once you have finished this, using small circular motions, lightly go over the whole board again, filling in the diamond shapes. Be sure to spread the wax over the area of the board that your body will be in contact with.
- Small wax bumps should be visible now on your board, all similar in size.
- Anytime after this, it is just a matter of lightly waxing your board before each surf session.
Best Kind Of Wax To Use For A Foamie
Think of the foam top surfboard as a cousin of the bodyboard. Bodyboard wax is ideal for any foamie. Theyʻre now making wax specially formulated for soft tops but itʻs pretty much the same as body board wax. You can find this stuff online and in nearly all surf stores.
Depending on the temperature of the water you are surfing in, it is vital that you use the right wax for the right conditions. All you need to do is look up the temperature of the water you find yourself in, and the hard work has been done.
Leading brands such as Sticky Bumps and Catch Surf specialize in producing wax designed for soft top surfboards that work in all conditions: cold, cool, warm and tropical waters.
Soft tops already have a built in grip, so a base coat might not be completely necessary. But if you fancy adding a bit more security to your surf, get yourself Zog’s Sexwax Quick Humps, which can double up as both a base coat and your top layer.
After speaking to professional surfer and 2021 WSL competitor Oney Anwar, he confirmed the importance of wax when it comes to surfing in different waters around the world. During our chat, he stated that “using wax on any kind of board is super significant.” (Anwar, Oney. Interview. By Nadine Connolly. 13 February 2022).
How Do You Remove Old Wax From A Soft Top Surfboard?
Time to give your board some love. Removing old wax can be somewhat therapeutic, getting to strip back to the original canvas before re-waxing.
If you have the luxury of living in a wonderfully warm climate, go ahead and leave your board to sit in the sun for a bit, this will help melt the wax. No sun? Enter; the trusty hair dryer or heat lamp. Keep the heat evenly distributed, until you notice the wax starting to melt.
Using an old cloth and a bit of elbow grease, just wipe off the wax and repeat this process until your board starts to resemble it’s original, beautiful self.
Alternatively, you can also pick up other wax removal tools. But be careful, I wouldnʻt choose to use something like a wax comb for a soft top for reasons you can learn about in this article.
Instead, I recommend the Wax Pickle Surf Wax Remover, which you can get in most stores or online. With your weapon of choice, begin to remove the old wax until you have a fresh looking deck.
Old, lingering wax may actually interfere with your new application, so invest your time into removing it fully.
One last thing, take care here and don’t damage your soft top board when scraping off wax, they can get scratched pretty easily. Show it the same love it shows you when it carries you on those waves!
