Mentally divide your board into four (or more) sections. No need to draw lines, just take a mental note of the sections — this makes the process more manageable and helps you focus on one section of the board at a time.
How to wax a surfboard
— a beginner's guide
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Surfing for Beginners' Guide
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Introduction
Waxing your surfboard might seem like a small detail, but it’s essential for proper grip and being able to stay on your board and not fall off. Whether you’ve just bought your first board or are borrowing a friend’s, knowing how to wax it properly will help you surf better.
In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know as a beginner — step-by-step — about how to wax a surfboard, but also how to choose the right wax. Let’s dive in!
Why do you wax a surfboard?
“Why do you wax a surfboard?” you might wonder. Well, surfboards have smooth and slippery surfaces which allows them to glide through the water. So, if you don’t wax your board it will feel slippery and you’ll struggle to stay on the board — both when paddling and when popping up on your surfboard. If you want to stay on your board — which I assume you do — make sure to wax it properly. In this guide I’ll show you how to wax a surfboard the right way.
Waxing your board properly helps you get better grip and stay on your board, both when paddling out to the lineup and when surfing it
Do you need to wax a soft top surfboard?
The answer is: sometimes.
Soft top surfboards (also called foamies) are designed with a textured surface that’s meant to give you traction without wax. That’s one of the reasons they’re so popular with beginners — they’re low-maintenance and easy to use.
But here’s the thing: If you feel like you’re slipping off your soft top it can help to add a light layer of wax. Use regular surf wax (no base coat needed), apply lightly and avoid over-waxing. Some soft tops just don’t hold wax well, so test a small area first and see how it feels.
What you need to wax a surfboard
What you need to clean it before you wax it:
If you already have wax on your board and plan to clean it – which I recommend if it has not been cleaned for a while and you plan to apply a new base coat – then I recommend the following products:
- Hair dryer (optional) – Use carefully on low heat to warm the wax and make it easier to scrape off. Keep it at a distance to avoid damaging the board. Putting it the sun for a few minutes can work too though!
- Wax comb – A plastic or wooden tool with flat and serrated edges, used to scrape off old wax or rough up the surface to restore grip. You can buy it here.
- Cloth or towel – For wiping your board after removing wax to make sure leftover wax is removed.
- Wax remover or cleaner (optional) – To get rid of the last bits of residue. You can buy it here.
What you need to wax it:
- Base coat wax – A hard wax to use as the foundation. It creates bumps that help the top coat stick and usually only needs to be applied once in a while (not before every session).
- Top coat wax – A softer wax applied over the base coat. This is the wax you’ll reapply before every surf session to keep your board sticky and grippy.
Use a base coat (hard) wax to set the foundation of wax on a clean surfboard every once in a while, then apply a top coat (soft) wax over the base coat before every surf session
How to choose the right wax
The wax recommendations I’ll share here are based on what typically works well — but remember, they’re just that: recommendations.
Surf wax isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different brands feel slightly different, even when labeled for the same temperature, and what works great for one surfer might not be your favorite. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different wax brands and combinations — you might find a mix that gives you even better grip or lasts longer than the ones I suggest.
Surfing is all about feel, and part of the fun is figuring out what works best for you.
Popular brands
Two of the most popular surf wax brands include Sex Wax (Mr. Zog’s Original) and Sticky Bumps. I personally use Sex Wax and that’s the wax I will use as a reference in this guide when recommending what surf wax to use for what water temperature. Be aware that other surf wax brands can have different temperature recommendations, naming systems, or color codes—even if they look similar to Sex Wax. Always take a moment to research the specific brand you’re buying from to make sure you’re choosing the right wax for your water conditions.
Warm water = harder wax, cold water = softer wax
Surf wax comes in different formulas based on water temperature. The temperature affects how soft or hard the wax needs to be in order to stay grippy without melting or becoming too hard.
- Use harder wax in warm and tropical waters – Harder (warm-water) wax is more resistant to melting when exposed to heat. Warmer temperatures soften the wax, so hard wax keeps its structure and grip in the heat. If you use soft (cold-water) wax in warm water, it will get mushy, smear off your board, and melt in the sun, leading to a slippery board and you loosing grip.
- Use softer wax in cold waters – Cold-water wax is designed to stay soft and sticky in lower temperatures. Cold water stiffens wax, so soft wax ensures it remains tacky and grippy even in chilly conditions. If you use hard (warm-water) wax in cold water, it can feel hard and slippery—making it difficult to get proper grip.
Most commonly surfers use the blue Sex Wax as their base coat, and then they choose a top coat depending on the water temperature. A bit further down in this guide I’ll share what wax to use for what temperature.
Do you always use the blue Sex Wax as a base coat?
Most guides I’ve seen recommend using the blue Sex Wax as your base coat, and Sex Wax even brands it specifically for that purpose. It’s their hardest wax, which makes it long-lasting and ideal for tropical and warm water.
But here’s the thing:
You don’t always have to use the blue wax as your base coat.
Some surfers — especially those who surf in cool or cold water like myself — find that the blue wax is too hard and doesn’t get tacky enough to provide good grip, even with a softer top coat. In those cases, it can help to use a slightly softer wax as your base coat. It won’t last as long as the blue base coat, but it can give you better traction in colder conditions.
Tip: Use the hardest wax that still gives you grip for your water temperature. In tropical and warm water, blue is great. In cold water, you might get better results with a softer wax as your base — the red Sex Wax for example.
Waxing isn’t an exact science, and different surfers have different preferences — so don’t be afraid to play around a little and see what works best for you.
What wax to use depending on the water temperature
- Blue Sex Wax — Extra hard wax. Use as top coat in tropic temperatures (~ 26°C / 78°F and above) — also most commonly used as base coat, especially in tropical and warm termperatures
- Red Sex Wax — Hard wax. Use as top coat in warm to mid tropic temperatures (~ 21–29°C / 70–84°F) — sometimes used as base coat in cool or cold temperatures
- Orange Sex Wax — Firm wax. Use as top coat in mid cool to warm temperatures (~ 18–26°C / 64–78°F)
- Green Sex Wax — Soft wax. Use as top coat in cold to cool temperatures (~ 14–23°C / 58–74°F)
- Purple Sex Wax — Extra soft wax. Use as top coat in cold to cool temperatures (~ 9–20°C / 48–68°F)
- Yellow Sex Wax — Extremely soft wax. Use as top coat in extra cold to cold temperatures (~ 14°C / 58°F and below)
Want to purchase wax? Click on the images below to shop.
Examples of combinations (base and top coat combos) you can use in some different scenarios
Ok, now I know this is probably a lot of information to take in and maybe even a bit confusing. To help you out, I have listed some example combinations you could try out in three different water temperatures—tropical, cool, and cold — so you have a clear starting point depending on where you’re surfing. Don’t be afraid to play around a little and see what works best for you.
Example 1: You surf in Bali (tropical water temperature)
- Water temperature – Usually between 27–30 °C / 80–86°F)
- Base coat – Blue Sex Wax
- Top coat – Red Sex Wax
Example 2: You surf in California during summer (cool water temperature)
- Water temperature – Usually between 18–20°C / 65–68°F
- Base coat – Blue Sex Wax or red Sex Wax. The blue wax is harder and stays on for longer but might not give a good enough grip in cool water temperatures. The red wax is slightly softer and might provide better grip, but you might need to add a new base coat more often. Try both to see what you prefer.
- Top coat – Orange Sex Wax
Example 3: You surf in California during winter (cold water temperature)
- Water temperature – Usually between 13–15°C / 56–59°F)
- Base coat – Blue Sex Wax or red Sex Wax. The blue wax is harder and stays on for longer but might not give a good enough grip in cold water temperatures. The red wax is slightly softer and might provide better grip, but you might need to add a new base coat more often. Try both to see what you prefer.
- Top coat – Purple Sex Wax
The colder the water, the softer the wax should be. In warm or tropical water, use a harder wax so it doesn’t melt.
Step-by-step: How to wax a surfboard
1. Clean your board
How often you should clean your board
If you already have wax on your board and it has not been cleaned for a while I recommend you start by cleaning it. If you are planning to add a layer of new base coat you should clean it first. Cleaning your board ensures the new wax sticks properly and gives you consistent grip without old, dirty, or slippery layers getting in the way.
How often you should clean your board depends a bit on how often you surf. Some people do it every month and others do it every six months or even less frequently. When it starts flaking off in chunks, looks dirty, or you just feel like your grip is starting to fade, it’s probably time to give your board a proper clean and rewax.
How to clean your board
Use a wax comb to scrape off the old wax, then wipe down the board with a cloth or towel to remove any leftover residue. For easier removal, place your board in the sun for a few minutes beforehand (or gently use a hair dryer) — the warmth softens the wax and makes it easier to scrape off. Some surfers also like to use a wax remover or cleaner to get rid of the last bits of residue.
2. Find an appropriate place to wax your board
Find a cool area to wax your board in, especially if you are in a tropical climate — otherwise your wax might melt and smudge when you’re applying the wax. Sit in the shadow or maybe even in a cool and air-conditioned room.
3. Apply the base coat wax
How often you should apply a base coat
The base coat is a hard wax you’ll use as the foundation. It creates bumps that help the top coat stick. The base coat takes some time and effort to apply, but the good news is that it normally only needs to be applied once in a while and not before every surf session. Base boat should be applied on a clean board.
How to apply a base coat
There are some different techniques to apply the base coat. In this guide I’ll show you how to apply it using the crosshatch technique. The crosshatch pattern looks like a series of overlapping lines that form small diamond shapes across your board.
Take your time with this step — if your base coat is applied properly, it will give your top coat better grip and last much longer = you won’t need to reapply wax as often.
Follow step A-F below to apply your base coat.
A) Outline the edges (optional)
Outline the edges of the area where you want to apply wax on the surfboard. This step is optional — some find that it can help, especially if they are not planning to wax the entire board.
B) Draw a crosshatch pattern (vertical and diagonal lines)
Add some pressure and draw a crosshatch pattern within the area you have outlined on the board. Do this by making vertical lines with the wax and then going over them with diagonal lines to create a diamond-shaped pattern, using the sharp edge of the wax.
C) Mentally divide your board into sections
D) Make vertical strokes
Now it’s time to make vertical strokes on each section of the board.
Start with one section and use the side of the wax (not the sharp edge). Make about 10 light and quick vertical strokes on each area of that section until you have waxed the entire section. You should start to see small bumps forming. Repeat the process for each of the remaining sections.
E) Make horizontal strokes
Next, make horizontal strokes on each section of the board.
Again, start with one section and use the side of the wax (not the sharp edge). Make about 10 light and quick horizontal strokes on each area of that section until you have waxed the entire section. Repeat the process for each of the remaining sections. By the end of this step you should definitely see small bumps of wax on the board.
F) Make small circles
Lastly, make small, circular motions on each section of the board. Do not press to hard as that might cause the wax to smudge. Instead, do light circular motions using the edge on the side of the wax. The bumps should now grow a bit bigger.
4. Apply the top coat wax
How often you should apply a top coat
The top coat wax is a wax you normally apply before every surf session.
How to apply a top coat
Now that you have a proper base coat in place it’s time to add the top coat. When it comes to the top coat, less is more if you have done the base coat job properly. The reason for this is that the top coat wax is softer and smudges more, and you’ll want to avoid smudge — so apply a light layer.
Use the edge of the wax and lightly apply the top coat in small, circular motions on each section of the board. After this step, you’re done and ready to surf!
Quiz: test your knowledge
Comments
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