How to Keep Your Snowboard In Top Shape: Part 1

The most basic form of a snowboard tune is waxing your snowboard. A properly waxed snowboard will be easier to ride and will extend the life of your snowboard.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Hold the wax to a heated iron and let it drip on board, then smooth it out.

   Many people neglect a snowboard tune. They either don't know about it or don't know how good it is for the boards performance and life. The most basic form of a tune is snowboard waxing.

2. 
   After waxed has cooled to room temperature, scrap it off and finish by buffing with a scotchbrite pad

   Snowboard waxing is need often. It is recommended that you wax your snowboard every 2-3 days, but definitely at least once a week. The base of a snowboard is porous and needs to be moisturized and sealed with wax. A board that is not waxed enough will be dry looking and slow on the mountain. Wax also acts as a protecting barrier against blunt objects. When you have a properly waxed snowboard and you hit a blunt object the wax takes the impact instead of your base. However, if you don't have any wax you will end up gouging a hole in your base.
   
   There are all kinds of wax used in snowboard waxing. If you want to get all technical about the perfect wax then it all depends on the temperature of the snow, how much moisture it has, the snow crystal structure, and how much humidity is in the air. But for the average person a good rule of thumb is the colder the weather is the harder the wax should be, the warmer the weather gets the softer the wax. You are trying to match the hardness of the wax with the snow in order to reduce friction. Too soft a wax and the snow crystals will dig into the wax and slow your riding down. Wax that is too hard will actually increase the friction which also will slow you down.

3. Most Wax manufacturers tell you what temperature you should use which wax in. If you are worried you might apply the wrong snowboard wax for the appropriate temperature you can always put a universal wax on which works in all temperatures. Snowboard waxing is essential and very easy to do. You can wax your own board at home, just don't forget that once you wax it you have to scrap it off. OR you could take your board to a tune shop to get it waxed, but after a while that could get expensive. I hope this information has been helpful and Good Luck!

Tips & Warnings

• Check the resources box below to find out how you can get a free copy of the HOW TO TUNE A SNOWBOARD tune guide, which will teach you all the necessary information on how to tune your snowboard at home.

Resources

• Here is a link to a great SNOWBOARD TUNE GUIDE, $5 or free if you buy something

[snowboa]

on 11/30/2007 great tips on turning, thanks.