Essential Snowboard Maintenance

Once you’ve found the right snowboard, you want to take good care of it. That way, you can enjoy every ride. 

Follow these tips for essential snowboard maintenance, and you’ll get the most of each turn:

How to Wax a Snowboard

There’s nothing like a freshly waxed snowboard. You can easily do it yourself to get a smooth surface with as little drag as possible.

First, wipe the bottom of your board with a rag and some rubbing alcohol.

Then, using a heated waxing iron, drip some wax onto the surface of the board. A zig-zag pattern of drips across the surface will be plenty.

Run the waxing iron the length of the board. Move steadily to make sure the wax is spread evenly without lingering so long that the surface blisters.

Let the board cool completely.

Run a wax scraper the entire length of the board to remove excess wax. Hold the scraper firmly at a 45-degree angle. Repeat until no more wax shavings come off. Then use the short side of your scaper to get the edges.

Using a waxing brush, wipe the length of the board. Then follow that with a softer bristle brush or Scotch-Brite pad to give it the perfect finish.

How often do you wax a snowboard?

You should do it after a few full days of boarding. You can also take a look at your board. If it looks dull with an uneven finish—or if it feels like it’s dragging when you ride on flat surfaces—give it a wax.

How to Set Up Snowboard Bindings

Setting up your own bindings is a great way to get to know your board and customize it to your preferences. All you should need in addition to the hardware that came with your board is a screwdriver (usually a Phillips head).

First, decide which is your lead foot. Then place your board with the tip on the side of your lead foot. The logo will tell you which end is the tip.

Place the mount over the screw holes and decide what angle you want your front foot to be angled toward the tip. Use the angle guide on the mount. A good starting place is 15-18 degrees.

Once you have the position set, lightly screw in the screws. Before tightening them, place your boot in the binding to ensure it doesn’t hang over too much, especially at the toe. Once you are satisfied with the placement, tighten the screws without overtightening.

Repeat the same steps with the rear foot, but opt for a lower degree of rotation toward the back, about six to eight degrees.

How to Sharpen Snowboard Edges

Learning how to sharpen snowboard edges can be intimidating when doing it for the first time. But it’s actually fairly straightforward. If your board has significant damage to the edges, you should take it to your favorite shop for work.

First, prop up your snowboard–bindings down and level. If you have a vice, great. If not, you can use two stacks of books or similar objects.

Then, lightly run a rag along the edge to feel for knicks and dings (to avoid cutting yourself). Once you’ve found the spots that need the most sharpening, go over them with your diamond stone to smooth them out. Only contact the edge and not the surface of your board.

Use a gummy stone to work out rust.

Once the trouble spots are worked out, take the diamond stone and run it along the entire edge of your board from tip to tail. Hold it at an angle to create the sharp edge you’re after, and try to move the stone at a steady pace with even pressure.

Finally, add some rubbing alcohol to the rag and run it along the board’s edge to remove shavings.

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