Snowboarding is a great recreational activity if you like to get some exercise, fresh air, and views of mountain tops and hills. Some winter sports are only enjoyable once you’ve mastered the basics and honed your skills. On the other hand, Snowboarding can be fun even if you’re a beginner. However, one thing that can make or break your experience is your equipment. If you use old, worn, or broken equipment, you likely won’t enjoy snowboarding that much and might fall or hurt yourself. For this reason, you must use high-quality equipment that is well maintained.
Read ahead to learn how to maintain a snowboard and keep it in good condition.
How to Maintain a Snowboard
A good quality snowboard can be quite expensive but is well worth the money because if you maintain it properly, it will last you many years. Let’s look at how you can keep your snowboard well maintained in just 7 steps.
1. Prepare the Snowboard Before Your First Time Out on the Snow
If you have bought a brand new snowboard and want to take it out on the snow, it is probably ready to go and doesn’t need much preparation. This is because most snowboards come with what is known as a “factory wax.”
This means that wax is applied to the snowboard when it is manufactured. Even if it has been a few months since you bought the snowboard and it hasn’t been used, you don’t really need to re-wax it. However, Pro snowboarders will all agree that a new coat of hot wax will make the snowboarding experience better.
Other than waxing, a new snowboard might need a bit of detuning. This is because many new snowboards come with very sharp metal edges along with the nose and the tail ends of the board. The edges can be buffed a bit to avoid hurting yourself on them.
2. Wax Your Board Often
There is no general rule on how often you should be waxing your snowboard. It depends on the type of board you have, how often you ride it, the kind of terrain you ride on, and how fast you want to go. It would be good to wax your snowboard after every three to five rides. While many people prefer to get their boards professionally waxed, you can get a kit and do it yourself too.
If your board is starting to look dry or is getting slower on the snow, you’ll know it’s time for a re-wax. Alternatively, you can try scraping a fingernail across the board. If wax does not collect on your nail, you may need to apply a fresh coat.
A great wax kit we recommend is the Demon Complete Ski and Snowboard Tune Kit with Wax and Brush Kit (ASIN: B01M59DAJO). The kit includes everything you would need to re-wax and tune your snowboard, including a handheld waxing iron, a flat file, an edge tuner, a scraper, a tuning stone, various sized wire brushes, a polishing pad, a p-tex candle, and a carry case to hold everything.
3. Tune Your Board Often
It is normal for the metal edges of your snowboard to get a bit rusty and rough. Tuning the board, or sharpening the edges, will restore the board to its original condition. You’ll need a diamond stone, a gummy stone, and an edge sharpener to get the job done. Like with waxing, there is no general rule on how often you need to tune your board. Monitor the edges and sharpen them as you see fit. You can read a more detailed account of how to tune your snowboard here or watch a few videos online for a better idea.
4. Avoid Risky Surfaces When Snowboarding
One of the best ways to maintain your snowboard and keep it in good condition is by avoiding risky surfaces while you’re out on the snow. Prevention is a great way to ensure your snowboard stays safe and solid for many years. Avoid exposed and jagged rocks, and ride carefully when it is late in the season, and the snow coverage isn’t that great.
5. Deal with Scratches and Gashes Sooner Rather Than Later
If you do unexpectedly run into a jagged rock or uneven surface and end up with gashes or scratches to your board, you should deal with them quickly and not put it off too late. Repairing most scratches and gashes is easy enough that you can do it at home. All you need to do is buff out the scratches with a fresh coat of hot wax. If there is a deeper gash, you can use a p-tex candle to fix it. Core shots are gashes that go deep into the board and past the laminate layers. These can also be fixed with a little more time and effort.
6. Be Sure to Dry Off and Clean Your Snowboard After Every Use
Keeping your board clean and dry is absolutely essential! After every ride, be sure to wipe off any snow stuck to the board or trapped in the bindings. If you don’t do this, the snow will melt and create moisture, which can then cause the board to get rusty.
It is also important to clean your snowboard every now and then, especially before putting it away at the end of the season. First, wipe it off with a cloth to remove any dirt or debris from the surface. Then, use a citrus-based cleaner on a soft rag and clean the surface gently. We recommend using the Ski and Snowboard Orange Base Cleaner (ASIN: B01MSZJSRW). You can also buy it in a set with a Demon Wax block.
7. Store Your Snowboard Safely
And finally, the last step in proper snowboard maintenance is to store your board away safely at the end of the season. Clean the board thoroughly, wipe off any dirt and debris, deal with any scratches or gashes, tune the board if needed, and add a thick layer of wax that can be scraped off next season. Once you’ve done all of this, store the board in a protective cover and keep it in a dry place. When you take it out to use it next season, it’ll be ready to take out on the snow.
Our Final Thoughts
A good quality snowboard will last you many years if you maintain it well. We outlined how to maintain a snowboard in 7 easy steps for you to follow. Things like tuning and waxing your snowboard can seem intimidating at first but are actually quite simple once you get the hang of it and if you have the right materials. But don’t worry, because you can also have this maintenance work done professionally at a snowboarding store.
