News
Before you shove your board in the back of the cupboard until your next trip, it is worth ten minutes of thought. A board that gets put away dirty and dry in September is a slow, sticky board on your first run in Niseko in January — and by then you are three flights and a rental car away from anyone who can fix it.
Until Wednesday 30 September we are running a full snowboard service for $50, or two boards for $75, at our Richmond workshop. Bring it back before you fly and we scrape it for free.
If you are not in Melbourne, scroll down — the second half of this article is how to do the same job yourself at home.
Why a September service matters more than a pre-trip one
Most riders think of waxing as something you do right before you ride. For a base that is about to sit for three or four months, that is backwards.
A snowboard base is P-Tex — a porous plastic that holds wax the way a sponge holds water. When it runs dry it oxidises: the base goes chalky and white around the edges, it gets harder, and it stops absorbing wax properly. That damage is not fully reversible with one hot wax. A thick coat of storage wax left on over summer keeps moisture and air out of the base material and stops the edges from rusting in a humid Melbourne garage.
The second reason is timing. A board dropped in during September comes back to you ready. A board dropped in during the first week of December is competing with every other Japan-bound rider in the city, at the exact moment the workshop is busiest.
What is in the full service
- Base clean — old wax, dirt and last season's resort grime lifted out of the base so the new wax actually penetrates.
- Edge sharpen and deburr — burrs knocked off, rust spots removed, edges brought back to a clean bevel.
- Summer storage wax — a thick coat of hot wax ironed in and left on. We do not scrape it. That layer is the protection.
- Bindings checked over — screws, baseplates, straps, ratchets and buckles checked for wear and tear.
- Boots checked over — liners, laces, BOA dials and cables checked for the failures that end a day on the mountain.
- A free scrape before you fly — bring it back any time before you leave and we take the storage wax off and buff it so the board is fast from your first run.
Skis are welcome too — same service, same price.
Full workshop pricing, including standalone hot waxes and base repairs, is on our waxing, tuning and repairs page.
The offer
$50 for one board. $75 for two. Bring a mate and split it, or bring your own two. No booking needed — drop in at 435A Bridge Road, Richmond, open seven days. Offer ends Wednesday 30 September.
The bit most people skip: bindings and boots
A dry base is annoying. A snapped strap or a frayed BOA cable on day one of a seven-day trip is a different problem entirely. Parts that are trivial to replace in Richmond are difficult to source in a Japanese resort village, and a full day of a Japan trip costs you far more than the part does.
What we look at:
- Ratchets — the most common failure. They wear out quietly and then let go under load.
- Straps and ladders — cracking at the fold points, stripped teeth on the ladder.
- Baseplate screws — the ones that back out over a season and get lost.
- BOA dials and cables — fraying at the guides. Most BOA systems carry a lifetime warranty and we handle those repairs in-house.
- Liners and laces — packed out liners, laces on the edge of snapping.
More on what a proper season's end looks like in our guide to taking care of your snowboard at the end of the season.
Not in Melbourne? Here is how to do it yourself
Storage waxing is one of the genuinely easy jobs. If you are interstate, or you just like doing your own gear, this is the short version — the full step-by-step is in how to wax your snowboard at home.
What you need
- A waxing iron — a dedicated one, not the household iron. A household iron has steam holes and a thermostat that swings wildly, and that is how bases get burnt.
- All-temperature hot wax.
- A plastic scraper.
- A nylon brush or a scouring pad.
- A gummy stone for edge rust.
- A base cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag.
Everything above is in our snowboard tuning kits, and we ship Australia-wide. If you want a breakdown of what is worth buying, read our rundown on Demon tune kits.
The steps
- Bring the board to room temperature and lay it base-up on a stable bench or across two chairs.
- Clean the base. Base cleaner or isopropyl on a rag, wipe nose to tail, let it dry completely. Waxing over dirt just seals the dirt in.
- Deal with the edges. Run a gummy stone along both edges to take off rust spots and burrs. Rust left on over summer eats into the steel.
- Loosen your binding screws a few turns, or take the bindings off entirely. Tight screws conduct heat from the iron into the inserts.
- Drip the wax on. Hold the bar against the iron about 10 cm above the base and let it drip in two lines down the length of the board.
- Iron it in nose to tail, keeping the iron moving at all times. If the wax smokes, the iron is too hot — turn it down. Never let the iron rest in one spot.
- Stop there. This is the part that is different from a normal wax: do not scrape it. Leave the thick coat on for the whole summer. It comes off in ten minutes when you are ready to ride.
- Store it properly. Base-up or standing upright, indoors, somewhere with a stable temperature. Not a tin shed, not a car boot, not a garage that hits 45°C in February.
When you are ready to fly
Scrape the storage wax off with a plastic scraper, nose to tail, until no visible wax is left. Brush or buff it out. Check your edges again. The board is ready.
If that sounds like a job you would rather not do in a hotel room the night before you fly, that is exactly why we do the scrape for free when the board is serviced here.
Heading to Japan?
A few other things worth reading before you go: our Japan snowboarding survival guide for Australians, the top ten Japan arrival hacks, and our snowboard trip packing checklist. For board bags and travel gear, see snowboard travel essentials.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the $50 full service?
Base clean, edge sharpen and deburr, a Summer storage wax, and a check over your boots and bindings for wear and tear. Two boards are $75. Skis are included at the same price.
Do I need to book?
No. Drop in at 435A Bridge Road, Richmond any time before Wednesday 30 September. We are open seven days.
What is a storage wax and how is it different from a normal wax?
A storage wax is a thick coat of hot wax that is ironed in and deliberately left unscraped. It seals the base against air and moisture over the months the board is not being ridden, and stops the base drying out and the edges rusting. A normal wax is scraped and buffed so the board is ready to ride straight away.
Why should I do this in September rather than before my trip?
Because the damage happens while the board is sitting. A base that dries out over summer does not fully recover with a single wax before you fly. Waxing now protects it through the months it is in storage, and the pre-trip scrape takes ten minutes.
What does the free scrape mean?
Once your board has had the service, bring it back to us before you fly and we will take the storage wax off and buff the base so it is fast from your first run. There is no charge for that.
Do you service skis as well as snowboards?
Yes. Skis get the same service at the same price, and the two-for-$75 deal applies to any combination — two boards, two pairs of skis, or one of each.
I am not in Melbourne. Can I do this myself?
Yes, and it is worth learning. You need a waxing iron, all-temperature wax, a plastic scraper, a brush and a gummy stone. Follow the steps above, and remember the key difference for storage: iron the wax in and leave it on. We ship tuning kits Australia-wide.
Can I use a normal household iron?
We do not recommend it. Household irons have steam holes that clog with wax and thermostats that swing well past the temperature a base can take. A burnt base is a permanent repair job. A basic waxing iron is inexpensive and lasts for years.
How often should I be waxing during the season?
Every four to six days of riding for most people. If the base looks chalky or white along the edges, it needs wax regardless of when it was last done.
Where are you and what are your hours?
435A Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121, three kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and easy to reach from Hawthorn, South Yarra, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Cremorne. Open seven days. Call 03 9421 2293.
Twelve Board Store
435A Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
03 9421 2293
Workshop services and pricing · What our waxing and tuning involves · Board care guide
