How to Look After Your Snowboard: Board Care Guide
Your snowboard is an investment, and a little regular care goes a long way. A looked-after board rides faster, feels sharper and lasts years longer than one that gets ignored between trips. Here is everything you need to know to keep yours running, day to day, end of season, and pre-season.
The short version
- After every day: wipe the base and edges dry. 30 seconds, prevents overnight rust.
- Every 4 to 6 riding days: hot wax. Sooner if the base looks pale or chalky.
- Every trip: check your binding screws.
- End of season: hot wax and do NOT scrape it. That storage coat is the most important wax of the year.
- Pre-season: scrape the storage wax off, inspect, fresh wax before the first ride.
- Leave to us: base grinds, deep P-Tex, full edge bevels, delamination.
- Worst two storage spots: a hot roof space and a damp garage.
What needs doing, and how often
| Task | How often | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe base and edges dry | After every day riding | Stops rust forming overnight |
| Hot wax | Every 4 to 6 riding days | A dry base is slow and absorbs moisture |
| Check binding screws | Start of every trip | Vibration loosens them and wears the insert threads |
| Gummy stone the edges | Whenever surface rust appears | Removes oxidation, restores a clean edge |
| P-Tex repair | Any gouge that exposes the core | Stops moisture getting into the board |
| Storage wax, unscraped | End of every season | Seals the base all summer |
| Full machine tune | Every season or two | Flattens the base, resets the edge bevel |
How often should you wax?
Most riders do not wax nearly enough. A dry base is a slow base, and it is also a damaged one, because an unwaxed board absorbs moisture, oxidises and degrades from the inside out over time.
As a general rule, wax every 4 to 6 full days of riding. If your base is looking pale, chalky or has white patches along the edges, it needed waxing yesterday. Do not wait until it feels slow, because by that point the base has already been drying out.
Hot wax always outperforms rub-on wax. Rubbing wax on at the mountain is better than nothing, but it is not a substitute. The full step-by-step, including iron temperature, cooling time and how to scrape and brush properly, is in our how to wax your snowboard guide. Or bring the board into the store and we will hot wax it for you.
Why dry your edges every single day?
This is the easiest and most ignored piece of maintenance there is. After every day on the mountain, wipe your edges down with a dry cloth before you put your board away. That is it. Takes 30 seconds and prevents rust forming overnight.
A note on oxidation
Surface rust, the orange-brown discolouration you sometimes see on edges, is normal and not the end of the world. It does not mean your board is ruined. A gummy stone run lightly along the edge removes surface oxidation and leaves a clean, smooth edge again. Gummy stones are cheap, so keep one in your bag.
If rust has built up more significantly, a diamond stone followed by a gummy stone will sort it out, or bring it in and we will tune it up for you.
Sharp edges give you grip on hardpack and ice. Dull edges feel vague and unpredictable, especially when the mountain firms up, which is most Australian mornings. If your carves feel like they are washing out, your edges likely need attention.
What should you do during the season?
- After every ride: wipe down the base and edges with a dry cloth. Do not put it away wet.
- Check your binding screws at the start of each trip. Vibration and temperature changes loosen screws over a season, and a loose binding affects control and can damage the insert threads over time.
- Do not lean your board on its edge for long periods, as this can stress the edge. Store it flat or standing upright on its tail.
- Do not rest the edge of your board on your boot on the chairlift. A surprisingly common way to damage boot buckles and put unnecessary pressure on your edges.
- Base damage (gouges, core shots): small scratches are normal. Deep gouges that expose the core need a P-Tex repair, so bring it in before it gets worse and lets moisture in.
How should you store a snowboard over summer?
This is the most important wax you will ever apply. At the end of the season, give your board a proper hot wax and then do not scrape it. Leave a thick coat of wax sitting on the base, unscraped, for the entire off-season. This is a storage wax, and it seals the base against oxidation and drying out over summer.
Before you wax for storage, inspect the base for any gouges or damage and get those repaired first. Check your edges for rust and run a gummy stone along them if needed.
Store your board in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperature swings. A hot roof space and a damp garage are the two worst places for a board. A board bag helps protect the edges and topsheet from knocks and scratches.
Loosen your binding straps before storing, because leaving them cranked tight all summer can cause the straps to develop a permanent crease or lose elasticity.
What should you do before the first ride of the season?
When the season rolls around again, pull the board out and give it the once-over before your first trip:
- Scrape and brush the storage wax off, properly, with a scraper and nylon brush.
- Inspect the base for any new damage, dry patches or delamination.
- Check the edges for rust. A gummy stone will handle any surface oxidation.
- Apply a fresh hot wax before your first ride. Do not head up on bare storage wax, as it is thick, unstructured and slow.
- Check all binding screws and re-set your stance if needed.
If you have not had your board tuned professionally in a season or two, pre-season is the right time. A machine tune flattens the base, sharpens and bevels the edges, and gives you a fresh platform to start the year on. Bring it in and we will sort it out.
When should you get a professional tune?
Some things are worth leaving to us:
- Base grinding, to flatten a convex or concave base
- Deep P-Tex repairs and base welds
- Full edge bevel and sharpen
- Major rust removal
- Delamination assessment and repair
Frosty runs our in-house workshop seven days a week at our Richmond store, doing waxing, tuning and repairs properly. Drop your board in and we will let you know what it needs, rather than selling you a full tune it does not.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you wax your snowboard?
Every 4 to 6 full days of riding as a rule of thumb, and sooner if the base looks pale, chalky or has white patches near the edges. Do not wait until the board feels slow, because by then the base has already been drying out. More often is always better.
Is rust on snowboard edges bad?
Surface rust, the orange-brown discolouration on the steel, is normal and not the end of your board. A gummy stone run lightly along the edge takes it straight off. Heavier build-up needs a diamond stone first. Wiping the edges dry after every day prevents it forming at all.
How should you store a snowboard over summer?
Hot wax it and deliberately do not scrape, leaving a thick storage coat on the base. Repair any gouges first and gummy stone off any rust. Store it flat or on its tail in a cool, dry place. A hot roof space and a damp garage are the two worst spots.
Should you loosen binding straps for storage?
Yes. Straps left cranked tight for a whole off-season can take a permanent crease or lose their elasticity. Back them right off before you put the board away. It costs nothing and it is one of the more common bits of avoidable damage we see.
What is a P-Tex repair and when do you need one?
P-Tex is the base material, and a repair fills a gouge deep enough to expose the core underneath. Light surface scratches are normal and need nothing. Anything you can catch a fingernail in, or that shows white or dark core, should be repaired before it lets moisture in.
Do you wax and tune snowboards in store?
Yes. Frosty runs our in-house workshop seven days a week at our Richmond store, doing hot waxing, edge tuning, base grinds, P-Tex repairs and full pre-season services. Drop the board in and we will tell you what it actually needs.
Twelve Board Store, 435A Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121. Call 03 9421 2293. Orders over $90 ship free Australia-wide.
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