| Board Service |
A well serviced board will have a waxed-sealed base that gives less resistance to the snow and glides smoothly and quickly, also sharp edges that increase edge control and allow for precise turning.
The board edges should be high grade metal and always buy a board with high grade p-Tex base.
It's not expensive to keep the old plank in tip top shape but you need to invest in a few basic tools for the job, and here they are:
1) An electric iron (not Mum's best and not a steam iron !!)
2) Metal edge file (just buy one that has correct settings... it saves any mistakes)
3) Flat edged wax scraper (looks like something that you might use to scrape the ice off your car windscreen)
4) Stiff brush (usually wooden handle with iron bristles)
5) Wax !! (specially formulated for snowboards and therefore no good for either the furniture nor your hair)
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| Step 1 |
If you are lucky enough to have a garage with a workbench then that's fine, otherwise it's two kitchen chairs back to back (not when Mum or the missus is in tho!).
Start by cleaning all of the old wax and residues from the base using a flat edge scraper, finishing off with a really stiff brush to get into the structure of the base.
Life will be easier if you buy a wax remover and spray this onto the base. It breaks down the old wax for easy removal, don't forget to get an old towel to clean this off if you use it.
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| Step 2 |
Next get some wire wool (substitute old Brillo pad) and clean the rust from the metal edges.
Take your funky new edge sharpener (setting instructions in package)and check that it is set to 2 degrees (boy racers may want to set it for less but be aware that this will make the edge dig in more easily and therefore increase the chance of falling over!).
Stroke it gently from tip to tail on both edges.
Reset the file and repeat on the base edge.
If you are conducting your board surgery in the kitchen remember that this stage leaves the floor littered with iron filings so keep your slippers on and the vacuum ready.
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| Step 3 |
Heat the iron (sorry folks, no temperature guide here - it's just trial and error.... too cool and the wax won't iron on evenly.... white hot and the cheaper p-Tex bases will melt!).
Once you have found the optimum operating temperature for your baby, touch the wax stick to the iron and drip the melting wax evenly along the length of the board. When you have finished this you can start to iron the wax into the base.
Try to ensure an even coating. Many a comparison has been drawn to a rider's love-life - it starts off with tender caresses and lots of time spent for the perfect finish but as time goes on it becomes a chore and a quick once over will suffice.
Whichever, so long as you are happy with the end result.... the board can't complain.
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| Step 4 |
The most tedious part of the process. One which results in most people sending their board off to be serviced professionally.
Take the edge scraper and scrape the base till all the wax is gone (yes that's right, the only wax left should be penetrated into the base) the more effort here the better the finish. Don't worry if most of your precious wax seems to be scraped off onto the floor!
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| Step 5 |
Take a soft cloth and give your beautiful board a good hard polish! If it's the end of the season and it's going into storage, then this probably isn't worth it.
However, if you're riding soon, sit back, relax and start dreaming of your next ride!
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