Make it last: how to keep your snowboard in good condition

Knowing a few simple techniques will help you keep your snowboard in good condition and always ready for a day on the slopes.

Whether you’ve been snowboarding since the early days of the sport, only head out a couple of times per season, or are just starting out, there are a few simple things you can do to care for your snowboard. To protect your investment as much as you can, as well as get as much fun from your time on the slopes as possible, follow this simple guide telling you how to keep your snowboard in good condition, and you’ll be ripping it up for years to come.

If you don’t know much about snowboards, don’t have the tools you need, or just don’t want to spend time getting technical (off the slopes, at least), then you should feel comfortable taking your snowboard to a local shop. Snowboard shop employees are knowledgeable and have access to everything they need to tune up your snowboard.

The simplest way to keep your snowboard in good shape is to clean the base after every three or four sessions. This can be done with clean, dry rags and some base cleaner (available at most shops).

• Find a well-ventilated space
• Wipe the board’s base in long straight strokes to remove dirt and wax
• Apply some base cleaner
• Let it sit for about 15 minutes
• Wipe the base cleaner off with another clean rag and you’re ready for wax

If your base looks scratched and dinged-up, then you should repair the base using a P-tex candle. Simply light the candle and hold it over the scratch, dripping wax into it. Once it has dried (a few minutes later) you can use a scraper to remove the excess wax. When you do your normal board waxing, these dings and scratches will be smooth and feel good as new.

Fixing burrs on the edges of your board can improve its performance in a big way. Pick up a diamond stone and run it along the length of the board’s edges, from tip to tail. Do this a few times in long smooth movements until you can’t feel any nicks or burrs.

Waxing your board regularly will both improve its performance and protect it from branches and rocks you ride over. There are several different ways to wax your snowboard, but this is simplest:

• Hold wax against a hot iron, dripping wax on to the board
• Spread the wax with the hot iron, making one thin layer
• Let it cool
• Use a plastic or Plexiglas scraper to remove excess wax and then polish with an abrasive pad

Keeping your snowboard in top shape will help you get the most out of each season on the slopes. By following the tips above, you’ll see how to keep your snowboard in good condition, each season.