What if I Don't Wax... - Page 4 - Snowboarding Forum

CheeseForSteeze · 10-02-2012, 12:59 AM

Waxing definitely seems to help when the moisture content in the snow is higher but once it gets really high, even graphite wax won't do much. Structuring is awesome for not keeping speed in wet granular or slush but if you ride enough, you'd have to get a stonegrind done quite often which is $$$$.

I had a Westmark (rocket base, sintered) in the shop last year to get filled and ground and I rode my second Westmark for that day which was factory brand new. It was a huge difference riding the new board. But then when I got my old board back, it was just as fast as the new one.

You will definitely notice a difference when moisture content goes up and if you board is really devoid of wax. Otherwise, if there's no moisture, it won't make as much difference.

The snow out East has quite a bit of moisture in it so when the sun hits it even with really cold air temps, it actually can help to have a decent waxing done even if it's just a one and done with an all-temp and no scraping or tuning.

And I don't think it's going to help at all against base damage. Base damage is almost exclusively caused by rocks, sticks and what have you. Wax won't stop that.

poutanen · 10-02-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herzogone

For my own views on the original post, I’m with BA on waxing. That is, I don’t do it anymore. I didn’t wax all last season and noticed no detrimental effects, aside from a little less glide in the flats.

But that's where you need it most. Of course wax won't make much of a difference when you're carving and your base is on a 30 degree angle to the snow, but when I hit the flats the last thing I want to do is have to work hard to get through it, or *gasp* unbuckle.

Of course riding flats effectively is 90% technique 10% board, but I will keep waxing even if that's the only time I ever need it.

I might sound crazy but I actually like to wax. It's sort of a ritual for me. Pre-season, in the hotel on a trip, some weeknight when I'm going out that weekend. It's all part of the fun. I'm not going to cry if I don't wax every 4-5 days out, but I try not to let it get beyond 10.

snowklinger · 10-02-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

I might sound crazy but I actually like to wax. It's sort of a ritual for me. Pre-season, in the hotel on a trip, some weeknight when I'm going out that weekend. It's all part of the fun. I'm not going to cry if I don't wax every 4-5 days out, but I try not to let it get beyond 10.

Yea I wax way more than I need to, and am convinced that its not necessary, but I like to rub my hands on my boards when I'm not riding it. My waxing gear is next to the lawn chair and various smoking apparatus in my mancave, and the smell of hot wax just goes so well.

ThunderChunky · 10-02-2012, 05:25 PM

Waxing is only gonna make you faster in the flats and accelerate from a dead stop quicker.

herzogone · 10-03-2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie09

Is it still good to wax once before the season starts or is it really not required at all? And how does this fit with people who say that if you don't wax your board much the pores start to close up and it can't hold wax anymore.

Again, wax is definitely not required at all, but it can help your board slide a little easier, especially in some conditions. It really is just a matter of personal preference. As for the notion that the "pores" in your board will close up if you don't wax?

That's a fresh load of BS to me, given that the base doesn't truly have "pores" (see my earlier post). You can always wax your board later if you want, it will adhere as long as it is done properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie09

According to this, would you say wax is more or less useful for riders in the midwest (Minnesota, to be specific)? And do all sintered bases come structured? How often do you have to "restructure" them? And is that the same thing as getting a base grind? Thanks!

I'll let someone from that area answer your first question. As far as I know, most sintered bases usually come stone-ground and waxed, not structured. Structuring is patterned texturing of the base, and can be done in different patterns for different conditions (see Snowolf's post).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Great info. Thanks for sharing. I used to be a "waxing fanboy" too but in recent years have moderated my stance on the issue. For awhile now I have maintained that waxing need is really predicated on weather and snow conditions. Your research seems to back that position up.

Here in the PNW where we have warm, wet snow (Cascade Cement we call it) because of the high water content in our snow (average 8" of snow for 1" of moisture), wax definitely does make a difference here that you can feel ( despite BA's feeding me that bag of mushrooms last time).

Your research seems to back this up as well. More than the actual wax, I believe it is the high Flouro contact we use around here for the water reppelency. In spring and summer, we ride a lot on volcanoes and dust is a major issue. As a result a very popular wax here is OBJ Black Magic with graphite. The theory being (as I understand it) is this combats the added friction of the dust on the snow surface. I again feel the difference when I am riding off of the actual 11,254 foot summit of Mt. Hood on a hot summer day.

90% of East coast riders with their shit snow don't benefit much at all from waxing. Additionally, the cold dry conditions of the Rockies I suspect limits any performance benefit. But if you ride in this slop we all love in the PNW, you might want throw a coat of wax on!

Your research also touches upon the value of structuring. I am a huge fanboy of this and I have all of my boards structured. It makes your base look and feel like fine Courdoroy with the grooves running longitudinally to help channel water. This far more than waxing improves your glide in off piste conditions in our snow. Waxing can be a good substitute for a structured base though if you brush after scraping. Using a stiff nylon brush and aggressively brushing longitudinally down the length of the board will create thousands of micro channel grooves that allows water to channel out from under your base. This is very similar to the way a so called "aqua tread" pattern on a car tire works to prevent hydroplaning on wet pavement.

Thanks Snowolf, good points. I'll confess I hadn't really given much thought to the fact that you guys in the PNW get much stickier snow much more of the time. Sadly, my only visits to that area were in the days before I discovered snowboarding, but I've heard it's a bit similar to the mashed-potato snow we sometimes get in early spring, which I will admit is the primary time I would still consider waxing. I should also clarify that my comments regarding not waxing were really aimed at the guys that are waxing just because someone told them it's what you're supposed to do, without properly understanding why. It seems like some people worry that if they don't wax, their board will spontaneously delaminate and their puppy will be murdered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

But that's where you need it most. Of course wax won't make much of a difference when you're carving and your base is on a 30 degree angle to the snow, but when I hit the flats the last thing I want to do is have to work hard to get through it, or *gasp* unbuckle.

Of course riding flats effectively is 90% technique 10% board, but I will keep waxing even if that's the only time I ever need it.

I might sound crazy but I actually like to wax. It's sort of a ritual for me. Pre-season, in the hotel on a trip, some weeknight when I'm going out that weekend. It's all part of the fun. I'm not going to cry if I don't wax every 4-5 days out, but I try not to let it get beyond 10.

I definitely agree that flats are where I can most appreciate the added glide from waxing, I just find that in the conditions I ride most, the little bit of extra glide (for a few runs) is not worth the time and effort of waxing. Ultimately though, it's a matter of preference, and I respect that you and others find the added glide worth the effort.

IdahoFreshies · 10-03-2012, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

Pretty sure I can beat all you waxing fanboys on an extruded base that hasn't seen wax since the day it was rolled across the belt waxer at the factory.

Unless you're some pro fucking down hill slalom racer none of you and I mean NONE of you notice any difference that isn't there inside your head.

I am going to call all of the horse shit on this one, I certainly can tell a difference in my board smoothness and speed after a good wax compared to 4 trips up with no wax.

I have always figured waxing the base protects it, keeps it moisturized, fill in all of the little cracks and gouges, and keep it from wearing down so fast.

BurtonAvenger · 10-03-2012, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoFreshies

I am going to call all of the horse shit on this one, I certainly can tell a difference in my board smoothness and speed after a good wax compared to 4 trips up with no wax.

I have always figured waxing the base protects it, keeps it moisturized, fill in all of the little cracks and gouges, and keep it from wearing down so fast.

Call it all you want science already proved what I know.

That friction and slowness you're feeling is probably base burn which means you should just go have some structure put in.

You know what I'm going to do opening day? I'm going to slap some bindings on a deck I rode over 70 days that hasn't seen wax since it hit the belt waxer at Elan. I'm going to go ride and get down the hill just as fast as everyone else. Poor craftsman blames his tools.

IdahoFreshies · 10-03-2012, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

Call it all you want science already proved what I know.

That friction and slowness you're feeling is probably base burn which means you should just go have some structure put in.

You know what I'm going to do opening day? I'm going to slap some bindings on a deck I rode over 70 days that hasn't seen wax since it hit the belt waxer at Elan. I'm going to go ride and get down the hill just as fast as everyone else. Poor craftsman blames his tools.

Cool. Im going to still do what I know works for me

BurtonAvenger · 10-03-2012, 03:21 AM

Eh go for it I'll continue to state the truth and refer to it as psychological what the difference is.

john doe · 10-03-2012, 04:29 AM

I wax my board often and I do notice a difference from when I slack for a while. Though it should be noted that I ride midwest fake snow/ice pellets. I also run 400 grit sandpaper over my base every few times I wax to structure it. That could be making the difference alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

Eh go for it I'll continue to state the truth and refer to it as psychological what the difference is.

I think you've stumbled into a good topic for one of your tech articles. Set up a blind test with identical set ups. Both structured as you like. One waxed and one not. Might take a little doing but it will certainly be interesting.

10-03-2012, 03:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,020	Eh go for it I'll continue to state the truth and refer to it as psychological what the difference is. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

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10-02-2012, 12:59 AM	#31 (permalink)
CheeseForSteeze -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,712	Waxing definitely seems to help when the moisture content in the snow is higher but once it gets really high, even graphite wax won't do much. Structuring is awesome for not keeping speed in wet granular or slush but if you ride enough, you'd have to get a stonegrind done quite often which is $$$$. I had a Westmark (rocket base, sintered) in the shop last year to get filled and ground and I rode my second Westmark for that day which was factory brand new. It was a huge difference riding the new board. But then when I got my old board back, it was just as fast as the new one. You will definitely notice a difference when moisture content goes up and if you board is really devoid of wax. Otherwise, if there's no moisture, it won't make as much difference. The snow out East has quite a bit of moisture in it so when the sun hits it even with really cold air temps, it actually can help to have a decent waxing done even if it's just a one and done with an all-temp and no scraping or tuning. And I don't think it's going to help at all against base damage. Base damage is almost exclusively caused by rocks, sticks and what have you. Wax won't stop that.