Imagine cruising down the cat track of your favorite mountain. You’re minding your own business until, out of nowhere, a 5-year-old in a racer spandex onesie flies past you in a blur. How does that happen?

This scenario has happened to me many times, and I only have one thing to blame…

I didn’t wax my snowboard.

Waxing will greatly improve the overall speed and performance of your ride. It’ll also help protect the base of your skies or snowboard, so it’s well worth the effort!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Wax (temperature specific)
• Flat iron
• Wax scraper
• Cork or scouring pad

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to get down to business! Let’s get to it.

#1 Wax on.

There are dozens of wax types on the market. Dry waxes can be rubbed onto your skis or snowboard by hand, but I recommend using hot wax as it seems to work better in the long run. Be sure to use the appropriate wax for the snow conditions your mountain is calling for. I used an all-weather wax for this tutorial.

Next, melt the hot wax using a flat iron. It will begin to rain hot tears of wax, which you’ll want to disperse evenly across your entire snowboard or ski. Cover your ride from tip to tip with dozens of droplets.

Fun fact: Some waxes are scented for your pleasure. Mine was coconut.

#2 Heat it up.

Once you’ve covered your ski or snowboard in wax droplets, use the hot iron to melt them together while spreading the wax evenly across the surface. Ensure the wax seeps into every nook and cranny from edge to edge.

#3 Let it set.

Allow the wax to solidify. I prefer to take my snowboard outside to speed up the process.

#4 Wax off.

Scrapers come in all shapes and sizes. Some riders use car scrapers, while others prefer actual wax scrapers, but it all comes down to your personal preference. Just make sure the tool you use doesn’t have any sharp corners; you don’t want to gauge the surface.

After selecting your weapon of choice, it’s now time to scrape off the dried wax. Use long strokes to remove the wax from your ski or snowboard. Depending on the amount of wax you applied, this step may take some time!

Keep scraping until you can no longer make little wax shavings.

#5 Time to get buff.

It’s time for the finishing touches. Using a piece of cork or a Scotch Brite scouring pad, gently buff off any excess wax that remains on the surface of your skis or snowboard. This will remove any imperfections from your scrape job, and leave your ride looking polished and pristine.

Once you’ve buffed it out, you’re ready to ride. That 5-year-old doesn’t stand a chance.

Do you have any special tools or techniques to waxing your skis or snowboard? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks! Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!