Looking for a way to make your snowboard glide as well as it did the day you first purchased it? Follow our essential snowboard maintenance guide to keep your board in excellent condition all season long.
Snowboard Maintenance
Every winter, millions of snowboarders across the country hit the slopes. A vast majority of them don’t pay much attention to their snowboarding gear, until it starts malfunctioning.
And, here is the thing… you should not do it, in the first place.
A poorly maintained snowboard is slower, harder to control, and wears out twice as fast as a well-maintained board.
Fortunately, there is some good news:
Snowboard maintenance is free to do, easy to learn, and instantly improves your mountain performance.
Contents:
- Why Is Snowboard Maintenance Important
- Essential Maintenance Checklist
- Snowboard Waxing
- Snowboard Edge Maintenance
- Snowboard Base Repair
- Binding and Hardware Maintenance
- Snowboard Off-Season Storage
Why Is Snowboard Maintenance Important
Snowboard maintenance is not only about keeping your gear looking nice and spick and span. It is about performance, safety, and squeezing every ounce of value from that board.
Here are some facts:
Last year, winter sports generated $5.53 billion in the U.S. alone. There are people spending all that money on gear that’s often treated with utter neglect. Most riders do not even know that a simple tuning can change the whole experience on the slopes.
Here are a few benefits of regular snowboard maintenance:
- Speed and control. A well-maintained board will glide faster and respond to your turns and movements.
- Equipment longevity. Preventing damage through regular care is easier on your equipment and your wallet.
- Safety. Sharp edges and smooth waxing mean more grip and control, especially on icy surfaces.
If you do not have the confidence in performing regular maintenance, make sure to drop by a snowboard shop in Phoenix or at a local snowboard shop services specialist. They have all the tools and know-how to make any board sing down the mountain.
Essential Maintenance Checklist
Here is a short list of the maintenance every snowboard needs to receive during a season:
After Each Ride
Dry wipe down the board’s base and edges with a dry cloth. This will remove any residual moisture that could cause rust or grime build-up. It takes you less than a minute but makes a significant difference.
Every 3-5 Days
Check the base for white chalky patches. These are places where the wax is gone, and the board needs waxing. Also, inspect the edges for burrs or dull patches that may affect performance.
Season Start and End
Get a professional tune-up at a local snowboard shop. This includes hot wax, edge sharpening, and base repairing any scratches or gouges. Most riders skip this step and are left wondering why their board is suddenly so sluggish.
Snowboard Waxing
Snowboard waxing is the most important of all maintenance tasks for your snowboard. It is not only about speed though. Waxing is also about protecting the base from drying out and getting damaged.
Snowboard base waxing guide:
The base of every snowboard has micro-pores that absorb wax into them. This wax will provide less friction, and there will be a smooth layer between the base of your snowboard and the snow. If you leave the base unwaxed, this layer will eventually dry out and the performance will start to drop.
Sintered bases absorb 20-25% more wax than extruded ones. As a result, they are faster, but high maintenance. So riders with sintered boards need to wax more frequently to perform at their best.
Signs that the snowboard needs waxing:
- The board base looks dull or chalky instead of glossy and shiny
- White patches begin to show up near the edges of the board
- The board is not as fast on flat sections as it used to be
- A fingernail does not leave a mark on the base when you scratch it
Frequency:
Ideally, to maintain optimal performance, waxing the snowboard every 3-5 days of riding is necessary. Aggressive riding or riders who enjoy rails and boxes may need to wax more often. Temperature fluctuations will also reduce the wax lifespan, with warmer conditions stripping the wax faster.
Snowboard Edge Maintenance
Having sharp edges is critical for maintaining control on the board, especially on hard-packed snow or ice. Dull edges make carving almost impossible, and are a safety hazard.
Snowboard edge maintenance guide:
Regularly check the edges for burrs and nicks that can affect grip. If you find any, use a diamond stone to grind them out quickly. File any serious damage, or take it to a professional if needed. The goal is to maintain sharp edges that grip well, without being so aggressive they catch unexpectedly.
Frequency:
- After riding icy or hard-packed conditions
- When the board grip noticeably decreases on turns
- After riding rocks or debris in the backcountry
- At the beginning of the season
Snowboard Base Repair
Scratches and gouges on the snowboard base are unavoidable. P-Tex candles can fill small scratches at home. Take bigger problems to a professional to grind and resurface the base. Otherwise, they will only get worse over time.
Never ignore a base gouge. It will collect dirt and moisture, which will spread the damage further. A small repair now is a lot cheaper than a full base re-cure later.
Binding and Hardware Maintenance
Bindings are often overlooked during snowboard maintenance, but loose screws or worn straps can ruin a day on the mountain…or worse, cause an injury.
Binding maintenance guide:
- Check all mounting screws to ensure they are tight
- Look for frayed or worn straps
- Check buckles and ratchets for smooth operation
- Confirm the highback is aligned correctly
Binding screws can come loose over time due to vibration and temperature. A simple check before each trip takes seconds, but can prevent problems. A loose strap or hardware failure mid-run can be a disaster.
Pro Tip:
Loosen bindings slightly during the summer storage. This will relieve stress on the snowboard and prevent pressure points from forming over time.
Snowboard Off-Season Storage
How a snowboard is stored over the summer determines its condition when you need it in the winter.
Snowboard off-season storage guide:
Clean the snowboard thoroughly to remove all dirt and grime. Apply a thick coat of storage wax, but DO NOT scrape it off. This wax layer will protect the base and keep it hydrated all summer.
Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. A garage or closet is ideal. Never leave a snowboard in a hot car or attic. Heat can damage bindings and cause premature delamination.
Right before the next season:
Inspect the board for damage and scrape off the storage wax. Apply a new coat of wax appropriate for early-season conditions. Check all hardware and bindings to ensure they are in good working order.
Then, it is time to hit the slopes with full confidence in your board.
Summary
Snowboard maintenance is not a difficult task to handle. All you need to do is to put some time and effort into it. The returns you will get in terms of speed, control and performance will make all that work more than worth it.
Snowboard Maintenance Conclusion:
- Dry wipe after every ride
- Wax every 3-5 days
- Keep edges sharp
- Repair base damage asap
- Store correctly over the off-season
And in case you are not confident enough to perform the tasks by yourself, or simply do not want to do it on your own – local snowboard shop services are always at your service. Professional technicians can provide services from basic waxing to the full overhaul of your gear.
Rest assured, the investment you make into your snowboard maintenance will give a return each time you put that board on the snow. Nothing can compare to the feeling of fresh snow under a well-tuned snowboard carving on the slopes.
