Snow Board Tips
When it comes to Snow Board, we've been there, done that, now serving 126 tips in 14 categories ranging from Beginner Snowboarding Tips to Tuning your Snowboard .
In Order to Wax. . .
Follow these steps for waxing your snowboard and you'll be speeding down the mountain as fast as you can.
- Select a snowboard wax appropriate for the temperature range you'll be riding in.
- Place your board on a work bench.
- Preheat the waxing iron on low.
- Adjust the temperature to medium, test a small piece of wax to make sure it does not smoke or your iron is too hot.
- With the tip of the iron lightly touching the board, melt the wax against the iron so it runs in a thin stream onto the base. Move the iron so you leave a bead of wax that you can later iron onto the base. You want a thin layer of wax.
- Keep the iron flat, and move in small circles. Spread the wax bead out until the entire base is covered with a thin film.
- Longer periods of waxing while keeping the iron moving is best.
- Allow wax to cool for twenty to thirty minutes. Use a plastic scraper to remove extra wax – take off as much as you can so you only have a thin layer.
- Polish with a ScotchBrite buffing pad.
- Brush the base from tip to tail with a nylon brush for cold conditions or a metal brush for warm conditions.
Wax When?
Snowboard waxing should be done regularly to maximize glide and make it easier to turn and control your board.
- Wax when snow conditions change – when the temperature drops or increases drastically.
- Wax anytime your base looks dry, evidenced by faint white lines or patches especially near the edges.
- Don't wax your board if it has been sitting outside or in the freezing cold all night.
- Bring your board indoors for at least an hour before waxing to prevent damage to the base and allow for the best wax absorption.
Edge Tools
The snowboard tuning tools you need for edge care are:
- Biodegradable base cleaner
- Whetstone or diamond stone
- 6-, 8- and 10-inch-mill bastard files
- File guide
- Gummy stone
The tools for waxing are:
- Base cleaner and clean rags
- Waxing iron
- Waxes
- Plastic scraper
- Scotchbrite pads
- Wire or nylon bristle brush.
Many of these tools can be purchased in a snowboard tuning kit. Ask for the details on snowboard tuning and available snowboard tuning kits at your snowboard shop.
Base Tools
If you have the knowledge and ability to tune your own board, you need to get the proper snowboard tuning tools. The tools needed for base repair are:
- Biodegradable base cleaner
- Drip repair candles
- Metal scraper
- Surform or other planing tool
- Rilling bar
- Emery or silicon carbide paper
- Sanding block
- Scotchbrite pads
- Wire brushes.
Stay in Shape
Whether you are a beginning or expert snowboarder, it is important to keep your snowboard gear in top shape. You cannot edge, carve, or do tricks well on a dull board. Unless you know how to tune a snowboard, you should have your snowboard tuning done at a shop by a professional who knows what they are doing.
Protect in Style
2006 is the 25th anniversary of DAKINE products. DAKINE develops products for the top professionals in every board sport, especially snowboarding. DAKINE has built a reputation for innovation and quality. DAKINE guarantees all of it's products.
A DAKINE snowboard bag includes features such as:
- Deployable shoulder straps so they can be worn as a backpack
- Carry handles for support
- Padded and tarp lined bottom
- Full length zipper for easy access
- Zippered accessory pockets
- Zippered interior pockets accommodate boots, outerwear, etc.
- Stealth deck compartments
- High quality urethane wheels
- Split level designs
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| Carma Spence-Pothitt |
