The relationship between a surfer and their board is special, and like any good relationship, it requires care and attention. And while surfboard care and maintenance won’t give you the rush of catching a perfect curl, it’s not something that should be overlooked.
At LISS, we’ve seen firsthand how correct surfboard care can improve connection and performance. From proper care to aesthetic and functional storage designs, we know what it takes to keep your trusted companion in top shape for every wave you hit.
1. Use a Surfboard Bag
If you’re not in the water, your surfboard should be cleaned, dried, and covered, so the first thing you’ll need is a protective board bag. This is especially true for travel. If you’re putting your board in a roof rack on top of your car, the right bag provides protection from the elements as well as a barrier between the board and the straps holding it in place. Plus, many surfboard bags are insulated or are made with a reflective coat to dispel heat and keep your board safe from extreme temperatures.
Similarly, if you’re sliding your board into the cabin of your car, the extra padding will help ensure that your board doesn’t suffer any damage if it accidentally bumps against other objects.
2. Rinse With Fresh Water
After every surf session, wash your board down thoroughly with fresh water. Sea salt is corrosive, and repeated exposure to it can lead to premature wear and tear of your board, especially the fin box, fin screws, and the leash. Not only that, but salt retains water, making it harder to fully dry your board and prolongs any water damage that may occur in unseen knicks and scratches.
Rinsing your board off also removes sand. Besides keeping your car and home clean, sand is abrasive, creating hairline scratches that can weaken the integrity of the epoxy resin and lead to leaks.
3. Use a Surf Rack
Where you keep your surfboard shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought. Simply leaning your board up somewhere in your garage or against your refrigerator makes it prone to sliding, falling, or being bumped. Not only can this break off a fin or crack your foam, a precarious board is a hazard to everyone in your home — especially children and pets.
Having a freestanding surfboard rack is the perfect way to ensure your boards are out the way and won’t topple over or fall. Plus, choosing a vertical orientation allows you to store more boards in less space, making your collection the focal point of any room.
4. Check for Dings Before and After Each Session
You’ll want to give your board a good scan for damage, knicks, and scratches, before and after you sesh. It is truly one of the most important things you can do. Why? Small problems now become big problems later, so it’s best to nip any damage in the bud.
Give your board a close look before you leave the house, and have a repair kit on hand if you find anything that needs sealing. It may be an extra step, but it saves you from driving out to your favorite spot only to find the damage right before you were going to get in the water.
We never recommend riding on a damaged board. Even a small crack or ding can spell disaster if hit at the wrong angle. No wave is worth making it your board’s last. In a best-case scenario, your board will still take on water, and you’ll lose buoyancy and control.
Once you’re done for the day, allow your board to dry completely and give it a once-over again with your repair kit. Small, frequent patches are better than dealing with severe damage down the road.
5. Don’t Leave your Board Wax-Side Up
Did you know there’s a certain way you should rest your board when off the water? Keeping your board wax-side down will prevent damage to the fins and keep the wax itself more protected from the sun. Even short sun exposure can cause some waxes to begin to melt, creating an uneven coat and slippery sections across your board.
Plus, melted wax can easily trap sand that blows across the beach. Once sand is mixed with your wax, it will rub against your board’s epoxy coating and leave scratches. No one wants that!
6. Don’t Drag the Leash
Even after a tiring day out on the waves, proper care for your leash is one small step you don’t want to miss. Make sure that your leash is wrapped around your board and isn’t being pulled across the ground. Dragging your leash can become a tripping hazard for you and others. What’s worse, if you’re not careful, one snag can rip your leash clean off your board. So not gnarly.
On a similar note, keep the cuff velcroed closed. While it shouldn’t contact the ground in the first place, closing up your cuff can ensure that it doesn’t trap sand, dirt, or grass as you move from spot to spot.
7. Remove Old Wax Regularly
While you don’t have to re-wax your board every time you surf, be aware of its condition and check it regularly. Older wax will eventually get dirty even under the best care, weakening its effectiveness and the ability of new wax to bind to it.
How often you’ll need to remove the old wax will depend on how carefully the wax is maintained and how often you’re hitting the waves. If you surf often, you’re going to want to completely clean your board of wax every month. More casual riders can usually get away with waiting a little longer, like five or six weeks.
8. Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
Heat and direct sunlight are your board’s worst enemies. Both heat and sunlight can warp your board’s skin causing it to delaminate. Even if your board never gets to that point, consistent exposure to UV rays can weaken both fiberglass and epoxy, causing them to become brittle and prone to cracking.
Sunlight can just as easily degrade the foam itself. If your board has to be outside or in your car for long hours, keep it in the shade and in an insulated board bag.
9. Do Not Store in Your Car
It can be irritating to constantly load and unload your surfboard from your vehicle, but your car should never be where you store your board long term.
The intense sun in most summer surf destinations will quickly turn your car into a large oven. Even in cooler climates, your car's glass windshield and windows will act like a greenhouse and significantly warm whatever is inside.
While you should definitely be using a board bag, they can’t protect against prolonged heat forever. Treating your car as your board’s primary storage is a recipe for melted wax and a warped, bubbled coat.
Put in the Work and Ride the Results
Your board isn’t just a piece of equipment; it’s your partner out on the waves. The care you put into your board directly translates to your experience: The more diligent you are about maintenance, the better each sesh will be. So, treat your board well. It will return the favor.