A surfboard is more delicate than it looks , salt, UV and above all heat take their toll. With the right care it stays light, intact and fast. Here’s the honest routine, part by part: what to use, what to watch for, how to dry, and where to store it over winter.
The 5-minute routine after every session
- Rinse: board, leash and wetsuit with fresh water.
- Get the sand out: of the fin boxes and the leash plug.
- Out of the sun: never leave the board in blazing sun or a hot car , heat causes delamination and yellowing.
- Dry: dry it off before it goes in the board bag.
The board: wax, dings & heat
- What to use: fresh water, a wax comb, fresh wax (matched to water temperature), repair resin for the material.
- What to watch for: check rails and underside for dings and cracks , even a small crack lets water into the core and makes the board heavy.
- Drying & sealing: seal small dings promptly with sun-cure resin (Solarez) or a repair kit, before the next session.
- Wax: remove old, grey wax now and then and apply fresh , the grip decides every take-off.
- Storage (winter): in the padded board bag, lying flat or on its side, cool and dark, never in the heat (delamination).
Mum says: Never leave the board in a hot car , heat is its biggest enemy. And a small ding becomes a big problem overnight, so seal it right away.
Fins & leash
- Fins: rinse FCS or Futures screws with fresh water, sand out, check they’re tight , lost fin screws are the classic.
- Leash: your safety item. Check the cord, Velcro and especially the rail saver for wear, replace when in doubt.
Wetsuit & storage
- Wetsuit: rinse cold, dry through on a wide hanger in the shade, never on the heater (wetsuit calculator, musty smell).
- Winter: board dry and ding-free in the bag, check fin screws, check the leash, wetsuit hanging.
In short: what really matters
- Rinse after every session, sand out, out of the sun.
- Seal dings at once, refresh old wax for the grip.
- Never store the board in heat , delamination looms.
- Fin screws tight, check leash and rail saver.
- Rinse the wetsuit cold and dry it gently.
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