Getting a new snowboard is an exciting experience. Once you’ve got your new gear and you’re looking to hit the mountain, you may face a common question: Do I need to wax my new snowboard? Well, the answer is yes… and no. It’s complicated. While you might be tempted to slap on your bindings and hit the slopes, there are a few important things you should know about your new snowboard first.

As a snowboard enthusiast, I’ve learned that taking care of your snowboard pays dividends. Waxing and tuning are essential elements of owning a snowboard, and the more you keep your board in good shape, the more future you will be thanking you for your hard work and diligence.

Snowboards are manufactured all around the globe, and brands who make their boards in Canada, America, China, and in Europe need to make sure their boards stay safe post-completion. If you buy a brand new snowboard from (let’s say) Capita, that board is going to be crafted and prepared for shipping at the Capita MotherShip, Capita’s snowboard manufacturing facility in Austria. Before it is shipped, though, it will come with what is called a “factory wax,” a rub-on or spray-on wax that is designed to protect the bottom of the board from damage. For all intents and purposes, this is a legitimate wax that will allow you to ride your snowboard right out of the box. However, it is not necessarily recommended, for a few reasons.

Is Factory Wax Enough?

Brand new snowboards come with a factory wax that protects the boards from drying up or getting damaged. However, this does not mean you should take it out of the box straight to the mountain. A factory wax job is not the same as a traditional snowboard wax application. In fact, it’s not even traditional hot wax. While you might be able to enjoy a few laps, the factory wax that snowboard manufacturers apply to their boards is less than ideal. Factory wax might give you some extra speed and protect your new board from snow, but it might not protect it from getting unwanted scratches.

Can You Snowboard With Factory Wax?

Yes, you can, but should you? Cheap factory wax is not going to last as long as traditional hot wax or temperature wax. Similarly, factory wax is not going to protect your snowboard like normal wax will, either. Snowboards are not cheap, and by using cheap wax you are risking the quality of the board. Mountain conditions vary depending on the weather and where you like to snowboard. Depending on where you go, you’ll want a wax that will protect your snowboard base from those specific elements. Additionally, wax is going to perform differently on an extruded base vs. sintered base.

If you choose to take your board to the slopes with only the factory wax applied, I would recommend doing it only once. The factory wax is likely good for one trip, and one trip only.

Waxing Your Board: Better Safe Than Sorry

Taking good care of your board ensures that you get the best ride out of it and that you maintain its durability. Sure, you don’t need to wax your board immediately, per se, but it wouldn’t hurt to put an extra layer of protection between your board and the snow.

Waxing your snowboard is really no big deal. In fact, you can do it all by yourself. If you’ve got some money left in your budget and some time on hand, you can save yourself the trouble of taking your board to the ski shop every few months.

Snowboard waxing kits are pretty easy to find. Simply apply the wax with an iron wax tool to the snowboard base of the board, and then scrape the excess wax off to ensure it is nice and flat. You can also check out a waxing tutorial on YouTube, or this Curated Expert article.

How Often Should You Wax Your Snowboard?

It’s up for debate, but Never Summer says that if you want the best ride ever, you should wax your board every 3-4 days of riding. However, if you are like me and don’t have the time to get your board waxed that often, I’d say twice a month, or as soon as you see the edges of your base begin to dry.

Tuning

Your brand-new board should come with a basic tune, so that’s something you shouldn’t have to worry about till later. However, similar to waxing, new boards need tuning from time to time. You can tune your snowboard from your own home with these Expert tips. In fact, you can detune your board from home too! Detuning is when you purposefully dull the edges of your snowboard to enhance glide and make sure you won’t catch an edge unexpectedly.

That said, sharpening the edges of your board and repairing major damage can prove more difficult than you want to handle on your own at home. Best to leave the hard stuff to the experts and hit the ski shop.

Taking Care of Your Gear: Final Thoughts

So, now you know about the pros and cons that come with a new snowboard’s pre-applied factory wax. Although you can likely get one or two days of riding out of factory wax, it’s ideal to get your board waxed before taking your first trip. The more you wax your board, the longer it’s going to last, and the better it’s going to ride. If you can wax your board every 3-4 days of riding, it will keep your board in optimal condition.

Whether you’ve never owned a board before, or you own many, unboxing a snowboard might just be the best feeling ever. Here are some last things to keep in mind before you hit the slopes with your brand-new board:

1. Make sure you remove any stickers and plastic that are not meant to be on your board when riding.
2. Take time to familiarize yourself with the board. Get used to the way it feels underneath your feet, too.
3. Start slow. Your board is your friend, so treat it well from the start and make steady progress.
4. Take advice from experienced snowboarders or Curated Experts!

Waxing and tuning your snowboard, and knowing exactly when to do so, can be a tricky process. Luckily, Curated has all the tools to help you thrive as a snowboarder. Don’t be afraid to consult one of Curated’s Winter Sports Experts for personalized, one-on-one, free advice! Before I started writing for Curated, I was a customer myself. I wasn’t sure about a certain product, but the Expert who helped me, Maicen, had all the answers. So, take advantage of this resource and go hit those slopes!