The spongy surface and relatively long length of soft-top surfboards offer a higher degree of traction, flotation and protection from injury compared to their harder, short-board counterparts. A soft-top board typically is less slippery than a traditional hard-top board, but you might still need additional traction, which you can get with fresh wax.

Step 1

Soften the old coat of wax by leaving the board out in the sun for 30 minutes. Scrap off the old wax with the straight edge of a surf wax comb or plastic paint scraper. Work your way from top to bottom, rolling the old wax into a ball. Discard the wax. Clean off any excess wax from the board with surfboard cleaner.

Step 2

Apply a base coat wax to the board lengthwise first. Stroke the wax from the top and work your way down the board. Apply pressure when stroking, as base coat is the hardest surf wax. Apply the wax crosswise from rail to rail after applying it lengthwise. Continue rubbing the wax until you see bumps forming all over the board.

Step 3

Apply a top coat surf wax in the same manner as the base coat, only use less pressure as it is a softer wax. Use the correct wax type: cool, cold, warm or tropical, depending on the temperature of the water in which you are surfing.

Step 4