Snowboard service: scope, duration and instructions for waxing

Just like a car, your snowboard needs to be checked regularly to ensure it is in good working condition and performs well on the slopes and off-piste. There is also the safety aspect to consider: the more predictable your snowboard is in the snow, the lower the risk of falls and therefore injuries.

You can use the following characteristics to determine whether a service is required:

• Damage: As soon as you notice visible defects on the edges or base, you should have your snowboard serviced as soon as possible to avoid further damage. This could be rusty or broken edges, but also a crack down to the core of the board after contact with a rock.
• Performance: If you notice that the gliding properties are deteriorating on the slopes or you no longer have grip on icy descents, a snowboard service is recommended.
• Preservation: You should have your board serviced at the end of the winter season at the latest. The additional layer of wax on the underside preserves it over the winter so that moisture cannot attack the material. This also means that less rust accumulates on fresh, sharp edges.

If you ride regularly, you will need a snowboard service sooner or later. Small stones or branches, as well as normal wear and tear on the edges, inevitably require a certain amount of maintenance.

Tip: If you notice during your winter holiday that your own equipment needs to be serviced, our sports experts in the shops will be happy to help you. Your advantage: In the meantime, you can rent a suitable replacement snowboard from us in case yours won´t be ready until the next day.

• Intensity of use (frequency and load)
• Age of the board
• Type of surface – snow is not always the same
• Storage

It is important that you regularly check your snowboard for external damage to prevent further ones. Our RENTertainers recommend having it serviced at least once at the end of the winter season. This is the only way to ensure that your winter sports equipment will last a long time, and riding a well-maintained board is simply more fun.

As soon as you notice that the performance of your gear is deteriorating, you should consider having it serviced. This could be due to reduced gliding performance on the slopes or a lack of edge grip on icy surfaces.

Tip: As part of our snowboard service, we also assemble the board and ensure that the snowboard bindings are correctly adjusted.

The offer at INTERSPORT Rent usually consists of several service packages. Depending on what needs to be done to your snowboard, the amount of work, costs and duration will vary. We have provided some examples of what you can expect in the shops:

• Removing wax residue
• Melting the coating compound
• Manually repairing deep damage to the base and edges
• Fresh wax for the base
• Deburring and polishing the surface
• Sharpening the edges
• Deburring and polishing the edges
• Structural grinding of the base

Self-service is worthwhile if:

• You ride regularly.
• You have enough space in your garage.
• You also maintain the equipment of family and friends.
• You have a well-equipped workshop.

Maintaining your own winter sports gear has several advantages:

• You can save money.
• By working with your equipment, you get to know it better.
• You don't have to wait around.
• You decide which products (various types of wax for different snow conditions) you use for your snowboard service.
• You can cater more specifically to your individual needs.

Ideally, you know someone who can show you the ropes at the beginning. This will help you learn the individual steps and what to look out for along the way. We will show you which tools and products you need in the next section.

To be fully prepared for the following instructions, you will need the following products and tools in advance:

• Mounting device for your board
• Wax remover
• Hard brush
• Repair candle (for repairing large scratches)
• Plexiglass blade
• Grinding stone
• Edge sander
• Hot wax and wax iron
• Polishing cloth

1. Get organised: Find a suitable place where you can wax your snowboard. A balcony, basement, garage or even the living room with the window open are all options. Your gear should be at room temperature for this process.

2. Secure the board: Choose a firm surface, such as a workbench or table, covered with a clean surface, such as an old bed sheet. To work on your board, you will also need a mounting device to secure it – i.e. a two-piece snowboard mount for base and edge processing.

3. Cleaning: Remove old wax residue with a wax remover and a hard brush.

4. Repair damage: You can repair large scratches on your board with a repair candle by dripping the material onto the affected areas. It will harden after about 20 minutes. You can remove any excess with a sharp Plexiglas blade – the result should be an even surface.

5. Sanding edges: Treat the edges with a whetstone to remove rust and unevenness! Then use the edge sander. This allows you to bring them to the desired angle. To do this, move the device with even pressure from the nose to the tail of your snowboard. Repeat the process until the edges are sharp. Important: When sanding, it is important that you only move in the direction mentioned above, otherwise you may damage them. Then use the whetstone again to slightly round off the corners at the top and bottom.

6. Waxing the base: Now you can start waxing. It is best to use a product that is suitable for all types of snow and temperatures! You will need a waxing iron to apply the wax. You can skip the nose and tail. The first step is to apply the material drop by drop along the entire length of the board before spreading it with the iron. There should be no untreated areas at the end. Then wait 5 to 10 minutes for the wax to dry!

7. Fine tuning: Finally, you can brush again with a hard brush from the nose to the tail – but only with very light pressure. This will create a perfect glide that will allow your board to slide optimally over the snow.

8. Polishing: Finally, you can polish your snowboard with a cloth – and your favourite winter sports equipment is ready to hit the slopes again.

A regular snowboard service ensures that your board regains its optimal gliding properties and that the edges grip reliably – even on icy sections of the descents. This not only makes you safer, but also more fun on the slopes.

Applying wax and grinding the edges is feasible if you have enough space at home. You can usually find all the accessories and the right products for this in our INTERSPORT Rent shops. Before you start, it's best to watch a winter sports enthusiast friend to get a feel for the work involved.

INTERSPORT Rent usually offers several service packages. The amount of work, costs and duration vary depending on what needs to be done to your snowboard. However, all offers include the application of an additional layer of wax and edge grinding according to your wishes. Premium services include repairing damage to the base or special structure grinding patterns.

The duration of the snowboard service depends on various factors: the scope of the service requested, workload and whether the shop has its own machine. In some ski resorts in particular, not every shop may have its own ski and snowboard machine. Instead, the equipment is collected in the branches and processed at a central location. Ideally, you should bring your board to the shop in the evening so that you can pick it up again the next day.