Board Care 101

If you're like me, you want to keep your beloved surfboard around for as long as possible. In reality, only sponsored pros can afford to update their quiver of surfboards every six months, and since a battered surfboard will ride significantly worse (slower, less responsive) than a board that has been cared for, and the unsightliness of a skanky stick can considerably lower your on-the-beach coolness factor, it is beneficial to your performance in and out of the water that you follow some basic steps to keep your board looking tip-top and working efficiently.

#1. Get Religious: Bag Your Stick

Out of the water, keep your board in a board bag at all times. I can't stress this one enough because 50% of the dings and chips that will cause your surfboard's demise will occur in transport to and from the beach. My boards don't sit around gathering dust; nonetheless, I have kept boards white and pristine for as long as two years just by religiously keeping them covered.

#2. Keep your Surfboard Safe: Let Gravity Guide You.

A gust of wind or an inquisitive toddler can easily knock down a board that has been placed haphazardly in a standing position against a wall or in a corner and cause major damage and thus keep you out of the water for days. A way to avoid this misfortune is by building a rack so you can secure your boards or installing some L-brackets on your wall in order to hang your boards safely out of reach. Your surfboard will thank you.