This might be an obvious one for the intermediate and advanced surfers out there, but unless you have a longtime surfer in your corner, it might not be on your radar as a beginner. In this video I go through how to take your wax of your surfboard. In this case I was in Barbados transitioning my cold water (NY winter) wax coat to surf in tropical waters. Situations when you want to change your wax:
When you’re transitioning from cold to warmer water — if you surf in warm water with cool or cold water wax it will melt off all over you and that’s gross!
When you’re surfing the same water temps but your wax has gotten really old, dirty, slippery and ugly (brown/black)
Or maybe you’re just neurotic and always like you board to look fresh and clean (in this case I’d recommend changing your wax every 2-3 months)
Tools I mention in the video:
Wax comb or scraper https://www.cleanlinesurf.com/products/block-surf-flexcomb-surfboard-wax-comb?variant=41100950568994
Pickle (a nylon sock with shaping dust from old surfboards inside of it — comes with a scraper) https://picklewaxremover.com/A beach towel for the final touches
More waves more joy!