“It’s Too Sticky”: Kelly Slater Reveals a Never-Heard-Before Surfing Trick to Save From Wipeouts

After starting his professional surfing career in 1990, Kelly Slater also began designing surfboards under his brand Slater Designs in 2016. He eventually started by introducing three surfboards, Sci-fi, Omini, and Banana. Out of these, Sci-Fi became a favorite in surfboard shops. Being in the business for nearly seven years, Slater has developed great knowledge about surfboards. Recently, the 11-time world champion answered an interesting surfboard question that will clear a daunting doubt in the minds of the non-surfers. 

A month back, Slater busted several myths about surfing techniques in a Q&A video on YouTube with the channel WIRED. Moreover, the surfing champ answered an intriguing question from a fan about surfboards. The question was, “How does a surfer stick to their boards like that?” Let’s get to know!

Kelly Slater has a simple answer for how surfers stick to their boards!

A calm and composed Kelly Slater in the YouTube video revealed that surfers receive their grip on a surfboard by using surfboard wax. He described in the video, “We have a sticky wax that we put on our boards. In fact, the waxes now have gotten so sticky that some people when they use them for the first time say it’s too sticky, ’cause their feet don’t move.”

For the unversed, surfboard wax is a natural and/or synthetic wax (a mixture of paraffin, beeswax, and other hard waxes to create a softer wax) applied to the deck of surfboards. It majorly helps the surfers to keep from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave.

Although newbie surfers do not like the highly adhesive nature of the wax, Slater stated that he likes the stickiness because it helps surfers to perform crucial movements in big waves. He added in the video, “ We’re doing big maneuvers or airs or pushing really hard in carves. We’re using all our power and weight.” Since surfers use the entire force of their bodies while riding waves, the wax plays a vital role in preventing wipeouts.

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Apart from possessing deep knowledge about surfboards, Slater also has a vast collection of the same. However, among the many surfboards he has ridden, he once revealed his magic surfboard.

Kelly Slater lost track of his magic surfboard

Surfing for nearly 20 years, Slater has surfed on innumerable surfboards. In fact, the legend has also lost count of how many boards he used in his entire career. In 2020, when Kelly was asked about his magic surfboard, he had a great laugh before answering the question.

The legend revealed that he had always been looking for a magical surfboard. However, he once had one from Australian surfer, Simone Anderson. Slater truly believed that his surfboard had magic as he was able to win events at Lowers, JBay, Bells and Teahupo’o. Though, it was all because of Slater’s skills, yet the surfboard became his favorite.

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For us non-surfers, it is a wonder to see surfers not falling off their surfboards. But the sport has its way to ensure that this most basic threat is avoided at all costs.