A Stupid Little Wax Theory

A few high-end, early adopter surfers have a secret wax they don’t want you to know about…

When Taj Burrow arrived in Sydney from the Billabong Pro Brazil in May, his excess baggage charge featured a lot more than just fond memories of Rio and a runner-up trophy. It held upward of 20 kilos of a wax that he reckons is so good that he’ll never go back to traditional wax. If he has bought a big enough stash, that is. Taj was turned onto the wax by his Calfornian pal Kolohe Andino. And he in turn heard it from his friends Luke Davis and Nat Young. Nat had won the Coldwater Classic at Santa Cruz and Luke had gotten straight onto spruiking the gear to Kolohe.

“This shit is crazy,” said Luke. “It’s the best stuff in the whole world, you gotta get it.”

Kolohe ignored the claims (“Dude, I don’t care about your wax”) until Brazilian surfer Wiggoly Dantos stayed with him for a contest at Trestles. Wig said he should try it. The results were mind-blowing.

“Oh my gosh! I’ve just fallen in love. It was just goo’ing everywhere,” remembers Kolohe. “It was the like traction you get when you’re wearing booties.”

Can a wax really be this good? “No one ever believes at first,” says Kolohe. “Taj texted from Brazil and was, like, ‘Where do I get this wax? I need that shit!’ It was like it was drugs or something. You have to have it.”

Taj, like almost every other pro surfer who haunts the tour, used Sex Wax (Quick Humps) almost exclusively but has made the change. When Stab asked current world number one, Brazilian surfer Adriano De Souza, he shrugged it off like it was no big deal. “I use Sex Wax as the base,” he said. “The Banana wax on top. It makes the best beads.”

Jamie O’Brien laughed off “their stupid little wax theory.” Jamie joked about a session where he saw Evan Geiselman (who’s also in on the buzz) waxing his raft and then changing blocks halfway through the waxing process. “He looked at me funny as he grabbed this other block of wax,” said Jamie. “And, I said, what’s that fucken stupid look on your face? And he goes, It’s a secret.”

Want some? It’s called Banana wax or Fu wax. And, it ain’t easy to find. – Sam McIntosh

How to create the perfect wax traction

1. Use Sex Wax on its edge criss-crossed up and down your board.

2. Lightly stroke from in front of your front foot down to the tailpad until beads appear.

3. Change blocks to the Brazilian wax.

4. Wax flat – oldschool style – and watch the stringy and grippy wax job come to life.

5. Be spellbound by what can be possible in the brine.