“I’ve Fallen In Love — It Was Just Goo’ing Everywhere.”

In 2020, Stab tested 20 bars of wax to find the ultimate residue.

A small business out of San Gauruhua, Brazil — FU Wax — won on a basis of application, tackiness, grip, and structural integrity. It has also earned the favor of surfers like: Kelly Slater, John Florence, Dane Reynolds, Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira, Lakey Peterson, Jordy Smith, Caroline Marks, Kolohe Andino, Filipe Toledo, Michel Bourez, Jack Freestone, Creed McTaggart, Matt Meola, Ian Crane, and…you get the picture.

FU’s global popularity is relatively new, especially when stacked against 1970s industry babies like Sticky Bumps and Sex Wax. The gooey substance hit main stage when Kelly Slater ousted Taj Burrow in the Quiksilver Pro, New York, with a pirouette that shook the world. 

Shortly after, Kolohe Andino, one of Fu Wax’s earliest adopters, said “Oh my gosh! I’ve just fallen in love — it was just goo’ing everywhere, it’s like the traction you get when you’re wearing booties.” 

The new substance spread in pockets, board bags, and musty carpet floors of surf shops, including the one where I grew up — Surf Ride, which houses 850+ surfboards in Southern California.

It wasn’t until a group of Welsh blokes, who were short on cash, rinsed the retail racks of 50 FU bars: (50 bars X $5 USD) I decided to give FU a go. 

Five sticky toes and a kelp-slime-free deck later, I understood why the pagan gentlemen fawn over the gluey substance like Gollum’s ring. 

But, housing a foreign wax in my Scion felt unnatural; even commodities are religion in this industry. 

July of 2021: Ashton Goggins and the RedBull No Surf Contest Crew traveled to San Guaruhua, Brazil to find the origin of the supreme solution. The crew met FU’s current owner Guilherme Mansur, the son of Fu Wax founder, Fuad Mansur.

In 1972 Fuad began experimenting, and after a sabbatical in Patagonia and one happy accident, he struck sticky gold. You can read more about the history of FU Wax Here .

In this Episode of RedBull’s No Contest, Brazil, Guilherme Mansur takes the crew through fodder of enriching history, including the melted candles and incense combinations that once were once DIY wax solutions. 

The dialogue is enlightening, culturally rich, and feels like a home. Hit the Youtube link below to see where the best surf wax in the world is made.