My local surf spot is missing from most of the surf maps,
and over the past 35 ish years I have a ‘love/hate’
relationship with it. One of the key factors behind this is
not only the ever-shifting sand bars, but the thin layer of
water film that renders your surf wax useless within your
session. Over the years, we (the devoted locals) have tried
all kinds of tricks and tips to enable a longer session and
not to strip all the wax off after each surf trip.
However, wax has become the bottom line to blame for
falling off your wave. Is it the wax or did you just fall off
(due to ability etc), but it’s related back to the people that
either saw your wave or you fall off (mostly re-told in
the pub).
I know the industry has move on from Alfred Gallant
stumbling discovery of his mothers waxed wooden floors
in 1935. However, we (the surfing community) have
explored all kinds of liquid wax, paraffins and even
chemicals. Now there is a push to stop petrochemicals
in all elements of surfing from wetsuits, boards and
now wax.
I’m interested in surf wax as the layer of surfing
commodification and how graphic design with the now
playful use of language (mostly male dominated) has
driven the wax industry into a hot commodity within the
carpark surf culture.
The book is a showcase of packaging and labels
gathered over the years and have been kindly donated
by @sideshoredrift (Martin Rawlinson), @mikey__hurst
(Mikey Hurst) and my own collection.