Is Soap the New Wax?

            When unable to find any cheap candles at local convenience stores, my roommate Collin and I got creative. After harrowing through the aisles of CVS, we concluded there was no wax to be found. As any skater knows, we needed wax to revive a ledge that seemed like although it held potential, had been tossed to the side by the local skate scene and had not received maintenance in months, maybe years.

            In all of the confusion and disappointment, the packaginf to a three pack of bars of soap caught my eye. I wondered to aloud, “Would soap work as skate wax?” Collin thought it had potential so we picked up the three bars of soap for two dollars and head off to the ledge.

            I applied the soap to the corner, top, and side edges, just as one would do with normal skate wax or a candle. The residue the soap left was thick with just one coat, looking similar to a deodorant stick on a hot day.  The smell was not unpleasant, but a little chemically.

            With the first 5-0 grind and nose-slides we realized we were on to something. The soap worked great as skate wax! It only take one or two coats to make even the roughest spots slide. Also, at two dollar for three bars it is a much better value than skate wax in shops, and perhaps candles.

            There are a few cons of using soap as skate wax. One problem is when applying the soap it tends to get all over your hands. I’m all for cleanliness, but the soap usually ends up on your face from wiping sweat, and if the sweat gets in your eyes it stings, like shampoo in the shower. The other downfall of soap as skate wax is that it washes off with just one rain. This means you might end up having to use more soap than you would have to skate wax.

            My recommendation is that if you want to wax a random spot you don’t think you will ever come back to, use soap. It works with only a little amount and can make any spot slide. However, if you want a more permanent slide, you will want to stick with conventional wax, as it is longer lasting in New England weather.