Illustrations: Dave Tyson

The other day I was happily skating off a hangover at Victoria Park when my slightly boozy state of zen was interrupted by that most unwanted of sights at a skatepark; the wax-happy blader. When called out he was vaguely apologetic but still asked if he could ‘wax the miniramp bit so we can slide better’.

This got me thinking about the nature of wax, as I have done more than once since a similar rollerblade-based scenario caused me three nights in hospital and two plates in my arm after slipping out on their foul coping leavings. I mean, it’s not that we are completely guilt-free of waxing things – I’ve had to stop more than one skateboarder from hitting the miniramp with a candle slide over the years, although obviously when you’re hitting the streets then any ledge or curb is going to need a few coatings.

Skate shops always have some kind of brand name wax lodged in amongst the bearings, wallets and other odds and ends in a display cabinet, but for many skaters I know then candles are the lubricator of choice. However, maybe we are being close-minded with regards to this – after some deep thought, here are a few alternatives which may be under represented in the world of waxing.