No wax is optional it sure helps though. With no wax you will need more speed to grind a good distance, with wax you will need less speed. The easiest grind to start off on is a feeble grind that is when the front wheel is on the ledge and rear peg is on the ledge. You will want to balance you body right over the corner of the ledge and slightly to the front of the bike and you will get the distance.
