Surfboards

A surfboard is kind of a really long skateboard without wheels (though the skateboard came after the surf board); they are buoyant so that they float. A surfer stands on a board to ride a wave; boards are light so that they can be maneuvered, but strong enough to support the weight of a surfer. Surfboards were actually invented in Polynesia and originally made of local tree wood, or balsa.

Originally, surf boards were heavy and over 15 feet long. Since the beginning of the history of the surfboard, however, boards have changed quite a bit. First of all, fins have been added to the bottom rear of the board; this has allowed an increase in directional stability. Also, the materials and shapes used in the construction of boards have been modified and updated as well.

Boards today are constructed with either polyurethane or polystyrene foam and covered with fiberglass cloth layers and either epoxy resin or polyester. This surfboard design allows for the creation of a lightweight, yet strong board that floats and can be maneuvered with relative ease. There are some surfboard manufacturers that have also experimented with aluminum or hollow carbon fiber to achieve an even lighter board. Surfboard designs are also enhanced by different types of graphics; check out something like Roxy surfboards, Lost surfboards or Rusty surfboards to view surfboard graphics.

There are two main categories of surfboards, longboards and shortboards. The first range in length from 8 to 14 feet or so; they are thicker, wider and have a more rounded nose than shortboards. Shortboards, on the other hand, range in length from six to eight feet and are thinner and narrower, with a more pointed nose; these are most often more easily maneuvered. There are also other types of boards, such as the fish surfboard, guns, tow-boards, eggs and others; some boards that have fish tails are called fish surfboards but are not true fish boards.

There are variations in board design as well. A surfboard tail, or back end, can be square, swallow, diamond, etc.; the shape of this part of the board determines how a board will respond. The rail of a board, or its edges, can be either rounded or squared. A board can have one or multiple fins, in various arrangements; surfboard fins prevent the board from sliding along uncontrollably on the wave. The bottom of the board can also be more or less curved; a higher curvature allows for more maneuverability but decreases speed.

The type of board you choose depends on a variety of factors. If you’re a beginning surfer, your board should be about seven feet long, 19-21 inches wide and 2-3 inches thick. You should also get something cheap, as you’re going to be exposing your board to a lot of wear and tear; when looking for surfboards for sale, therefore, check out used surfboards. You should, however, stay away from boards that have foam showing or are delaminated.