Choosing a Surfboard
Author: Dave Emanuel
Thinking of buying a new board or are you learning to surf. One of the most difficult and also the most important decisions that every surfer makes is choosing their surfboard.
There are a myriad of factors which will influence your choice of board. Ranging from your experience, the waves you will be riding, your preferred style of surfing and more. Once you take all of these into account you then get to look at the surfboard itself.
Surfboards come in a range of styles and sizes and also have different manufacturing processes. The main shapes of surfboards are longboards, mini-mals, fish, shortboards and hybrids of these shapes.
The Mini-Mal - is used by beginners to advanced surfers. - Perfect for the person who likes the feel of a longboard but wants more maneuverability. Easier to carry and manage out in the water but with all the surfing ease of a longboard. Great for kids and smaller adults looking for a great beginners board or the experienced longboarder needing something more maneuverable.
The Longboard can also be used by beginners to advanced surfers - A modern replica of what the sport was started on. Paddle into what ever you want and hang ten all the way to the beach. Among the most popular boards in the water and for good reason, easy to start on and always fun.
The Softboard - Beginners to Intermediate - While it is usually by beginners you will often see an advanced surfer using them between the flags at the beach. This is the perfect board to learn to surf on, the length and width of these boards are designed to maximise stability and are easy to paddle on. The softboards have a slick bottom which ensures maximum speed and smooth rails to ensure easy turning. The soft construction of the board ensures you don't get hurt during the spills while you still enjoy the thrills.
The Retro Fish - Intermediate to advanced surfers - A popular alternative to the high performance shortboard. Created in the 70s, the fish is typically shorter and thicker than a short board and comes with a swallow tail and a larger twin fin set up. Its unique shape allows for a looser, faster board for fun on those smaller days. A great board for someone trying to make the transition to shortboarding or spends most sessions riding sloppy waves. Often comes with glassed in fins
Generally the better the surfer the smaller their board in length, width and thickness. But this is not always the case as some surfers prefer different styles of boards depending on when they paddle into a wave, how strong they are at paddling and how good balance they.
At the end of the day choosing a board is personal and you need to get advice from an expert. so where ever you purchase your next board make sure they provide advice and ask you questions about the factors listed above before you buy.
Good luck and happy surfing.
There are a myriad of factors which will influence your choice of board. Ranging from your experience, the waves you will be riding, your preferred style of surfing and more. Once you take all of these into account you then get to look at the surfboard itself.
Surfboards come in a range of styles and sizes and also have different manufacturing processes. The main shapes of surfboards are longboards, mini-mals, fish, shortboards and hybrids of these shapes.
The Mini-Mal - is used by beginners to advanced surfers. - Perfect for the person who likes the feel of a longboard but wants more maneuverability. Easier to carry and manage out in the water but with all the surfing ease of a longboard. Great for kids and smaller adults looking for a great beginners board or the experienced longboarder needing something more maneuverable.
The Longboard can also be used by beginners to advanced surfers - A modern replica of what the sport was started on. Paddle into what ever you want and hang ten all the way to the beach. Among the most popular boards in the water and for good reason, easy to start on and always fun.
The Softboard - Beginners to Intermediate - While it is usually by beginners you will often see an advanced surfer using them between the flags at the beach. This is the perfect board to learn to surf on, the length and width of these boards are designed to maximise stability and are easy to paddle on. The softboards have a slick bottom which ensures maximum speed and smooth rails to ensure easy turning. The soft construction of the board ensures you don't get hurt during the spills while you still enjoy the thrills.
The Retro Fish - Intermediate to advanced surfers - A popular alternative to the high performance shortboard. Created in the 70s, the fish is typically shorter and thicker than a short board and comes with a swallow tail and a larger twin fin set up. Its unique shape allows for a looser, faster board for fun on those smaller days. A great board for someone trying to make the transition to shortboarding or spends most sessions riding sloppy waves. Often comes with glassed in fins
Generally the better the surfer the smaller their board in length, width and thickness. But this is not always the case as some surfers prefer different styles of boards depending on when they paddle into a wave, how strong they are at paddling and how good balance they.
At the end of the day choosing a board is personal and you need to get advice from an expert. so where ever you purchase your next board make sure they provide advice and ask you questions about the factors listed above before you buy.
Good luck and happy surfing.
About the Author:
Dave Emanuel speaks to customers everyday & provides them with advice on which surfboard is best for them. He shares insights and makes suggestions about the things you should ask when buying a surfboard or at least consider before you buy one. Choosing a Surfboard Surfboards
Surfing As A Sport Of Kings
Author: Catherine Harvey
Surf boards and surfing have come a long way since they first gained popularity in the mid 1800's.
Originally the sport of royalty, surfing has actually been around since the 6th Century but in its modern day form it gained status as a lifestyle symbol around the 1860's. It is thought to have originally made its way to Hawaii from the Polynesian Islands around the middle of the 18th Century.
Two Hawaiian princes studying in the US showed their surfing skills to the locals in North America and the sport took off from there. Their surf boards would have been primitively moulded from solid wood, sanded with granulated coral and stained with bark or charcoal before being finished with glossy nut oil. Problems with original surf boards like this were that they weighed close to 150lbs and acted like sponges once in the water.
Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimmer from Hawaii, demonstrated his skills on a surf board while on a visit to Australia in 1865. This went down a storm with Australian's who have always been famed for their love of the outdoor life, and the style of surf boarding now known to the Western world was born.
The surf board has evolved over the years from the original solid redwood plank, through composite wood, lightweight balsa wood and fibreglass to today's virtually perfect design constructed from polyurethane foam and fibreglass.
Very few changes have been made to the make-up of the board since mass production began in the late 1950's. In the beginning, long boards of up to 16' were popular but not so manoeuvrable. Shorter boards enjoyed a surge, being built around 6' and 8lbs lighter. These were much faster and easier to navigate than the more cumbersome 16 footer.
Minor changes have been made to surf boards over the years but mostly ones that are optional. Some lift has been added to the nose and fins were also added for stability. Although you can now buy surf boards with fixed fins, it is more common place to buy attachable fins. This gives the surfer the option to experiment with where fins are placed depending on the type of wave they are riding.
Surfing has now advanced to a point where different waves and different riding styles call for a different type of board to gain the maximum speed and agility, thus the maximum adrenaline rush. Choices consist of double concave bottom, vee bottom, rounded square tail and swallow tail as well as different lengths.
One of the best inventions that all surfers rave about is the surf board leash. A simple device where the board can be strapped to the surfers ankle but it is one that makes the life of a surfer so much simpler. Before this, he/she would have had to wade into shore to retrieve the board after every wave.
Custom paint jobs on surf boards are big business with some very extreme designs that you can either pay a surf shop to apply for you or, if you are feeling artistic, purchase some spray paints or water based paint pens and get creative yourself. Covered with a protective clear top coat these designs will last a long time but can always be sanded back and re-done if you get bored.
Sex wax is a surfers product, not anything like it sounds! It is a wax that can be applied to the board where you would normally put your feet and hands to prevent slipping. However, some surfers prefer to use deck grip as an alternative. This is a stick on pad that removes the need for constant waxing.
Initially a sport for men, surfing has taken off worldwide and has a large female following. Not just as groupies for the surfer dude's but now as serious competitors themselves. It has also spawned a whole fashion scene for men and women, from wetsuits and beachwear to hats, hoodies and shoes. It has also brought about a sound financial business in hair care, particularly for the women who don't like to constantly have surfers hair.
Originally the sport of royalty, surfing has actually been around since the 6th Century but in its modern day form it gained status as a lifestyle symbol around the 1860's. It is thought to have originally made its way to Hawaii from the Polynesian Islands around the middle of the 18th Century.
Two Hawaiian princes studying in the US showed their surfing skills to the locals in North America and the sport took off from there. Their surf boards would have been primitively moulded from solid wood, sanded with granulated coral and stained with bark or charcoal before being finished with glossy nut oil. Problems with original surf boards like this were that they weighed close to 150lbs and acted like sponges once in the water.
Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimmer from Hawaii, demonstrated his skills on a surf board while on a visit to Australia in 1865. This went down a storm with Australian's who have always been famed for their love of the outdoor life, and the style of surf boarding now known to the Western world was born.
The surf board has evolved over the years from the original solid redwood plank, through composite wood, lightweight balsa wood and fibreglass to today's virtually perfect design constructed from polyurethane foam and fibreglass.
Very few changes have been made to the make-up of the board since mass production began in the late 1950's. In the beginning, long boards of up to 16' were popular but not so manoeuvrable. Shorter boards enjoyed a surge, being built around 6' and 8lbs lighter. These were much faster and easier to navigate than the more cumbersome 16 footer.
Minor changes have been made to surf boards over the years but mostly ones that are optional. Some lift has been added to the nose and fins were also added for stability. Although you can now buy surf boards with fixed fins, it is more common place to buy attachable fins. This gives the surfer the option to experiment with where fins are placed depending on the type of wave they are riding.
Surfing has now advanced to a point where different waves and different riding styles call for a different type of board to gain the maximum speed and agility, thus the maximum adrenaline rush. Choices consist of double concave bottom, vee bottom, rounded square tail and swallow tail as well as different lengths.
One of the best inventions that all surfers rave about is the surf board leash. A simple device where the board can be strapped to the surfers ankle but it is one that makes the life of a surfer so much simpler. Before this, he/she would have had to wade into shore to retrieve the board after every wave.
Custom paint jobs on surf boards are big business with some very extreme designs that you can either pay a surf shop to apply for you or, if you are feeling artistic, purchase some spray paints or water based paint pens and get creative yourself. Covered with a protective clear top coat these designs will last a long time but can always be sanded back and re-done if you get bored.
Sex wax is a surfers product, not anything like it sounds! It is a wax that can be applied to the board where you would normally put your feet and hands to prevent slipping. However, some surfers prefer to use deck grip as an alternative. This is a stick on pad that removes the need for constant waxing.
Initially a sport for men, surfing has taken off worldwide and has a large female following. Not just as groupies for the surfer dude's but now as serious competitors themselves. It has also spawned a whole fashion scene for men and women, from wetsuits and beachwear to hats, hoodies and shoes. It has also brought about a sound financial business in hair care, particularly for the women who don't like to constantly have surfers hair.
About the Author:
Surfing expert Catherine Harvey looks at the way surf boards have changed through the years. To find out more please visit http://www.transsurf.co.uk/