Surfboards - Parts
A lot of people have dedicated their lives to develop a better board for Surfing. The Surfing Board's weight, size, shape, and fins have changed over the past years. There are many kinds of boards available nowadays which are designed for every type of waves. The design has always been a personal thing since most of the makers or shapers are surfers themselves. Professional surfers even work closely with shapers since the former knows better how their Surfboards need to be done.
Ancient Hawaiian's Surfboard was made of wood and ranged from ten to sixteen feet long depending on social class. Today, Surfboards are thinner and are much lighter. Let’s take a look at the different parts of a Surfboard that will help you in riding waves.
Move the mouse cursor over the dot to view the definition or function of each part of the Surfboard.
Nose
It refers to the front end of the board that sits out of the water. Nose shape can be either rounded or pointed, depending on the type of Surfboard that you will be using. When paddling, this is the part of the board that is just above the water surface. A nose guard is used by surfers to keep their boards from dings or dents.
Deck
This is the upper part of the board where you stand or lie to surf. Several coatings of Surfboard Wax are applied to it to help you from slipping off when surfing. Wax can also be applied to the rails for added grip so your hands will not slip when changing position. A slightly arched surface that is known as Domed Deck can be seen from the rail to the middle and back to the rail of the Surfboard. This aids easy rail to rail movements.
Rails
These are the edges of the board that run from the tail to the nose. Rails are where the deck and the bottom meet and are used for turning the Surfboard. When you shift from paddling to surfing position, you will need to rest the palms of your hands to the rails so you can push your body upward. The shape of the rails varies, and affects the board’s speed and turning ability.
Tail
This refers to the rear end of the board and it is where the Surfboard Leash is connected. Tails come in different shapes which can affect the speed and turning ability of the board.
Stringer
It is a thin piece of wood that runs from the nose to the tail. This helps increase the strength of the board.
Knowing the different elements that make up your board will help you understand how your primary piece of equipment can work for you. Learn the parts and their functions so you can improve your performance in the water.
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