Surfboard Design

What type of surfboard do you need?
There are a few basic questions to consider here.

  • What level of surfer are you? Beginner, intermediate, advanced, or professional?
  • What style of surfer are you?
  • How heavy are you?
  • How fit are you?
  • How often do you surf?
  • What sort of waves do you surf in? Beach break, reef break, fast hollow waves, flatter slower waves, variable waves.
  • Do you want to compromise and have one board to suit all conditions, or have a few boards to suit a variety of conditions?

    Factors in board design that impact how a board performs include -

  • Length
  • Width
  • Thickness
  • Rocker (curve from nose to tail)
  • Bottom profile
  • Rail shape
  • Tail shape
  • Symmetry
  • Construction
  • Fin design and set up

    A surfboard needs to have the right hydrodynamics to perform the way you want it to. All the above factors influence the hydrodynamics of the board.
    Many beginners start riding longer, wider, thicker boards that paddle easily and are stable once you are up and standing on them. As they progress in surfing ability, they go for shorter, narrower, thinner surfboards that are faster and more maneuverable. And then, as life would have it, as they start getting older, less fit and less agile, the longer, wider thicker boards come back in to play.
    After years of surfing you begin to have an almost instinctive feel for how a board will perform for you and if it will suit your style. Asking someone who has been surfing for years and understands surfboard design can be a very valuable thing to do when you are considering buying you next surfboard.
    One of the great things about surfing is that you can continue to surf as get older. There are very few injuries that come from surfing, unlike contact sports where you are an old man at thirty-five. There are a lot of guys (much fewer ladies) who are surfing well in to their fifties and beyond. Please have a look at our page about fitness to help you keep in shape for surfing as your age advances.

    To discuss anything about board design, go to our blog site.