What to consider when choosing a surfboard?
Surfboards or surf boards
If we talk about SURF BOARDS, it is true that at the beginning, during the beginner surf courses, we will use large, soft and voluminous boards; and that later, as our surfing level improves, we will move on to evolutionary boards or perhaps a longboard or a mini malibu.
But whatever type of board you use, the anatomy of a SURF board is practically the same (except for the size, presence or absence of a soul, number of fins and rocker angle).
What parts does a SURF board have?
OUTLINE
This is the general shape of the board. In English, OUTLINE means: contour, outline, profile or general idea.
NOSE
The NOSE is the front part of the board and is a rounded area on a learning board.
The more pointed the tip, the faster the board will be. So to learn safely and confidently, the best thing is a beginner board with a rounded nose.
TAIL
The TAIL is the back part of your surfboard. By “back” we mean the end of the board opposite the NOSE.
It can be rounded, it can end in a fish shape or even in a diamond shape or more pointed.
DECK or CENTER
The DECK is the top part of a SURFBOARD. It will be the area where you lie down to paddle and where you stand up.
In some areas of the DECK you will have to use WAX or paraffin to avoid slipping, it will be where you rest your hands to propel yourself.
In addition, you should also put wax where you are going to place your front foot and back foot (or in any other point where you are going to want to move if you walk on the board like on a longboard).
BOTTOM
The bottom surface of the board is the BOTTOM. With a slight concave shape if it is a beginner board and a more pronounced shape if it is a more professional board.
EDGES
The EDGES are the edge of the board. In softboards they tend to be wide edges that increase the volume. This will give greater stability to your SURF board so that you can learn to surf in a simpler way. There will be time to change the board and use one with thinner edges and less volume.
A common beginner mistake is to lean on the edges to perform the TAKE OFF. We must lean on the DECK (never on the edges) at the height below the chest or ribs.
ROCKER
We call rocker the curvature or angle that the board has in the relationship between the NOSE and the BOTTOM. The rocker of your first SURF board will be slightly pronounced. This is to give stability to your board
when LEARNING TO SURF.
FINS
In nautical sports, the KEEL is to a boat what the spine is to the skeleton. In SURF the keel (which in English is called FIN) will allow you to grab onto the wave and direct your board where you want to slide with it. Both the shape and the hydromechanics are reminiscent of a dolphin’s fin. In fact FIN means FIN in English.
What function do fins have in marine animals?
Above all, they help them to balance and to choose the direction they want to take.
Single fin, Twin, Trifin or Thrusters, Quads… the possibilities with fins are many and go beyond the fact of whether you use 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5.
SOUL OF A SURFBOARD
The soul or stringer is the wooden nerve (normally made of wood) that runs through the surfboard from the NOSE to the TAIL
And now what is the next step?
Descubre los diferentes cursos de Laga Surf Camp para poder elegir la mejor tabla tras conocer cual es su anatomía y así inicairte en el mundo de surf o poder perfeccionar tu técnica. Este año en nuestros surf camps incluiremos nuevas activades que no te puedes perder: paddle surf, yoga, surf sakate y mucho más…
Ademas de disfrutar de surf en nuestros campamentos o clases también puees compaginar nuestros surf camp con festivales y conciertos. Descubre como en nuestro artículo del blog.
