Now a surfboard isn’t quite as basic as ‘just a surfboard’. There are different parts to a surfboard, all of which serve a different purpose. We will break them down for you below so that you’re a little bit more in the know!
Nose
The area at the tip of the surfboard. The nose shape depends on the type of board. High-performance surfboards such as a shortboard usually have a pointed nose. Less high-performance boards generally have a more rounded nose providing more volume, paddling power and stability.
Rails
The outline or edges of the board are known as the rails. The curve and thickness of the rails are extremely important to how the board responds when in the water. Large, round and ‘soft’ rails are more forgiving, whereas thin, ‘sharp’ rails are for more experienced surfers.
Deck
This is the top part of the surfboard on which you stand. Wax is usually applied to help your feet grip. A traction pad can also be applied on the tail of the board and even the deck for more grip.
Tail
This is the end of your surfboard, the rear tip. Similar to the rails the shape of the tail greatly affects the board’s performance. There are many variations in tail shape such as squash (flat), pin (pointed) swallow (W-shaped) and rounded pin (round point).
Bottom
This is the underside of your surfboard and by far the most important part. Some surfboards have lots of curves in them from the tail to the nose also known as a rocker, they can also have concave and channels. This all effects how the water flows under the board and through the fins, dictating how the board feels for the surfer riding it.
Fins
Located on the underside of the board on the tail. The fins give you drive and direction, without fins your board would spin on the waves face. Surfboards can have between one and five fins, although the most popular setup is currently three fins, also known as the “Thruster”.
Star Surf Top Tip…
Now that’s all the parts of your surfboard covered. It’s important to look after your surfboard and help keep it in the best shape and condition as possible so here are a few expert tips for helping look after your beautiful shred stick aka surfboard.
- Keep your surfboard in a board sock, board bag or another type of protective cover when not in use.
- Don’t leave your board in direct sunlight or a hot car. This will melt your wax or worse, damage the foam and glass.
- Make sure you repair all damages/dings straight away or next time you hit the water, your board will get waterlogged.
- Always clean and redo your wax every few weeks (if you surf regularly). The last thing you want is a nasty, sandy wax job.
Check out Episode #1 of our Online Surf School “Learn to surf basics”-Series is out, and learn all you need to know about your Basic Surf Equipment!
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