Surfboard Buy Tips Continued - Determining Surfboard Rocker
Do you want a board with some rocker in it. The rocker is the curve along the bottom or top of the board as well as the rail. Hold the board near the nose and stare down it toward the tail and you will see if it has any rocker built into it (most boards do).
There is bottom rocker, deck rocker, and rail rocker, all of which go into determining the nuanced contours of the particular surfboard and thus determining how it performs in the ocean in a variety of wave conditions (e.g., certain arrangements may be better for short fast waves, tubing waves, big soft waves, etc.).
As the technology of surfboard design has evolved over the past couple of decades many new shapes and designs have been developed with the goal of improving speed, acceleration, power, turning, and control in particular wave conditions, and much improvement has been made in both technology and performance.
For example, a convex surfboard bottom contour is often employed to provide increased lateral stability and gentle transitions between rails at both low and high speeds, so this design is often integrated into a longboard shape where those qualities are more appreciated.
The Surfboard Tail - From Round Tail to Pin Tail
Considering different tail types is also important when planning your surfboard buy. A round tail provides the most surface area of the round and pin tail board types and works well in small wave situations. A round tail shape is less efficient at squaring off turns but releases off the top of the wave easier.
In contrast, a round pin provides a bit more control during high performance moves and that is why you see it on many shortboards. It is also used on many longboards and in between boards. The pintail is seen less frequently though is often used on big wave “guns,” the boards that are used to paddle in (as opposed to tow in) to the biggest of waves.
The Swallow Tail and Thumb Tail Surfboards
The swallow tail provides some great control when you are coming out of a turn, and is also seen on some shortboards as well as on guns or semi-guns. Another tail type similar to the swallow tail is the thumb tail that provides some speed when it isn’t too big and gives a nice bottom turn but with some ease of rail to rail transitions.
Squash Tail Surfboard
Perhaps the most common shortboard tail is the squash tail which is good for generating speed down the line but with a soft squared corner that still provides some control along with some ability to accelerate from turns.
The Rails of the Surfboard
The shape of a surfboard’s rails have a great deal of effect on how the surfboard rides in the water. The rails affect the turning ability of the board as well as how much speed the board will generate.
During a surfboard buy you should consider what type of surfboard rails you would like based upon what type of surfing you are going to be doing.
If you are a longboarder do you like to generate speed straight down the line, maybe go for the nose, or do you like to try to carve bottom turns and then back to the top and off the lip and head down for another stellar bottom turn?
Rail Volume on Surfboards
The volume of the rail and how rounded the rail is are determining factors in the board’s characteristics. In general, a thinner rail that tapers significantly or is domed in shape are often used on bigger (e.g., thicker boards).
Smaller boards, in contrast, will often employ a boxier rail. A good shortboard will have enough volume in the rails to provides some support during a turn yet thin enough to provide some control.
On a hybrid, or fish type board, a variation of the shortboard, the rails are sometimes crowned up to the wide middle so they can get into the wave, but then toward the tail the rail profile decreases with no tuck in the rail near the fin, allowing for good acceleration out of turns.
Surfboard Buy Tips: Here is a Summary of Things To Consider When Buying a Surfboard
Beginners should consider buying a used board to learn on and to get the feeling of what type of surfing they will most enjoy. Do you want to be a shortboarder or a longboarder? Are you going to try to ride big point break waves or small shorebreak. Do you just want to cruise on a longboard or do you want to get tubed?
Make sure the board doesn’t have dings that are taking on water, and make sure it floats you well in the water. Don’t spend too much on your first surfboard because it will likely take a beating as you improve your skills.
Then you can put down the significant cash it will take to get a new board, but you will know what you want and you will be able to keep the board in fairly good conditions now that your surfing skills are improved.
Surfboard Length Buying Tips
As far as board length, make sure it is at least a foot or two longer than you are tall. If you are an extra heavy person then make sure the board has extra thickness (e.g., 3 inches thick) to help float you in the water.
Good floatation on a surfboard is crucial for helping you develop speed over the water while paddling. Generating some speed while paddling your surfboard is a key factor in being able to catch waves on your own, as opposed to having a surfing instructor push you into the waves.
Surfboard Buy Tips Regarding Width
A typical surfboard has a width of about 18.5 inches, though if you are a beginner you can go for 19 inches to provide a bit more stability as you learn. It will also allow you to paddle faster and glide over the water. When you gain some skills you can transition to a narrower surfboard that will be a bit more agile in the water.
The Tail and the Tip of the Surfboard
In general you want to buy a surfboard with a fairly rounded tail if you are a beginner. If you are buying a shortboard you will likely want a pointed tip, though if you are buying a longboard a rounded tip is more suitable. Maybe someday when you are surfing the giant waves you can buy a “big wave gun” which will have more of a pointed tip.
