Rocker
The most critical design feature to a surfboard. Think
of the rocker as a vertical curvature from the tail to the
nose of the surfboard. It it will either be classed
as a heavy or relaxed format. A heavy rocker
is extremely curved, with a relaxed one only
having a slight curve. The rocker effects how
the board moves through the water. An
increase in the tail rocker adds additional
manoeuvrability and lift through turns.
Whereas an increased rocker around
the nose can reduce the risk of
nose-diving, which is why most big
wave surfboards have a lot of rocker
around the nose.Bottom
Pretty self-explanatory – the bottom
of the surfboard is where the water
flows when you’re paddling and
gliding along the waves. Some
boards have a concave or a convex
bottom, all of which contribute
to how the board moves through
the water. Shapers may also add
channels to the board for surfers
looking for greater speed on
the wave.
Shape
The shape of the board, which
is also known as at the template,
defines the surfboard. If you’re
having a board shaped, the shaper
will decide the template depending
on the conditions you intend to surf it
in and also your ability and even your
body type.Concaves
The purpose of a concave on a surfboard
is to direct the water. The type of concave
your surfboard has will affect the drive,
stability and manoeuvrability of the board.
Nose
The very tip of the surfboard – typically pointed or
rounded, depending on the shape of the board.Rails
The rails are the edges of the surfboard. They
will come either soft or hard; with thinner rails
being on the rounder side and harder rails
being squarer. The rails will affect how the
board cuts through the waves and can
impact the overall balance of the board.
For example, rails with more volume in
them will create more stability, while
the less volume the rails have, the less
stable the board will be.Stringer
The central part of the surfboard;
traditionally a thin strip of wood that
runs down the middle of the board.
Some boards have multiple stringers
for added stiffness.Leash
The leash keeps you and your
surfboard connected. It goes around
your ankle and can vary in length
and thickness, depending on the
type of board you are surfing. It was
invented to prevent unnecessary
swimming and to increase the safety
of the sport. The leash is connected
to the leash plug and then wraps
around your ankle using a velcro strap.Tail
There are a variety of different tails
to choose from and all impact the
responsiveness of the surfboard.
Each tail type has its advantages and
disadvantages, varying from speed,
manoeuvring and control. Some example
of the types of tails you can go for include
rounded pin, rounded square, squash, pin,
swallow, fish and many more.
Fin plugs
Fin plugs are how you secure your fins to the surfboard.
Some boards have screw-in fin boxes, and some
have click-in fins, which pop in and out. Some boards
have glassed in fins, which means they cannot be
removed and makes travelling a little more difficult, but
in some cases can give the surfer a better wave riding
experience.
Surfboard: Custard Point FishsterFins
Fins are crucial to your surfboard; if you didn’t have
fins in your surfboard, then you would spend the entire
time sliding around on the wave with no control. Fins
help control the speed, thrust, turns and many other
aspects. Getting the correct set of fins or fin is essential.
You can surf a single fin, twin fin, thruster, quad or even
a five fin set up. Fins come in different sizes, depending
on your weight, the waves you’re surfing and the type
of board you’re riding.