What is the name of the wave board. Types of surfing: active recreation on the water. Longboard. Long surfboards

Photo of a surfer with a huge selection of boards

The first thing a beginner meets in surf lessons is not the ocean at all, but a board. On early stages training takes place on special educational boards - softtops. They are large, forgiving many mistakes, and also safe because they are covered with a soft rubberized material. As they progress, surfers move on to "real", solid surfboards. It is about them that we will talk today: what are the main characteristics of the boards, what do they affect and how to choose the right surfboard.

Key figures: length, width and thickness of the surfboard

The photo shows the length, width and thickness of the surfboard

Surfboards usually have three numbers written on them, such as 5’6” x 20 ¾” x 2 5/8”. They are listed in a strictly defined order: the length, width and thickness of the board in feet and inches. The fact that the units of measurement are not taken in metric system, has developed historically: the world's first factory for the production of boards was located in California, and the American system of measures was adopted there. Everything is clear with the length, it is measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, but the width is measured at the widest point of the board, which is not necessarily in the middle. Do the same with thickness.

Surfboard anatomy: noses, tails and less visible details

The general outlines of the board are called a shape, that is, a form (from the English “Shape”). The obvious details of a surfboard are the nose and tail, but there are other equally important ones. Let's take it in order:

Schematic representation of the main elements of the board

Nose

The nose, that is, the front of the board, can be anything from rounded wide to pointed sharp. The width of the nose adds volume to the board, which makes it easier to rake on a wave, but makes it difficult to turn. A lighter narrow nose, on the contrary, allows you to make sharp maneuvers, but it is more difficult to catch waves with it. Roughly speaking, the wider the nose, the more stable the board, the narrower, the more agile.

Tail

Image of surfboard tail variations

The back of the board can also be wide or narrow, but there are many more shape options. There are sharp, round, square, rounded square (squash) and even double tails. The wider the tail, the better the wave pushes it, which means the easier it is to generate speed on the board. At the same time, regarding sharp corners, the rule is simple: the more rounded the shape, the smoother the turns will be. A square tail allows you to "tear" the board, that is, to make very sharp maneuvers, and a round tail, on the contrary, smooths out movements. The pointed pintail (Pin tail) slows down the board a little, thanks to its shape it seems to stick to the wave, it is difficult to maneuver with it, but it is easy to maintain the trajectory. The forked tail “swallow” is the most interesting: it is wide, that is, it accelerates well, but at the same time it works like two pintails: the board rides steadily along the wall thanks to one of the pointed edges, and when turning sharply, it simply switches to the other.

Rocker

Rocker is the name given to the bend of the board from nose to tail, subdividing it into tail and bow, as they can be different in size and affect the behavior of the board in different ways. A sharp bend, both at the nose and at the tail, gives the board agility. At the same time, a small nose rocker adds buoyancy, which makes it easier to rake, but a flat rocker at the tail allows you to gain speed better.

Rail

Rail Shape Diagram

Rail is the outline of the cross section of the board at the side edge, that is, roughly speaking, the shape of the board. Rails are hard, with a sharp edge, and soft, rounded. The principle of operation is the same as that of the tail, the more rounded the shape, the more smoothly the surf moves along the wave. The soft rail is streamlined with water, the board rides steadily in a straight line. The sharp edge of a hard rail, on the contrary, pushes the water out, making maneuvers more abrupt.

Concave

Photo of the bend of the bottom of the board

The most inconspicuous part of the board design is the shape of the bottom. At first glance, it seems that it is flat, but in fact it has small recesses, concaves, which are guides for the flow of water under the board. The concave can be straight (single concave), then the water flows exactly under the board along its length, and it can be bifurcated (single-to-double concave), then the water comes out from under the tail of the board on both sides. A straight concave helps speed up, while a bifurcated concave improves maneuverability and makes turns more powerful.

What are the boards: longboard, shortboard and everything in between.

All surfboards are conditionally divided into several types, based on the shape and length of the board.

Chart comparing surfboard types by length and shape

Longboard

Longboard photo

Longboards or, as they are called longs for short, are long boards from 8 to 12 feet. They are not only the longest in the surfboard family, but also the oldest, they can be called the great-grandmothers of all boards. The indigenous people of ancient Hawaii and the first Americans and Australians who got hooked on surfing rode precisely on long boards, until the middle of the last century there were no other options in principle. Usually longboards are wide enough, from 20”, and thick, from 2.5”. Due to the large volume, they are very buoyant, it is easy to row on a longboard and you can take even small waves. With proper skill, you can make sharp turns on a long board, and specific longboard tricks resemble a dance: a surfer walks along the board and rides on the very nose, hanging the toes of one or two legs from the edge.

Minimalibu

Minimalibu photo

The Minimalibu is a shortened longboard, 7 to 8 feet long, an intermediate option for those who are gradually moving to shorter boards. This board is also very buoyant and easy to rake, while being even easier to steer than a longboard, as the shorter length makes it easier to launch and maneuver in harsher waves. The shape of the minimalibu is quite wide and rounded.

Fanboard

Photo funboard

One more step towards a short board: a funboard is still a wide board, but a little shorter. The name comes from English word"Fun", that is, this board is literally made for fun. You can ride funboards on any waves, it rakes well, turns quickly and accelerates perfectly. The nose is often made pointed, but in general the board is wide along the entire length.

Shortboard

Shortboard photo

Short boards are made for sharp maneuvers. Shortboards include surfboards up to 6'6", they are already quite narrow, from 18" to 20", and thin, less than 2". The specific design of shortboards allows you to take very sharp waves, stay in the critical section, ride in pipes and turn one after another sharp turns.

Fish

Fish board photo

There are boards even shorter than shortboards, in which the lack of length is compensated by volume: short, but very wide boards in English they call them Fish (from the English "Fish" - a fish), and in Russian we most often call them "Plyushka". Large volume and the wide nose of these boards allows you to paddle and pick up speed in small and weak waves, and thanks to their short length and forked tail, they turn very sharply.

Gan

Gan board photo

A rare but important type of surfboard is the Gun (from the English “Gun” - cannon), special boards for surfing on big waves. Ghana are very long, sometimes almost like longboards, but at the same time narrow and thin, with a pointed tail. Their maneuverability is poor, but the stability is at the highest level, because when you start on a wave as high as two-storey house, somehow not up to turns, you have to resist and leave in a straight line. For beginners, knowing about the gun is a must so as not to accidentally mistake it for a good long board for training. If the board is long, but visually it looks more like a chip than a raft, it is most likely a gun, it is absolutely not worth learning on it.

Surfboard volume: another important figure

The fourth figure, which characterizes the board, is its volume in liters. We deliberately kept it until the end of the article, because it only plays a significant role for short boards. Indeed, in longboards, the difference between 60 and 70 liters is not fundamental, but in shortboards, the count goes to milliliters. Rather, for half a liter, the scale of the volume of the boards has a step of 0.5 liters. The buoyancy of the board depends on the volume, how easy it is to rake and push on it to do duckdive. Accordingly, quite experienced surfers should already know about the volume. The more you weigh, the more floating you need the board. At the same time, the better you ride, the smaller the volume of the board you can afford. Below is a table with the recommended volume of the board for surfers different weight and the level of skiing, the numbers are calculated through special coefficients, so they must be rounded.

Correspondence table for weight, riding level and recommended volume of a surfboard

How to choose a surfboard

The two main factors to consider when choosing a board to ride are your experience and the quality of the waves. The smaller and weaker the waves, the more board you need. The less experience you have, the more board you need. In general, the correct tactic for learning to surf, which we follow in regular and advanced lessons, is to start with a large board and gradually move to a smaller size. Gradually - it's really very slow, you have to roll on each new board, learn how to take enough waves on it and confidently do basic maneuvers, this can take months, but this is normal. As for the quality of the waves, this is a variable factor that determines not which board you ride in principle, but what to surf specifically today. Even if you are an experienced shortboarder, but the waves are small and very weak, it is better to take a funboard or a fish, ride and have fun. For everyone who is just mastering the art of riding the waves, we recommend taking lessons, the instructor will select a suitable board and help with the choice of waves.

Magic inches and perfect displacement!

SUP surfing is comparatively the new kind sports. SUP (Stand Up Paddle) is translated as "standing with an oar", which exhaustively explains its features. If you have never skateboarded or snowboarded, but would like to master classic surfing, then SUP surfing will be a great help on your way to conquering the waves. Thanks to the large area of the board and the paddle, which helps not only to gain speed, but also to balance, only the most gifted can fall off the SUP surfer. It is quite easy to master this sport, and most importantly, it is addictive and does not overload the body. For many, SUP surfing is more of a hobby or a vacation option where you can be alone with the sea or arrange rafting and swimming with friends. But before you look for tours to run in a new board, read how to choose the right board.

1. Material

There are two main types of SUP boards: framed and inflatable. Frame boards are most often made of wood, fiberglass or epoxy materials. Of the pluses, one can note their high strength and reliability, of the minuses - big weight and size. Because of this, by the way, some people had to give up the idea of sup-surfing, because the board was hard to carry and nowhere to store, since its length can exceed three meters.

The second type of boards - inflatable. Previously, inflatable boards had a significant disadvantage - a lower speed compared to frame ones, but modern models do not have such a disadvantage. Of the advantages - low weight, especially in a deflated state, compactness and low price. This allows you to take them on trips and run them in new water bodies. A good example of such a board is the Stormline Power Max PRO 10.1.

2. View

There are six main types of SUP surfers:

1. Pleasure
They have an oval shape and are used for swims in calm water; iceberg collision is not recommended.

2. Touring
Designed for those who are already confident on the SUP-surf. They are not as stable, but they pick up speed better, which allows them to be used for swimming long distances.

3. For wave surfing
If you dream of surfing like in "On the crest of a wave", but you have a sense of balance, like a felt boot, then this surf will help you learn the basics. This board has a smaller size and two fins, which adds to its maneuverability and grip on the surface of the water.

4. Sports
The most for extreme sportsmen and riders, as these boards are able to develop high speed due to the large length and small width. The surf seems to be cutting through the water. It's like a Formula 1 car - only on the water.

5. SUP wind
The board has a hole for attaching a sail and leg loops for greater stability. If desired, you can remove the sail and ride like a regular SUP surfer if the wind is not strong enough.

6. For yoga
Yes, this also exists. On the entire surface of the board there is a mat and special handles on the sides of the deck. So you can clear your karma and replenish your chakras, swaying on soft waves and feeling one with nature.

3. Length

The shorter the board, the more difficult it is to catch the balance on it. Short boards up to 10 feet long have good maneuverability and are suitable for conquering waves. If you need a board for calm swims, then choose a length from 12.6 to 14 feet. The universal length is 10.6 feet - like the Stormline Premium 10.6, which is suitable for recreational riding, wave surfing, touring riding and sup-fishing. For a beginner who is on the water for the first time, this will be the best option, after which he will be able to understand what is closer to him: speed, extreme, maneuverability or stability, comfort and measured enjoyment of the sea wave.

4. Width

A wide board will be more stable and suitable for touring introductory swims. These boards are not very fast, so you can enjoy the scenery, shoot everything with a GoPro, or even sunbathe. For extreme rafting on difficult routes, a narrow board like the Stormline PowerMax 14 is suitable. But without proper preparation, you should not stand on it: you will not keep your balance and you will fly head over heels. To avoid injury, correctly calculate your strength, or rather, a sense of balance.

For comfortable riding on the sea surface, you will need: a paddle (it is better for a beginner to choose a paddle that will be 20-25 cm larger than his height), a leash - a safety rope attached to the leg in case of a fall from the board so that it does not swim away in an unknown direction , and a cover for the board to avoid damage during transportation, which will affect its performance. Before buying a leash, make sure it doesn't come bundled like Stormline Premium 9.9.

You can buy everything you need for SUP surfing on the Globaldrive website. The company is the general distributor of Stormline SUP boards, a brand that appeared on the Russian market in early 2018 and achieved success among SUP surfers in one season. In addition, the company is the general distributor of Mikatsu, Sharmax, Magnum pro outboard motors and a distributor of Stormline brand PVC boats and RIB boats, so on the globaldrive.ru website you can buy everything for water recreation at a low price.

Today there are many surfboards designed for both different styles skating, and for different waves. We asked the President of the Russian Surfing Federation, Sergey Rasshivaev, to shed light on this issue and compile short guide according to their main types.

Before we start talking about surfboards, it should be noted that all over the world it is customary to measure their size in feet. The larger the size and volume of the board, the easier it is to catch waves on it.

Shortboard

Short boards for all waves. These boards are five to seven feet in size. They can vary greatly in shape, volume and other characteristics. These boards are usually the hardest to ride and require a lot of practice before you can catch waves on this board. Despite this, in the world now it is the most popular type of boards.

Fanboard

Boards of medium size, transitional before short or training option. The size of such boards is six to eight feet. Usually they are ridden by beginners or very old people who do not want to strain themselves in catching waves. On such a board you can ride almost from the first days. Funboards are best suited for small and sloping waves.

Longboard

Large boards from 8 to 13 feet, sometimes even more. This is perhaps the second most polar type of board in the world, from which it all began in principle. Everyone who skates well chooses either short or long boards. So on a longboard you can see very cool surfers. For such boards, small and moderately large waves are best suited. Although professionals can ride any. The uniqueness of such boards is also that beginners can safely start learning on them.

Soft top

Special educational boards. Such boards are given to students for the safe development of the basics of surfing. In fact, this is a longboard, only with soft coating above. Other than for training, they are usually not used for anything else. Although many ride like longboards.

SUP

We call them saps. These are large boards from six feet in size, but very large and voluminous - so much so that a person can stand on it without moving and not drown. On such boards they ride standing up and row with an oar. Now in the world it is one of the fastest growing areas of surfing. Suitable for almost all types and sizes of waves.

Toe-in

Special short boards, even smaller than shortboards. About five feet in size. Only unlike shortboards, they have leg attachments in the form of loops on the board. They are used only for riding on very large waves with towing by a jet ski.

Scarlet

Wooden board. This is an exotic form of surfing. Such a board has no fins and is generally completely flat. It is very difficult to ride it. For such a board, small waves are best suited.

Bodyboards

This is a small square board for riding on it lying down. Although recently it has become popular to ride it on one knee. This is probably the easiest type of surfing to master. For a bodyboard, waves of any type and size are suitable.

Ghana

Special narrow and large boards 7-13 feet for riding big waves. Since these boards are for big waves, it is clear that they are intended for the pros, but sometimes, since they are large, they are used by beginners as their first shortboards.

Hand guns

The smallest boards, about the size of a sheet of A4 paper. They are put on the hand and ride on the stomach, resting against this board. Make out different materials, wood plastic and others. Great practice for those who want to learn to understand the ocean better.

Surfboard (Eng. Surfboard) - that's what it is called, a special board for riding the waves and the most important part of the surfer's equipment. And despite the fact that modern boards have gone far from their bulky ancestors: in terms of material, construction, design. They are made mainly, as before - by hand.

Varieties of surfboards

Longboard (English Longboard) - not only the longest (2.45 - 3.05 m), but also the widest, as well as a rather thick surf with a rounded nose. They usually learn to ride on it. The most stable and allows you to take small waves. The disadvantage of a longboard is low maneuverability.

Shortboard (English Shortboard) - a short surf (1.5 - 2.15 m), narrow and thin. Small dimensions provide the highest maneuverability, which allows you to perform complex exercises and all sorts of tricks on the waves.

Gun (English Gun) - surf for big waves, from small 2.15 m to large 3.65 m, thick (for strength), but with a pointed nose and tail. Designed to accelerate and maneuver in high steep waves.

Fishboard, or fish (eng. Fish) - even shorter than a shortboard, but wider, with a forked stern. A specific surf for those who know a lot about skating, able to turn these very properties into an advantage. The opinion that it is a fish for beginners is rather erroneous.

A minimalibu is sometimes also called a "fanboard". This is a shortened malibu (longboard) with a length of 2 - 2.45 m. Maneuverable surfboard, but at the same time easily controlled and stable. Suitable for beginner surfers who have managed to master Malibu without the prefix "mini". In general, there are a lot of options: bonzer, mini simmons, alaia, tow in baord. It all depends on your preferences and desires, and the ideal board, like many things in this life, is sought by trial and error.

Surfboard materials

The surfboards that the Hawaiian ancestors used to ride the waves were carved from wood, and no other materials were used. Recently, however, manufacturers have recreated the board of the ancient Hawaiians - Alaia. This is a thin surfboard whole piece wood, no fins.

It can gain high speed, but it is very difficult to control it. Nowadays, surfboards are made mainly from synthetic materials.

Boards made of modern synthetic materials are divided into three categories:

Plastic surfboards combine two advantages - cheapness and durability. But in terms of other characteristics (maneuverability), they are clearly inferior to other boards. Worst of all, it is on them that it is most difficult to “catch a wave”.

Epoxies are strong and fast at the same time, but expensive and a little more difficult to manage.

Fiberglass - much cheaper than epoxy and at the same time better than plastic in everything except "shockproof": they break quite easily, including when transported by plane.

Therefore, a fiberglass board is the choice of a surfer with limited finances or who lives near the skiing area. Epoxy should be preferred with an optimal budget and the need to transport the surfboard over a long distance. Plastic is not the only choice even with a modest budget and the need to go on a trip: after all, in this case, it is also possible to rent a board at the place of surfing.

When buying a surf, you also need to pay attention to the amount of resin - an indicator on which, along with the type of coating, strength depends. The less resin, the lighter the board. It is better for a beginner to buy a surfboard with a regular (medium) resin content, otherwise it will soon have to be changed. A board with a minimum of resin is only suitable for the pros.

But when buying a board, you need to look not only at the type of coating and appearance in terms of size and shape. Surfboards are made up of several parts and elements that also have different shape. The fact is that their design is constantly being improved and adapted to different conditions skating. Again, this should be taken into account when making a choice.

1. Deca- the name of the upper side of the surf where the surfer is. It can be flat or slightly convex - dome-shaped (domeddeck). The latter allows for easier rail-to-rail movements from edge to edge of the board. The shape of the deck does not affect grip with the board - to increase it, a tractionpad (traction pad) or regular wax is used.

2. Nose- on a surf with a wide one it is easier to hold on, but for riding on steep waves you need a sharp and curved nose.

3. Feed- largely determines maneuverability and stability:

round - the most maneuverable and unstable;
forked - the most stable, with the worst maneuverability;
square - medium in terms of both stability and maneuverability.

4. Tail- occurs in the eight most common forms:

squashtail ("flattened tail") - for all boards, surfers and types of waves;
squaretail ("rectangular") - for maneuvering on low waves;
tamtail ("thumb-shaped") - for turns on medium and large waves;
rounded pintail ("Rounded sharp tail") - for powerful surf, large and medium waves;
pintail ("sharp") - for "to drive through pipes";
baby swallotail ("small bifurcated") - for especially large waves;
swallotail (“forked”) - used on boards with a forked stern, speeding them up in small waves;
battail (tail "bat") - great for medium and small waves, gives the surf stability.

5. Bottom contour There are four main types:

flat bottom - standard, suitable for any boards, the best option for surfers with big weight;
with a single bend - the option is clearly not universal, only for high-speed surfing in uniform fast waves;
with a double camber - a very common bottom, excellent for free skating, with smooth maneuvers;
V-shaped (in the tail) bottom - for riding on big waves.
Channels is considered an experimental bottom contour. And like the V-shaped, it is used in the area of \u200b\u200bthe tail of the board. This circuit operates on smooth waves and is adapted to create additional speed.

There is also a bottom with grooves in the tail section, giving additional speed on even waves.

Fins - distinguish between removable, which can be removed, and "glazed", which cannot. Both can have different parameters:

depth - the more, the better the surfboard turns;
base length - the higher, the greater the speed and controllability;
rake (rake), i.e. curvature - the more, the better maneuverability, but worse handling, and vice versa.

What to give preference to, each extreme decides for himself, and everything stated here will help to make the choice of the board thoughtfully and consciously.

Surfing is an exciting water boarding that has become not just a recreational activity, but a prestigious sport. Classical surfing is called riding on the natural waves of the sea or ocean. Over the years of its development, it is constantly being improved, its new directions appear. Types of surfing on the water are divided depending on the places, features of the boards, waves and additional equipment used for skiing. To get acquainted with this sport and the first training, beginners choose moderate surfing. Professional athletes and thrill-seekers choose extreme.

In addition to classic surfing, its various types deserve attention and respect. Common to each of them is riding on the water and the use of special boards.

Wake

The best extreme activity for countries and regions where there are no sea and ocean coasts with waves. Wakesurfers ride the waves created by the boat. The speed of water transport for this sport is in most cases about 16 kilometers per hour. It is such a fast movement for a waker riding on the water behind the boat that is the most comfortable and at the same time quite reckless. When riding, at first, the surfer is pulled by a special halyard - a rope that helps to start moving and accelerate. Later, you need to let her go and ride the board along the boat wave.

bodyboarding

A type of surfing, for which a short board with a soft surface is used. For riding, the surfer takes a supine position on the surfboard, which allows you to relax and get a lot of adrenaline at the same time.

Wind

This is surfing on the water, in which the movement is provided by the force of the wind. For riding, a board with a small weight is used, to which a special sail is attached. Windsurfing can be practiced even in light winds.

kite

A very spectacular type of surfing, which is characterized by movement on the water surface or waves using the draft force created by a large kite. Kitesurfing combines the conquest of water and air space. If an athlete learns to control a kiteboard well, he will be able to show excellent tricks that are only real in this kind of sport.

To master classic or other types of surfing, you should visit the best spots and become a student of a surf school with talented instructors. It is possible to take the first steps in Russia, but in order to achieve high level professionalism, you should go to Hawaii, Morocco, Portugal, Bali, Australia or Spain - to those places where surfing is developed at a high level.