An Inroduction to Surfboards

A surfboard is such a uniquely Californian icon thatthink. Because the older wooden boards were
one tends to forget that the surfboard probablystructured in one piece, any break in the integrity
originated in the Hawaiian Islands. Today, famousof the wood resulted in danger to the passenger/
surfers come from all over the world, butrider. Surfboard repair progressed with the advent
Californian and Australian surfers tend to winof the polymer and fiberglass boards. With care,
most of the big championships.the broken or delaminated board can be stripped
History of surfboardsdown to its core and repaired, although not
The ancient Hawaiian Islanders used a hardwoodwithout some degree of skill and experience in
board which is much shorter than some of thehandling the resins and glues required. Most surfers
later developments. Because the hardwoodwould prefer to be our riding the waves rather
surfboard was heavy, a transportation issue maythan spending time in surfboard repair.
have been the reason for smaller surfboards.Surfboards for sale
Over the course of the last one hundred years,In most parts of the country a classified
surfboards got much longer, some as much asadvertisement labeled 'surfboards for sale' would
three times the length of the early woodenbring only a chuckle, or at best a fond
boards. Again, because of the weight problem, theremembrance for those younger more carefree
longer and heavier equipment was harder todays when surfing was a sport of choice for
transport and more difficult to maneuver throughyoung men and women. The story might be
the water. Man made materials allowed for somedifferent in coastal areas, particularly the California
leeway in design and more specific styles andcoast on the mainland and in the surfing hotspots
accouterments began to make their way intosuch as the Hawaiian Islands and Australia. A store
surfing history. Fiberglass, space age materials andwith surfboards for sale is not an unusual sight
designs became common among professionalalong beaches and in beach towns. A commercial
surfers. Now, however, the tide seems to haveestablishment may be the best place to get
turned in the other direction. Surfboards are againcorrect fit and widest variety of boards, but used
lighter smaller and much more maneuverable.surfboards provide a better bargain for those
An example is the fish surfboard. A typical fishwith limited income or who are just trying out the
surfboard measures 76 inches long by 18.5 inchessport for the first time. When purchasing used
wide and is only 2.5 inches thick. It is shaped like asurfboards, it's best to find someone
simplified fish body, with a pointed tip and slightlyknowledgeable about the different types of
blunted tail. The fish surfboard is made with a lightconstruction and which may fit your needs better.
and flexible inner core which allows for extremeOtherwise, you may end up with a surfboard
maneuverability, spring and control.meant for a professional and with features that
Surfboard repairare not found on a good learner's surfboard.
Surfboard repair is not as common as one might