Skim Surfboarding

Though the earliest records of skim boarding date back to
the 1920’s, the boards were simple and hard to control.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the design for the skim
boards we use today began to take shape. They have now
taken on a shape similar to the modern surfboard only they
are smaller and thinner than surfboards.

The first boards were made from plywood sheets, but now are
being made from fiberglass.

The best board for beginners are square ones, though they
come in circles, ovals and teardrops also. The best size to
start with in most cases stands about mid-chest.

The shapes of the boards determine the ease of control for
the rider. Surfboards and bodyboards, although similar, are
extremely more buoyant then the skim surfboard.

The principal of skimboarding is to hydroplane across the
thin water of a receding wave. Though tricks can be done in
bigger waves, the need for buoyancy is not as great as with
a surfboard.

The best skimboards have a slightly raised nose and
traction pads already installed. Of course traction pads
can be added separately and even surf wax can be used to
help keep feet gripped to the boards.

Skimming across the water is also a balancing act, so a
good sense of balance is also key to perfecting the art of
skimboarding.

Although skimboards have been around for almost a hundred
years, it is a relatively new as a competitive sport. When
riding out on the water on a skimboard, tricks and flips
are attempted when coming into contact with an incoming
wave.

The real trick is in the landing.

Surfboards for the Beginner

If you’re going to become a surfer, the first piece of
equipment you are going to need is a surfboard. Without a
surfboard, you wont be doing anything but splashing around
in the waves.

But on your first visit to any surf shop, you will see the
choices available to the untrained eye can be dizzying.

There are so many colors, shapes and sizes to choose from,
but where to begin?

Modern surfboards are hand shaped by professional shapers
out of foam and coated with fiberglass sheets.

They are hand-painted, usually airbrushed with beautiful
colors and designs. They can be custom made to your
specifications as well.

Before buying a surfboard you should know the parts of the
board. This will prevent embarrassing conversations, as
surfers have a language of their own.

Whether you are searching out a shortboard, a longboard, a
fish or a gun, most of the parts are the same.

From the front to the back the parts are in this order;
nose, rails, deck, stringer and tail. The nose is basically
the pointed tip of your board.

On a Longboard the tip is normally round. The nose of the
other boards tends to be pointed. The rails are the edge of
the surfboard.

They run from the tail to the nose and are used basically
to grip the board. But rail shapes can provide different
performances of your board.

The deck is the top of the board, the main body in which
the surfer applies a wax base for footing grip. There are
domed decks and flat decks.

The domed deck helps movement from rail to rail as the
rider moves across the deck. The stringer is a strip of
material that runs the length of the surfboard.

Its main purpose is to strengthen. Finally the tail is the
end of the board. Shapes of the tail vary and each shape
provides different performance for the rider.

Also on the tail is the leash plug. This is where the
riders leash keeps him attached by the ankle to his board.

Wake Surfboards

Wakeboards are used in wakeboarding, an extreme sport which
the rider uses the board to do tricks over the wake of the
boat towing it.

In basic it is a combination of water-skiing and surfing.
The wake surfboard looks like a miniature surfboard with a
rubber mat attached to the deck to make gripping easier.

Wakeboards are made like surfboards. They are usually a
foam core and fiberglass with metal screws to attach the
fins and bindings. They are small, light and very buoyant.

The weight and size make the extreme tricks more
manageable. Tricks range from flips to jumps to anything in
between.

Unlike the surfboard, the Wake surfboard hand fins that can
be changed out. These fins are changed out for various
types of tricks the rider will attempt.

Shallow fins will make it easier for the rider to so
spinning tricks and deep fins are designed more for jumps
and flips.

Riders also choose different sizes other than the standard
size for their height. The board size will also help in
completing tricks and landings and will change the
difficulty depending on the rider’s experience.

So the manufacturers recommended size may not always match
the size chosen by professional riders. The individual
rider can also customize the bottom design of the
wakeboard.

Some may be concave, some may have channels and some may
have nothing at all, making the bottom of the board smooth
and flat.

Each option helps them perform a different function and
indicates how the board glides through the water.

Waxing your Surfboard

So you bought a new surfboard and are ready to head out to
catch some waves. First you need to give your board a good
waxing, unless sliding off into the ocean depths is your
idea of a good time.

First you need to figure out just which wax suites your
needs. Not all waxes are created equally and unless you get
the right type, you could have a mess on your hands-and
your feet.

You could start by first asking in your local surf shop
which wax is best for you. But it would be best to know
what you are talking about before you begin asking
questions.

You need to know the temperature of the water you are
surfing in. Water temperatures differ from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from the North to the South.

This is important is you want to have a good foot grip when
you are up on your board.

Once you have figured out which type of wax to use for
where you are surfing, you will begin to wax your
surfboard.

Begin by rubbing 3in-6in circles from the nose of the board
to the tail. It is important to make sure there is plenty
of wax where your feet will mostly be planted.

Another key spot to make sure you wax well is the side
rails of the board. This is where your hands would normally
grip and the wax will help you when you are out in the
water.

Also, if you are wearing a wetsuit, you can keep a little
chunk of wax tucked away in case you need it while your out
in the water.