Knowing which are the parts of a surfboard will mean acquiring specialized knowledge in this exciting sport. Let’s take a look at some details.
The first thing to know is that there are several important elements within the table. It is the basic and fundamental element to be able to practice the sport, so it is advisable to know it not only in practice, but also in theory. Knowing its parts will mean being able to perform better movements and take into account the explanations of your instructor at the surf school.
The parts of a surfboard
At first glance a surfboard looks very simple, but it is full of essential details that will be fundamental for surfing a wave. Therefore, regarding the basic parts of a surfboard, we know that the front part is also the tip or nose, followed by the center, which is called the deck, and finally the tail or tail. The remaining ones are taken as a reference based on the others.
The tip and the rocker
We start at the front of the surfboard. This is a sector that is also known by its name of nose, something that is given by the elongated shape it has, in the form of a beak, although there are also other variants, as is the case with the rounded ones.
It is a part that is arched and somewhat curved. This ensures that, once in the water, the board can move easily over the waves. The curvature is known as rocker. Although this part of the surfboard may be relatively simple, the reality is that it is fundamental when practicing this sport.
Depending on the degree of opening the rocker has, you will be able to surf in one way or another. If the curvature is steeper, the board will become easier to maneuver, although it will also become slower. On the other hand, a board with almost no rocker will be very fast, but suitable for specialists.
Soul or stringer
The core or stringer is conceived as the central part of the surfboard. It is not always observable, nor can it sometimes be seen in all tables instantaneously. We are talking about a very small strip that crosses it from top to bottom in its central part, being of a different tone than the rest of the board.
You are probably wondering what it is for. Well, the purpose of this part of the surfboard is to give more rigidity to the board, in order to avoid any kind of breakage or bending. For that purpose, it can be manufactured with equipmentsuch as wood, although it varies from model to model.
The rails or edges
In this case, we are talking about the edges of the table. They have a considerable extension from the tip to the tail, on both sides. However, they are often much more important than they appear at first glance, since they are always in contact with the wave. At the same time, they are the part of the board you will hold on to.
However, not all edges are the same, nor are they symmetrical along the entire board. There are some that are more square and conical, soft and hard, as well as having different heights. The combination of all of them will make the table behave in one way or another. This happens with the rounded edges, which make the board more stable; the high ones make it more buoyant; while the curved ones make it easier to carry.
The bottom or the bottom
Here we are talking about the back of the board, which is in permanent contact with the water, on which the board slides. It may appear quite smooth at first glance, but the truth is that it should be slightly concave so that sliding and getting out of the waves is suitable for anyone.
The tail
At the back of the board we have the tail, which is the opposite part of the nose. It has to be much narrower than the front part and, in addition, under it will be the bottom where the keels can be found, which we will explain later.
It should be noted that it has different shapes, so, depending on what they are, your board will behave in one way or another. You will notice that there are wide tails, so you can surf on soft and narrow waves, even when the waves are big. Its finish may also appear as rounded or square, the former being ideal for sliding more, while the latter will make you have better turns and maneuvers.
The keels
We already talked about the tail, while now we can talk about the keels. It’s all those little pieces you’ll find on the back of your board, which are shaped like shark fins. At the same time, the keels have a fundamental mission, since they direct the water that passes under the board giving it stability, generating a good steering, so they are considered a kind of “rudders” of the board.
There are two types of keels: fixed or removable. Obviously, there are different equipmentand shapes, so it will vary depending on your case. Depending on the combination you have, you will be able to maneuver the waves in one way or another.
The leash or invention and the stopper
Finally, we have the leash or invention. It appears on the tail, being the plastic cable that joins the surfer to his board, which is tied to the surfer’s foot by means of a Velcro. It can even be tied at the knee, in some modalities such as body surfing. The leash is used to easily find the wave, since this cable is attached to the board by means of another piece that we call plug.
We have already learned about the anatomy of a surfboard. Now, you must make sure that the board you buy has the characteristics and fundamental parts of this element so important to manage between the waves.
In Lanzarote we have more than 200 boards for rent in Famara so you can try different models before deciding which board to buy.
