board anatomy
A surfboards dimension uses the following 6 measurements:
LENGTH: The measurement from the nose to the tail of a surfboard
WIDTH: The measurement from rail to rail of a surfboard
THICKNESS: The measurement of a surfboard from deck to bottom
OUTLINE: The overall shape of a surfboard
ROCKER: The amount of curve a surfboard has from the tail to the nose
CONCAVE: A contour on the bottom of the board
A surfboards shape can be described by the following features:
NOSE: The front tip (first 12 inches) of the surfboard
TAIL: The different tail shapes influence speed and manoeuvrability
RAILS: The sides of the surfboard
STRINGER: The material strip that runs down the middle of the board, increasing strength and reducing unwanted flexibility
FINS: A surfboard accessory inserted into the tail of the surfboard to help control the surfboard
The different dimensions and shapes affect the paddle power and manoeuvrability of the board. It is always a unique combination, but generally, this is what each dimension does.
LENGTH: Longer surfboard = more paddling power & stability. The large surface allows the surfer to paddle faster and get into larger waves
WIDTH: A wider shape will allow the surfer to eliminate a few inches of length without sacrificing paddling or planing speed
THICKNESS: Most surfboards are between 2 1/4” to 3 1/4” thick. The heavier you are, the thicker your surfboard should be for extra float
VOLUME: The way to describe overall float of a surfboard. In general, the volume of a surfboard is measured in litres and is calculated by measuring the length, width, and thickness of the board. The buoyancy of the board should be suitable to your weight and level
Outline: The combination of all mentioned dimensions will create a unique outline
COMPONENTS OF A SURFBOARD: TAIL, NOSE & RAIL
Nose
The nose plays a large role when dropping into waves. It varies in width, curvature and thickness. There are two types of surfboard nose:
Rail
The rail impacts tube riding, planning speed, and turning. The two types of rails are: hard and soft. A hard rail makes it easier to turn quickly. Soft rails are suited to longboards as they allow surfers to take advantage of the fin’s turning radius.
