Learning how a surfboard is built will enable you to get the board you want!
As you know, surfboards come in all shapes and sizes, and some boards perform better for certain styles of surfing than others. The shaper/surfer connection ideally involves a process of refinement that starts with an all-purpose or easy to ride, forgiving board, and progresses with the abilities and desires of the rider.
Communication between the rider and shaper regarding performance is crucial to the objective of getting the customer what they want and need. Knowing the basic terminology with regard to the characteristics of shapes, foils, rockers, and surfaces greatly enhances this process. Here are some terms shapers use, and their general or approximate definitions. Please bear in mind that everyone has a different interpretation of these terms, and Mack Surfboards does not claim to be the Funk & Wagnalls of surfing.
The selection of surfboard design is based on the surfers input. Factors to consider include the type of surfing to be done, and the size and type of waves to be surfed. The board parameters involved include the flotation requirements, overall width and thickness, and the width measurements at one foot down from the nose, and one foot up from the tail.
Other considerations include minimum and maximum length limitations, as well as the overall width and thickness. In addition, there are deck and bottom contours, rocker considerations, and rail types to decide on. Along with these parameters, the surfer must also select the blank material and the type of glass job: