Longboard (surfing)

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This page is about surfing Longboards, see longboard (skateboard) for information about longboards of the skateboard variety.
A longboard.
A longboard.

A longboard is a type of surfboard. Longboards are also known as Malibu boards and range eight to fourteen feet long, or three feet taller than the rider in overall length. The strong point of a longboard is its substantial buoyancy and planing surface, which enables most surfers using it to ride waves generally deemed too small to propel a shortboard, as well as anything else. Longboards are universally common among both beginners and skilled surfers alike. The main reason why longboards are more suitable for beginners is because of the board's size and frequency of catching waves. In the proper conditions, a skilled surfer can ride a wave standing on the nose of a longboard, and put his toes over the nose's edge. By literally putting his "toes on the nose" the surfer can "hang ten".

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[edit] Classic Longboards

Longboards are the original,and very first variety of board used in standup surfing. Ever since the sixth-century the ancient Hawaiians have used 8 to 24 foot solid wooden boards when practicing their ancient art of he'e nalu. Surfing was brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Polynesians and has since become popular worldwide. The ancient boards were carved and fashioned out of solid wood, reaching lengths of ten to fourteen feet long and weighing as much as 150 pounds. Both men and women, royalty and commoners surfed. But the longest of boards (the Olo) was reserved for royalty. (See Legendary Surfers Volume 1 by Malcolm Gualt-Williams.) During the 19th century, some extreme western missionaries actively discouraged surfing, viewing it as sinful. Surfing almost died out completely. In recent times replicas have been made of Olo's and alaia's by experienced surfers and shapers wishing to explore the roots of the sport.

By the early 20th century, only a handful of people surfed, mostly at Waikiki. But there, it started to grow again. Beginning in 1912, Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian Olympic swimmer in the early 1900s, brought surfing to mainland United States and Australia. Because of this, Duke is considered the "Father of Modern Surfing." From that point on, surfing became an integral part of the California beach lifestyle. In Malibu (in Los Angeles county), the beach was so popular amongst the early surfers that it lent its name to the type of longboard, the Malibu Surfboard. In the 1920s boards made of plywood or planking called Hollowboards came into use. These were typically 15 to 20 feet in length and very light. During the 1950s, the surf trend took off dramatically as it obtained a substantial amount of popularity as a sport. [1] The design and material of longboards in the 1950s changed from using solid wood, to balsa wood. The length of the boards still remained the same at an average of 10.5 feet, and had then become widely produced. [2]

It was not until the late 50's and early 60's when the surfboard design had closely evolved into today's modern longboard. The introduction of polyurethane foam and fiberglass became the technological leap in design. In the 1960s, the longboard continued to remain popular as its material changed from balsa wood to fiberglass and polyurethane foam. In the 1960's, the introduction of the shortboard, averaging 6.5 feet, allowed surfers to make tighter turns, quicker maneuvers, and achieve faster speeds, thus radically changing the way people surfed. This "shortboard revolution" nearly made longboards obsolete for all practical purposes. But in the early 1990's, the longboard returned, integrating a number of the design features invented during the shortboard revolution. Surfers rediscovered the grace and poise – the "glide" – of the longboard, and the fun of classic manouvers that are not possible on a shortboard. In some circles the battle between longboards and shortboards continues. But many surfers live by a philosophy of finding the joy of surfing a mix of boards and surfing styles to suit the waves of the day.

[edit] Modern Longboards

The modern longboard has undergone many changes since its earlier models in the past. Today's longboard is much lighter than its predecessors. Its polyurethane foam and fiberglass design allows less drag on waves. Today's longboards are typically 9' to 10' long, although some ride boards up to 12' in length. Additionally, there is a revival of stand-up paddle-based surfing with boards up to 14' in length (for stability). The classic single-fin longboard retains much of its classic design including a single fin, weight, and considerable buoyancy. [3] A longboard with a single fin allows the board to pivot turn in order to remain in the curl of the wave. Due to recent advances in technology, the longboard has expanded its family into different variations of the classic longboard.

[edit] Tri-Fin

An updated version of the classic longboard, the Tri-fin longboard is featured with three fins underneath the tail rather than the traditional single fin. The Tri-fin's additional two fins on the board allows riders better turning capabilities as well as greater thrust than classic longboards did back in the 1950s. The tri-fin's design incorporates the glide of a longboard and the performance of a shortboard into a single layout. [4]

[edit] The Gun

A newer, more recent addition to the longboard family is the modern longboard gun, also known as "the big wave board". The longboard gun's teardrop-shaped layout pierces through the water when on large waves. Stretching from nine feet to twelve feet in length, the longboard gun incorporates the features of a professional shortboard into a longboard's structure. Its hybrid structure also allows surfers better paddling capabilities before catching a wave. One new manufacturer of a traditional Wooden "Gun" is "Empress Surfboards" who now makes a fully chambered 10 foot Gun from "Paulownia Wood" aka "Empress Wood". [5]

[edit] The 2+1

The 2+1 longboard is the most versatile board of the longboard family, offering greater maneuverability. Sometimes referred as a "single-fin with training wheels", the 2+1's fins actually takes the features of the classic longboard and the Tri-fin. The fins of the 2+1 takes the rigid stability of a classic longboard, and fuses with the strength and drive of a Tri-fin. [6]

Some major producers of longboards include: Hawaiian Pro Designs (i.e. Donald Takayama Surfboards), Stewart Surfboards, Bing Surfboards, Harbour Surfboards, Hobie, Noosa Surfboards, Mega Tsunami Boards, T&C Surf, Santa Cruz Surfboards, Chemistry Surfboards, Surftech, Webber Surfboards, Cooloola Longboards, Walden Surfboards, Infinity Surfboards, Dano Surfboards, Tyler Surfboards, Eaton Surfboards, Velzy, Jacobs, Gordon & Smith, Skip Frye, Christenson Surfboards, Hansen Surfboards, Encinitas Surfboards (John Kies), Nectar Surfboards (Gary Mac Nabb), Robert August Surfboards, Anderson Surfboards, Guy Takayama Surfboards, Boss Surfboards, McTavish Surfboards (Australia), Gato Heroi (Robin Kegel), Yater Surfboards, Surboards by the Greek, Con Surfboards, Dewey Weber Surboards, Bruce Jones Surfboards, Leighton(LBC)Surfboards, Pearson Arrow Surfboards, Austin Surfboards, Greg Noll Surfboards, Jed Noll Surfboards, Joel Tudor Surfboards, Stu Kenson Surboards, Kane Garden Surfboards, Haut Surfboards, Michel Junod, and Liddle Surfboards.

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