Surfing
Surfing
Technology in Surfing: Everything you need to know
How surfing is getting a facelift.
Akaw! You are in the middle of an ocean - with the wind hitting against your face, the tip of the waves frothing into water, hearing the distant sound of a seagull. Surfing is indeed a thrillingly surreal experience. The involvement of technology has enhanced the sport of surfing. Here's how:
Cardboard Surfboard
© SaltWater Gypsy
Surfboard
First and foremost is the board. Millions of dollars have been poured into research to devise the lightest, strongest and fastest boards that are also eco-friendly. Traditionally the boards were made out of polyurethane foam and fiberglass. It made a fun board to ride but they were susceptible to dings and breakages. The early 90's saw the production of Epoxy boards. These boards were strong and made travelling with a surfboard really easy. The disadvantage of both these boards is that they are both equally bad for the environment. The focus of the industry has been to explore alternate board construction materials like wood, cardboard and bio-resins.
Fins
Carbon Fiber Fins
© Poornabodh
Fins are the control mechanism of a surfboard. They assist the surfer to turn and manoeuvre the board. Fins for longboards as well as shortboards were glassed which meant that one board came with one type of fin and made your surfboard a pain to travel with. Nowadays, the fins are detachable. You can try multiple set-ups and designs and customise your fins according to specific conditions. The key to a good fin is to make it light so that it has minimum input and maximum output. The latest tech to this effect are the carbon fiber fins that are available in the market.
Board shorts and bikinis
Board shorts and bikini
© [unknown]
Let’s face it! You gotta look good riding those waves. After all style is everything. The board shorts for men and bikinis for women have constantly evolved over the years, making a bold statement on and off the waves!
Wet suits
wet suit
© SaltWater Gypsy
This is not a necessity in India but when you see the cold water swell out there you would definitely want to get yourself one of these. The technology enables you to reach waves that are otherwise not possible. The introduction of wetsuit helped surfers harness a wide variety of cold and open-face waves. Surfing wetsuit manufacturers are looking at organic materials to replace the traditionally used neoprene. The emphasis is on minimum resistance to movement, maximum warmth and quick drying time.
Wax
surf wax brands
© SDAnderson
Surfboarding Wax helps to stick the board together. Every surfer has a favourite. You may choose a particular type of wax for its grip, its non-toxicity or simply because your favourite pro uses it! At the end of the day it's wax and there is only so much tech you can add to wax. All we can say is that when it comes to wax just don't pick up the cheapest bar.
This article is courtesy The Outdoor Journal.
