Editing Surfboard (section)

==Parts==
[[File:Surfboard.svg|thumb|400px|Diagram of a surfboard including the nose, the tail, the deck, the rails, the stringer, the bottom, the nose rocker, the tail rocker, and the leg rope]]

===Bottom===
[[File:Surfboardbottoms.jpg|thumb|A chart showing various shapes of the bottoms of surf boards.]]
The surface of the board that rests on the water is usually flat or concave but sometimes convex. The bottom can also feature channels, chines, steps and other planing features shaped into the board in order to maximize, direct or alter water flow across the board's bottom surface.

====Concave====
Modern surfboards often contain multiple contours on the bottom of the board, termed ''concaves''. These concaves have different uses and vary among different types of surfboards. Most concaves on the modern shortboard begin about {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} back from the nose of the board on the bottom and then carry out through the middle to the tail of the surfboard. The purpose of concave is to direct water through the fins of the surfboard. Surfboard shapers sometimes experiment with concaves to create different drive and response characteristics on each individual surfboard.

====Convex====
Some older and more traditional surfboards along with many modern boards that take inspiration from these older boards utilize a convex rather than concave design on the bottom of the surfboard. These boards displace more water and sit lower in the wave than a surfboard with a concave bottom.<ref>{{Cite web|author=John Dang|url=http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-anatomy/bottom-contour/displacement-hulls|title=Displacement Hulls|website=surfscience.com|access-date=2010-02-13}}</ref>

===Deck===
The ''deck'' is the surface of the board that the surfer stands on. Contours such as concaves (similar to the deck of a skateboard) or rail channels (to add structural rigidity) can also be shaped into the deck. [[Surfwax]] is applied to this surface. Wax comes in different degrees of hardness allowing its application in differing water temperatures. The ideal choice of wax hardness is determined by the water temperature. 

===Fins===
{{Main|Surfboard fin}}
[[File:Surfer photo by Jon Sullivan.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A man standing on a board as the wave passes under him.]]
The [[surfboard fin]] is a stabilizing rudder fixed to the rear of the surfboard to prevent it from sliding sideways. In the early days, surfers would stabilize the board by hanging the toes of their back foot over the edge of the board and would steer by putting their foot in the water. The American surfer [[Tom Blake (surfer)|Tom Blake]] was the first to experiment with adding a fin to a surfboard, fastening the keel from an old speedboat to a surfboard in 1935.<ref>Lynch, Gary (2001) Tom Blake : The Uncommon Journey Of A Pioneer Waterman. Croul Family Foundation, Corona del Mar, Cal.</ref> About one or two years later, [[Woody Brown (surfer)|Woody "Spider" Brown]] independently developed a similar design, but Brown himself gave Blake precedence: "(I made my first surfboard keel) about '36 or '37, somewhere in there; about the same time. But, I didn't know anything about (Blake) and his experiments with adding fins to surfboards. See, we were all separated out. I was in San Diego and he was in L.A., way up there.".<ref>Gault-Williams, Malcolm (2003) “Woody 'Spider' Brown” Legendary Surfers: A Definitive History of Surfing's Culture and Heroes, Volume 1, Chapter 24 (Originally: “Woody Brown: Pilot, Surfer, Sailor,” The Surfer's Journal, V:3, Fall 1996.)</ref> This innovation revolutionized surfing, allowing surfers to direct the board's momentum and providing more balance when turning.

The template of the modern [[Surfboard Fins|surfboard fin]] was developed by [[George Greenough]] in the 1960s.<ref>The Australian Surfer's Journal Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 pages 82-84</ref> The single fin changed little until the late 70s, when a second was added and popularised by Australian [[Mark Richards (surfer)|Mark Richards]].<ref>Surfing  Magazine May 1979 Volume 15 Number 5, page 9</ref> In October 1980, after seeing a twin fin surfboard with a "trigger point" fin [[Simon Anderson]] had the idea for a new, equal size, version of the existing three fin prototypes which was later dubbed the "thruster".<ref name="Surf Transworld">{{cite web |url=http://surf.transworld.net/1000111570/features/simon-anderson-talks-thurster/ |title=Simon Anderson Talks Thruster |author=Koteen, Casey |date=10 August 2010 |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231233416/http://surf.transworld.net/1000111570/features/simon-anderson-talks-thurster/ |archive-date=31 December 2010 }}</ref> He created a prototype and 30 years later his "thruster" design is still the most popular fin design for surfboards.<ref name="Surf Transworld"/>

In the early 90s removable fin systems were developed and embraced. This provides a standardized system that allows fins to be easily removed or replaced, utilizing [[set screw]]s to hold the fins in place. These systems provided surfers with the ability to alter the riding characteristics of a surfboard, by changing the size and shape of fins used. This innovation opened the market to a range of fin designs, including single foiled fins, concave inside surfaces, and curved fins. Another variation of fin was later designed in the time frame known as the soul fin, a sleek bendable attachment.

[[Tunnel fin]]s were invented in the 1960s by Richard Deese,<ref>LONGBOARD Magazine Vol 4 No 5.  1996 November/December</ref> and were found on longboards by multiple manufacturers of that era, including Dewey Weber. Bob Bolen, A.K.A. 'the Greek', patented the "Turbo Tunnel" in the late 1990s.

Since the mid 1990s, half tunnel fins have mainly been used on very long hollow wooden surfboards mainly surfed by Roy Stuart.

Bullet Fins were invented in the 2005 by Ron Pettibone to increase surfboard hull planing and rail-to-rail transition speed. The patent-pending fins are based on 50 years of hydrodynamic research on the bulbous bow hull design. Just as with the bow of a ship, the traditional surfboard fin creates a wave as it displaces the water in its path. The resulting turbulence places drag on the surfboard.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wavegrinder Surfboard Fins - Science Applied to the Art of Surfing and Surfboard Fins|url=http://www.wavegrinder.com/surf_fin_science.htm|website=wavegrinder.com|access-date=2008-11-04}}</ref> The bulb of the Bullet Fin reduces this drag by creating a new (primary) fin wave in front of the original (secondary) wave. This new bulb wave is designed to be nearly 180 degrees out of phase with the original fin wave to subtract its turbulence thus reducing fin drag.

Winged fins are another type of surfboard fin, the genesis of which was America's Cup sailboat design.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Cheyne Horan|url=http://www.cheynehoran.com.au/starfin.html|title=STARFIN (also known as the winged keel)|website=cheynehoran.com.au|access-date=2008-11-08}}</ref> The Starfin was designed in the 1980s by the America's Cup yacht designer, [[Ben Lexcen]], who had designed the [[winged keel]] for the America's Cup boat, Australia II. The small thruster-sized fin, the RedTip 3D is manufactured by FCS.

Fins with winglets—tiny wings—were invented in 2005. The purpose of [[winglets]], as in airplane design, is to increase lift (horizontal turning force in the case of surfboard fins) while reducing drag, by reducing the fin-tip vortex.

Fins with a camber have an asymmetrical profile. In windsurfing camber is used to increase the lift to drag ratio of the fin and to minimise cavitation and the risk of spin-out. In particular windsurfers trying to improve speed records use camber fins, as the maximum performance is required on one down-wind course direction. As the camber is fixed to one side, performance when sailing in one direction is improved but performance in the other way is deteriorated.

Fins with self-adjusting camber offer the improved qualities in both port side and starboard side sailing directions.

Spitfire fins are based on the [[wing configuration]] used by Spitfire aeroplanes. The [[elliptical wing]] shapes work very well as surfboard fins and several manufacturers make fins with this more upright stance, as it increases drive and maneuverability.

In 2004 Frank Fish <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1282/|title=Wind turbines inspired by Whales - Naked Scientists|website=www.thenakedscientists.com|date=21 February 2010 |access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> introduced the world to Whale Bumps with their [[Tubercle effect]]. Several fin manufacturers tried making some fins at that time, after the article was discussed on Swaylock's design Forum. The process of grinding bumps, which are properly foiled, into an existing fin is an arduous, time consuming task. Hand foiling tubercles can take up to 40 hours+.   Roy Stuart worked on wooden prototypes for years before creating the first [[polycarbonate]], 3d printed, whale bumped surfboard fins in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11192405|title=Designer on board with 3D|first=Jamie|last=Morton|date=26 January 2014|access-date=17 March 2018|via=www.nzherald.co.nz}}</ref>

====Thrusters and Tri-fins====
The tri-fin's design attempts to incorporate the glide of a longboard and the performance of a shortboard into a single layout.<ref name="autogenerated1" />  The additional fins ensure that even what riding down the line, two, or at least one, vertical control surface is in black water (not unstable foam) allows riders better turning capabilities. In a Thruster, the symmetrically-foiled center fin is flanked by twin asymmetric, cambered fins. The camber is angled front in and top in, directing energy from the incoming wave to lift the board and straighten it, not dissimilar from the force vectoring provided by the geometry of a rocket's nozzle.
[[File:Nubster Fin.jpg|thumb|Nubster Fin Seen In Middle]]

====Quad====
A "Quad" four fins, typically arranged as two pairs of thrusters in wing formation, which are quick down the line but tend to lose energy through turns. The energy is lost as the board goes up the wave because the fins are now vectoring energy from the oncoming water toward the back of the board, bleeding speed.

====Nubster====

Created by professional surfer [[Sean Mattison]] as a rear stabilization fin.{{cn|date=April 2020}} Dubbed a "guitar pick" the nubster was designed to be used as a fifth fin. The Nubster helped professional surfer [[Kelly Slater]] win contests in New York and Portugal in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=korduroy.tv|url=http://korduroy.tv/blog/2012/surf-coaching-part-1-sean-mattison |title=Korduroy Television - Nubster}}</ref>

===Leash===
{{main|Surfboard leash}}
[[File:Surf board leash.jpg|thumb|right|The leash attaches a surfboard to the surfer.]]
A surfboard leash or [[leg rope]] is the [[Rope|cord]] that attaches a surfboard to the surfer. It prevents the surfboard from being swept away by [[Ocean surface wave|wave]]s and stops runaway surfboards from hitting other surfers and [[swimmer]]s. Modern leashes comprise a [[polyurethane|urethane]] [[Rope|cord]] where one end has a band with a [[velcro]] strap attached to the surfer's trailing foot, and the opposite has a velcro strap attached to the tail end of the surfboard.

[[Jack O'Neill (businessman)|Jack O'Neill]] lost his left eye in a surf leash [[accident]] as the surgical tubing used in the early designs allowed the leash to [[Deformation (engineering)|overstretch]], causing the surfboard to fly back towards the surfer. Subsequent cords were made with less elastic materials.<ref name="surfline">{{cite web|url=http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=921 |title= Surf Leashes |access-date=2007-01-11 |date=October 2000 |last=Marcus |first =Ben | publisher=Surfline/Wavetrak}}</ref>

===Nose===
The front tip of the board. This can be pointed or rounded and can be made with a steep incline ("rocker", see below) or a gentle one.

[[File:Tailtypes.svg|thumb|Chart of various types of surf board tails]]

===Tail===
The shape of the tail affects how a board responds. Tail shapes vary from square, pin, squash, swallow, diamond, and so on—each one in turn having its own family of smaller variants. A pin tail causes the board to move faster in the water, whereas the hip tail is created to help balance more than speed.

===Traction Pad===
Surfboard traction pads, deck grips, tailpads. There are several names for this piece of foam applied to the top of a surfboard to increase the grip and allow surfers to have more control and perform more high performance maneuvers. Traction pads are used on both shortboards and longboards, usually applied to the tail area of a surfboard.<ref>{{cite news
 | url = http://www.prolite.com/category/CatID/8/category/SURF/subcategory/SURF-TRACTION-PADS/
 | author = Prolite International
 | title = Traction Pads
 | date = January 12, 2014
 | access-date = February 16, 2015 }}</ref>

Traction pads for the middle section of the deck, known as the "Mid Traction Pads" are mainly used on performance shortboards for increased grip. Unlike a tail pad - mid-deck traction pads need wax for added grip.

===Rails===
The edges of the board. A rounded rail is called "soft", while a more squared-off rail is called "hard", and rails that are in between are termed "50/50" ("fifty-fifty"). Larger, fuller rails contain a greater volume of foam giving the board increased buoyancy along the edge, while sharper, narrower rails have less volume, making the board easier to "sink" and "lean on edge".  While riding down the line, one rail is always in the water while the other is suspended freely in the air. Turns are largely a matter of transitioning from rail to tail and over to the contralateral (opposing) rail.

===Rocker===
This refers to the vertical curve of the board between nose and tail.  Rockers may be described as either heavy (steeply curved) or relaxed (less curved) and may be either continuous (a single curve between tip of nose and end of tail) or staged (distinct flat section in middle portion of board). The ''nose rocker'' or ''flip'' is the curve between the front tip and the middle or flattest portion of the board, and the ''tail rocker'' or ''kick'' is that between the tail and the middle/ flattest portion. An increase in flip helps keep the board from "pearling"; larger boards often require a greater flip.  A larger kick adds maneuverability and lift to the tail at speed and provides tail sensitivity in critical turns.  More relaxed rockers help the board to handle better on flatter sections of water, while heavy rockers increase the board's overall [[form drag]] but also give true [[Lift (force)|lift]] when reaching [[planing (boat)|planing speed]] and have a smaller turning radius.

The board's rails and deck may also be referred to as having rocker.  A board with a v-shaped tail, for example, has had the lower/ outer portion of its rear rails reduced, increasing its tail rail rocker.  Having a flat, even deck rocker will increase a board's flexibility, while a convex deck rocker creates a board that is thicker along the board's stringer and stiffer in the water.

===Stringer===
In board design, the "stringer" is a board's central plane of reflection, down the middle of its deck and its keel. In construction, the stringer can have no special parts, or can embed a stiff, thin, vertical slat, usually of wood but sometimes of [[carbon fiber]], running from nose to tail.  The stringer serves to increase the board's overall strength and reduce its flexibility. Some boards have multiple stringers.