The Basics of Surfboard Design: Know Surfing and Surf Better by Understanding the Surfboard Shape; Key to Surfboard Shaping and Construction, or An Illustrated Guide for Surfers, Shapers, Enthusiasts

A surfboard is a simple device, but the lines that comprise its shape and how they interrelate are very sophisticated. Sophisticated, but not difficult to understand if you know these design basics.If you're a beginner, advanced, or top pro surfer, understanding these basics will help in your choice of a surfboard. This book will help you isolate problems you may experience while riding a particular surfboard and how to correct them. It will help you talk to your shaper if you decide to go custom.Shapers; this book is especially for you. You work with these basics on every surfboard you shape and you've learned what works, but you've probably never seen an accurate description of how or why. Do you know how to discover what a surfer really wants (often different than what he says)? The answers are contained in this book.This volume is designed to enhance understanding and stimulate advances in surfboard design.About the AuthorBob Smith was an obscure surfer/shaper at the forefront of the short-board revolution in Hawaii during the late 60's. For an example of his surfboards (circa Dec. 1968) see the cover of Masters of Surf Photography: Art Brewer. Bob mysteriously dropped out of sight but rumor has it that he built a crude rocket and blasted off for a distant galaxy in search of perfect un-crowded waves. This manuscript was discovered recently and rushed to the publisher. His surfboards were admired by all that saw them with eloquent praise, such as:"Ugly surfboard", "His surfboards are works of Zen sculpture", "It can't be turned", "That's the loosest board I've ever seen", "Pipeline PT boats", "His boards are too fast; they make the waves look slow"But the most common praise that Bob personally received, heaped upon him by many of the surfers he met while surfing was:"What's that?"