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What is the bottom of a surfboard called?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 08, 2026

A surfboard has a top and bottom side; the top is called the deck, while the bottom is called the rocker. The deck is where a surfer stands or lies when paddling. The most important thing to know about the deck is that you need to apply wax to its surface to ensure a good grip.

What are the parts of a surfboard called?

Parts of a Surfboard

  • Nose. This is the front part. ...
  • Rocker. This is the curvature of the nose. ...
  • Concaves. They help push you in tight turns.
  • Leash. This is the stretchy plastic cord that keeps your board from running away using a Velcro strap.
  • Leash plug. This is found on the back part. ...
  • Fins. ...
  • Tail. ...
  • Rail.

What do surfers put on the bottom of their boards?

Surfboard wax (also known as surfwax) is a formulation of natural and/or synthetic wax for application to the deck of a surfboard, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. It is also used to increase grip on the paddle of a surf kayak or dragon boat.

What does the bottom of a surfboard look like?

Surfboard shapers design different shapes of bottom contours for various types of surfers and different surfing conditions. Surfboards usually have different bottom contours from nose to tail. For example, a board could have a “single concave” on the nose, a “flat” bottom in the middle and a “belly” at the tail.

What is the ankle thing called on a surfboard?

A leg rope or surfboard leash is a urethane cord attached to the deck of a surfboard, down near the tail. It prevents the surfboard from being swept away by waves and stops runaway surfboards from hitting other surfers and swimmers.

38 related questions found

When did surfers start using leashes?

SURFBOARD LEASH HISTORY-Surfboard leash was developed by Pat O'Neill and introduced in 1971. Before the invention of the surfboard leash surfers who fell off their surfboards had to swim to the shore to retrieve them.

What kind of wax is used for surfboards?

Hard Wax is Good for Your Basecoat

This is also good if you are surfing in more tropical temperatures. Hard wax is always recommended for those surfing in hotter waters because it holds up better and keeps you riding for longer.

Do surfboards have rudders?

The fins are also an important feature that adds to the performance of the board. Like the rocker, the fins have an effect on the glide and the speed of a board as well as the maneuverability. The fins or also known as skegs are the rudders on your board, which help with direction, control, and speed.

What is a rolled bottom surfboard?

Traditional longboards, and reproductions of these classic surfboards of the '50s and '60s, have a convex bottom. The longboard bottom design is a displacement hull, moderately rolled from rail to rail from nose to tail. These boards are designed to glide, trim, and roll from side to side to turn and adjust trim.

What do channel bottoms do?

The general theory of channel bottoms is that they give grip and speed to a surfboard. The 'faces' of the channels give added surface to push against, and by removing bottom curve they create straight line drive.

How do surfers not fall?

The top surface of the board is usually covered with surf wax, paraffin mixed with beeswax, that provides traction between the surfer and the board so the surfer won't just slide off the wet and slick board.

How do surfers stay on surfboards?

So how do surfer's feet stay on the board? The answer is gravity, while buoyancy keeps the surfboard afloat, gravity pulls it and its rider toward the water. Gravity's pull helps the rider hold his position on the moving, nearly-vertical face of a wave.

Why do surfers put zinc on their face?

One of the biggest sunscreen trends we're seeing is surfers, athletes, celebs, and kids applying thick stripes of Zinka sunscreen on their faces. Think of it as colorful warrior stripes that are doing your face good too. The product contains zinc oxide to help protect against the sun's damaging rays.

Why are surfboards white on the bottom?

Surfers are sticking large eyes on the bottom of their surfboards to deter sharks from attacking them, as more and more sharks are sighted off the coast of the US.

What is a surf Bor?

Surfbort (v.) Mispronunciation of “surfboard,” a bathtub-based sex act, explained by Cosmo here. "I fill the tub up halfway then ride it with my surfbort." – "Drunk in Love"

What are surfboard stringers made of?

The most common material used for surfboard stringers is wood, and several types are suitable for the purpose. The best wood species for surfboard stringers are cedar, redwood, western red cedar, balsa, basswood, engelmann spruce, birch, and plywood.

What is a vee bottom?

Vee bottom - this is when the centre of the board is higher than the rail line, usually with a flat surface running from the rail to the peak of the vee. This peak acts as a crucial pivot point to allow the board to tip from rail to rail.

What is reverse vee?

' The Reverse V disproved the old 'V' between the fins, and the result was the EEV was a much faster surfboard that when put on rail would carve at higher speeds. The EEV design was widely accepted as a breakthrough that allowed faster on rail surfing.

Who invented the V bottom surfboard?

Australian surfboard shaper Bob McTavish is credited with inventing the vee-bottom surfboard in 1967.

What's inside a surfboard?

Modern surfboards are made of polyurethane or polystyrene foam covered with layers of fiberglass cloth, and polyester or epoxy resin. The result is a light and strong surfboard that is buoyant and maneuverable.

What are the different types of surfboards?

Surfboard shapes. Surfboards usually fall into five basic categories: shortboards, fish boards, funboards, longboards, and guns.

How does a surfboard generate lift?

The “Effective Flow” of water travelling up the face of a wave. When we take off on a wave and set our rail to start riding across the face, our surfboard interrupts that apparent flow of water. Two things then happen: Our surfboard grips the face of the wave, and the surfboard generates Lift and forward Thrust.

Do you wax the top or bottom of a surfboard?

Just make sure you never apply new wax over an old, dirty, sandy, or less sticky layer. Although there is no official method of applying wax, try to get a few horizontal strips of wax layered from the nose to the tail of the surfboard. This will prevent your feet from moving up and down inadvertently.

Do you need a base coat for surf wax?

Applying the basecoat is the most important step when you wax a surfboard. The top coat of wax is what you feel when you surf but will rub off as you use your surfboard. The basecoat will stay in place and ensure you stay in place while surfing even if the topcoat does rub off a little.

How do you get bumps on your surfboard?

Go all the way from the tail pad to 3/4 of the way up the board. Repeat in the opposite direction to create a cross hatch effect. Repeat on the other side of the board. Slowly start building up the bumps using a circular motion.