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Balsa Wood Surfboards: Vintage And Hollow Wood
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Published: January 18, 2007
The surfboard has gone through many changes over the years. In the early days of surfing, boards were made from solid wood. They were heavy, weighed about a hundred pounds, and difficult to ride and carry. Since then, surfers have continuously searched for lighter, easier riding boards.
The legendary surfer, Tom Blake, managed to reduce the weight of the surfboard with his design of hollow wood boards in the 1930's. These new boards were both lighter and faster than previous boards. His design was further improved upon by using the lighter weighing woods of redwood and balsa wood, making them into thin strips, and laminating them together.
Another significant change occurred with the creation of the modern surfboard in the 1940's. This board was created using the newly invented fiberglass cloth and plastic resins laminated over balsa wood. The materials used reduced the weight as much a half that of the redwood-balsa wood boards. By the early 1950's, fiberglass-covered balsa wood boards began to be produced commercially. Because of their lightweight, these balsa wood boards enabled woman to become surfers.
Balsa wood is a hardwood native to Central and South America, Indonesia, and India. It has a straight grain and is spongy in texture. Balsa wood ranges from pale beige to pinkish in color. It is also known to be the softest and lightest commercial hardwood, but is still quite strong making it a popular material for surfboards.
Hollow wood fiberglass-covered balsa board designs are still being used today. Although there were some improvements over the years, vintage wood surfboards are still very popular. Some surfers have a devote love for them while some purists insist that vintage wood surfboards have a different feel which makes them easier to ride.
The boards are also hand crafted today using the same techniques from the 1950's. Shaping balsa wood boards requires the skill of a master wood-worker and the talent of an artist. These vintage wood boards are made for high performance and durability. They require the finest grade A balsa wood, fiberglass, and a gloss coat.
Balsa wood boards are available in Classic Longboard and Big Wave styles. The longboard is long, thin, and great for smaller surf and waves. They are also easier to balance on than a shortboard. Big Wave boards are for bigger waves, larger surf, are easy to maneuver, and great for tricks.
The choice of boards these days is endless. They come in many styles, sizes, and materials. There are three general factors to keep in mind when choosing a board: size and build, level of experience and skill, and the type of waves surfed.
Gnerally, boards for all experience and skill levels should not be too bulky or loose and should always allow the surfer to float easily. A beginner's board should be a few feet longer than the height of the surfer. The board should also be wider, thicker, with a fuller shape than a board a pro would ride.
Sources:
Dixon, Peter. The Complete Guide to Surfing. Guilford, Connecticut: The
Lyons Press, 2001.
Gallagher, Chris and Moriarity, Jay. The Ultimate Guide to Sufing. New York:
Harper Collins, 2001. 30-33.
"Balsa Wood Properties." Wood Bin. 2006. 13 Dec. 2006.
"Jam." Longboard. 2006. 13 Dec. 2006 . < www.longboard.net/complete.htm>
The Process." Chuck Bassett Surfboards. 2002. 13 Dec. 2006.
The legendary surfer, Tom Blake, managed to reduce the weight of the surfboard with his design of hollow wood boards in the 1930's. These new boards were both lighter and faster than previous boards. His design was further improved upon by using the lighter weighing woods of redwood and balsa wood, making them into thin strips, and laminating them together.
Another significant change occurred with the creation of the modern surfboard in the 1940's. This board was created using the newly invented fiberglass cloth and plastic resins laminated over balsa wood. The materials used reduced the weight as much a half that of the redwood-balsa wood boards. By the early 1950's, fiberglass-covered balsa wood boards began to be produced commercially. Because of their lightweight, these balsa wood boards enabled woman to become surfers.
Balsa wood is a hardwood native to Central and South America, Indonesia, and India. It has a straight grain and is spongy in texture. Balsa wood ranges from pale beige to pinkish in color. It is also known to be the softest and lightest commercial hardwood, but is still quite strong making it a popular material for surfboards.
Hollow wood fiberglass-covered balsa board designs are still being used today. Although there were some improvements over the years, vintage wood surfboards are still very popular. Some surfers have a devote love for them while some purists insist that vintage wood surfboards have a different feel which makes them easier to ride.
The boards are also hand crafted today using the same techniques from the 1950's. Shaping balsa wood boards requires the skill of a master wood-worker and the talent of an artist. These vintage wood boards are made for high performance and durability. They require the finest grade A balsa wood, fiberglass, and a gloss coat.
Balsa wood boards are available in Classic Longboard and Big Wave styles. The longboard is long, thin, and great for smaller surf and waves. They are also easier to balance on than a shortboard. Big Wave boards are for bigger waves, larger surf, are easy to maneuver, and great for tricks.
The choice of boards these days is endless. They come in many styles, sizes, and materials. There are three general factors to keep in mind when choosing a board: size and build, level of experience and skill, and the type of waves surfed.
Gnerally, boards for all experience and skill levels should not be too bulky or loose and should always allow the surfer to float easily. A beginner's board should be a few feet longer than the height of the surfer. The board should also be wider, thicker, with a fuller shape than a board a pro would ride.
Sources:
Dixon, Peter. The Complete Guide to Surfing. Guilford, Connecticut: The
Lyons Press, 2001.
Gallagher, Chris and Moriarity, Jay. The Ultimate Guide to Sufing. New York:
Harper Collins, 2001. 30-33.
"Balsa Wood Properties." Wood Bin. 2006. 13 Dec. 2006
The Process." Chuck Bassett Surfboards. 2002. 13 Dec. 2006
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