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Surfboards: Shortboards
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Published: December 12, 2006
Wherever an ocean supplies big waves in warm temperatures, there will be people surfing. Whether surfing in competitions or simply riding the waves for fun, speed and maneuverability are two of the sport’s most important aspects.
The shortboard is currently the most popular of the four types of surfboards. Also known as the Pocket Rocket or Thruster, the shortboard is meant for maneuvering quickly among the waves and are typically 5’8” to 6'10” long.
Shortboards surfaced in the mid-960s, around the time twin fins, or skegs, were created. Shortboards grew in popularity through the early 1970s. Credited to designer Dick Brewer, the shortboard gave riders the ability to surf in the pocket of the wave, earning the nickname Pocket Rocket. Due to the shorter length of the board, a lot of its weight was cut down, allowing more speed and maneuverability than longboards would support.
The start of the Shortboard Revolution stemmed from Nat Young, an Australian surfer who rode a shortboard named Sam to win the World Championships. Developed by George Greenough and Bob McTavish, Sam was 9'4” long and 2 5/8 inches thick. Although it is a lot longer than current shortboards, this was much shorter and thinner than any other surfboard at the time. Young used these features to his advantage, finding aggressive speed and control would be vital to victory in the championships.
The shortboard has been constantly changing and evolving since its debut. In 1969, surfers were riding shortboards 5'9” to 6'3” long. In 1970 however, an 18-year-old surfer named Rolf Arness won the World Championships at Bells Beach, riding a 7'6” shortboard. Developers then increased the lengths of their shortboards, which went from 6'6” to 7'0” long.
As the lengths of surfboards evolved, so did the fins. The fins at the rear of surfboards often have changed, depending on how comfortable the rider is and what kind of control they desire. The twin fin was popular in the 1970s, as most surfers won competitions with these surfboards.
The sport was changed in 1980, when Simon Anderson decided to start riding a board called the Thruster. Thrusters are designed to give control using three small fins; one is set three inches from the tail while the others are set 11 inches up on either rail.
Through the 1980s to the 1990s, surfboards also became thinner and narrower. They became increasingly lighter and smaller as reductions were made in thickness to 2'-2 ½ , widths to 17'-18 ½ and lengths to 5'9” to 6'6” long.
Surfboards will always be subject to change and shortboards are no exception. As times change, so do the riders and what kind of style they desired. There is no defining shape or size for a shortboard, so it will continually be resized and reshaped to fit the rider’s comfort.
Sources:
Shortboards. November 2005. Len Dibben Surfboards. 11 December 2006. http://www.lendibbensurfboards.com.au/shortboards. html
Carroll, Nick. Robert Nat Young. October 2000. 2006. Surfline/Wavetrak. 11 December 2006. http://surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=951
History of the Surfboard. Club of the Waves. 11 December 2006. http://www.clubofthewaves.com/culture_surfboard.ph p
The shortboard is currently the most popular of the four types of surfboards. Also known as the Pocket Rocket or Thruster, the shortboard is meant for maneuvering quickly among the waves and are typically 5’8” to 6'10” long.
Shortboards surfaced in the mid-960s, around the time twin fins, or skegs, were created. Shortboards grew in popularity through the early 1970s. Credited to designer Dick Brewer, the shortboard gave riders the ability to surf in the pocket of the wave, earning the nickname Pocket Rocket. Due to the shorter length of the board, a lot of its weight was cut down, allowing more speed and maneuverability than longboards would support.
The start of the Shortboard Revolution stemmed from Nat Young, an Australian surfer who rode a shortboard named Sam to win the World Championships. Developed by George Greenough and Bob McTavish, Sam was 9'4” long and 2 5/8 inches thick. Although it is a lot longer than current shortboards, this was much shorter and thinner than any other surfboard at the time. Young used these features to his advantage, finding aggressive speed and control would be vital to victory in the championships.
The shortboard has been constantly changing and evolving since its debut. In 1969, surfers were riding shortboards 5'9” to 6'3” long. In 1970 however, an 18-year-old surfer named Rolf Arness won the World Championships at Bells Beach, riding a 7'6” shortboard. Developers then increased the lengths of their shortboards, which went from 6'6” to 7'0” long.
As the lengths of surfboards evolved, so did the fins. The fins at the rear of surfboards often have changed, depending on how comfortable the rider is and what kind of control they desire. The twin fin was popular in the 1970s, as most surfers won competitions with these surfboards.
The sport was changed in 1980, when Simon Anderson decided to start riding a board called the Thruster. Thrusters are designed to give control using three small fins; one is set three inches from the tail while the others are set 11 inches up on either rail.
Through the 1980s to the 1990s, surfboards also became thinner and narrower. They became increasingly lighter and smaller as reductions were made in thickness to 2'-2 ½ , widths to 17'-18 ½ and lengths to 5'9” to 6'6” long.
Surfboards will always be subject to change and shortboards are no exception. As times change, so do the riders and what kind of style they desired. There is no defining shape or size for a shortboard, so it will continually be resized and reshaped to fit the rider’s comfort.
Sources:
Shortboards. November 2005. Len Dibben Surfboards. 11 December 2006. http://www.lendibbensurfboards.com.au/shortboards. html
Carroll, Nick. Robert Nat Young. October 2000. 2006. Surfline/Wavetrak. 11 December 2006. http://surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=951
History of the Surfboard. Club of the Waves. 11 December 2006. http://www.clubofthewaves.com/culture_surfboard.ph p
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