Learn the secret of the surfboard shape. Itʼs much more sophisticated than most realize, but this book reveals all the basics in an illustrated, easy to understand text.
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From the Back Cover
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 Author
Bob 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?"
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More About the Author
Bob Smith (aka Mr X) is a surfing pen name for Bob Imhoff. Bob's years of R&D at Pipeline and other surf areas in Hawaii, led to his writing The Basics of Surfboard Design. When Bob was not researching the innards of Pipeline, he was searching througout space for the perfect wave. The results of his search are documented in Bob Smith's 27th Dream. Bob primarily considers himself to be an inventor and has 2 US patents. He prototyped an Unbreakable, High-Performance, Surfboard-in-a-Suitcase and is continuing research on an exotic high-speed sailboat. He writes two blogs: High-Speed Sailing, and: Bob Smith Surfs
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and essential,
By Dave (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 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 (Paperback)
Bob Smith's _Basics of Surfboard Design_ is an excellent and essential book describing the critical elements for creating the most important kind of surfboard: the kind that YOU want to ride, on the waves that YOU like to ride. The author doesn't tell you what to do -- he explains the critical "lines" of a surfboard, and how they work, and lets you take that knowledge and build it into your surfboard (or discuss them with your shaper and have him build them into your surfboard). He goes into information about the physics of a surfboard that I have never seen anywhere on the web or heard anyone discuss in the way that he explains it. You should get this book if you want to know more about the way your surfboard interacts with the water, whether or not you actually shape your own surfboards. This book opened up my brain to start thinking about what was going on between my board and the wave in a more informed way, so I can understand not only what I'm currently riding but also so I can make more informed experiments and decisions with the boards I will ride in the future. Most of all, this book doesn't tell you what to do -- it arms you with the experience and insights of one very thoughtful surfer and shaper who shares the benefits of his experiments and observations, and that will enable you to test out in an intelligent way what works for you, and to think for yourself about your surfboard. That is a priceless gift.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Debunks many "established" truths,
By
This review is from: 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 (Paperback)
I gotta admit right off the bat - the closest I've ever come to surfing was on a $10 foam boogie board at Coquina Beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I live in the land-locked state of Pennsylvania and trips to the beach are few and far between. But when author Bob Smith asked me to review his book "The Basics of Surfboard Design," he said, "I'm always interested in how well it communicates, so I can improve." Bob, himself, is a pioneer in the surfing community having been "at the forefront of the short-board revolution in Hawaii during the late '60s" with examples of his surfboards appearing on the December 1968 cover of "Master of Surf Photography: Art Brewer."
What I like about Bob's approach is that he debunks many "established" truths that I think would be of interest to surfers, such as: #1: Many surfers have a lack of interest about how and why a surfboard works. #2: Surfers ride shorter boards than necessary because shortening the board helps make up for an inferior design. #3: How many fins should a surfboard have? Ask instead - Where should the fin(s) be placed? #4: Adding a fin will not increase thrust - it will in fact increase drag, slowing the board. #5: A vertical fin is more stable and more powerful (size for size) than a swept fin. #6: To get a good bottom, it is necessary to wet sand the surface with progressively finer paper. #7: The pointy ends on surfboards should all be cut off - they serve no useful function. #8: Make sure to tell a shaper: (A) what board you're currently riding (B) what you like & dislike about it (C) your favorite surf spot and (D) what size of waves you like to ride. Overall, the book is primarily for those who are heavily into surfing and wish to have a custom-designed surfboard. The book is mainly text accompanied by rudimentary drawings. Professional artwork would have more fully illustrated the concepts for better comprehension. I wish Bob had included photos of surfboards that he designed and comments from surfers who use them. Attributed quotes from those who utilize Bob's knowledge in the field would also have added credibility to his theories.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good for the basics,
This review is from: 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 (Paperback)
This book is great for those unfamiliar with surfing or surfboards. However, being an experienced surfer, I knew most of the information already. Also, the author has his own opinions regarding certain surfboard design issues that vary somewhat from the mainstream (the superiority of vertical fins). Overall, a good starter book on the subject.
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