![]() There should be a bend in this area with a flatter curve forward of this bend. ![]() Too flat of a rocker curve in the middle will make the board stiff.Ī key area of rocker is the area between 12 and 18 inches from the tail. Increased rocker in the middle of the board will lower the board’s drive, and slow the paddling. Too much nose rocker can also cause the tail to release prematurely when nose riding. However, increased nose rocker combined with increased nose width when paddling into a wave, will push water, making dropping into a wave more difficult. Using a long board as an example, increasing the nose rocker will cause less water to splash in the face while paddling, and decrease the chance of catching the nose while dropping into a wave or while turning. There are three primary areas of rocker: nose, middle and tail. A basic rule of surfboard design is that as the board’s nose rocker decreases, the nose width increases. Key numbers are zero (or the end of the board), 6”, 12”, 18”, 24”, and the board’s mid point. The distance from the board to the straight edge a given point is considered a rocker measurement. A long straight edge is placed on it, with the straight edge’s center matching the center of the board. This is measured on the bottom of the board. Rocker is the term for the curvature of the board from nose to tail, looking at the board’s edge. As the fins start getting too far apart with a wider tail, the rotational effect needed to turn is restricted. Increase the tail dimension, and decrease the nose width, and it will make for great turns, but the board will be slow and a poor nose rider.īoards with a three-fin set up typically have a narrower tail than single fin boards. Increase the nose width and leave the other dimensions alone and it moves the wide point forward, reducing the center curve, making it more difficult to turn. Conversely, if the nose and tail increase in width and the center remains the same, the rails become more parallel, complimenting the nose ride but decreasing the maneuverability because there is little curve to cause drag in the turn. As the board gains stability, it also gets more difficult to tip on a rail to turn. If the nose and tail remain the same and the center width increases, the board gains stability. The three measurements work in concert, and as one grows or reduces, it affects the others. Boards that are wider in the mid section are more stable but are more difficult to turn because they don’t tip up on a rail as easily as their narrower counterpart. As the tail design gets wider it becomes more and more stable but this will make it difficult to tip on an edge to turn. When the surfboard drops into a wave, a wider the tail will captures more water, thus causing better lift. The down side of this is that widening the nose adds more volume of material or swing weight in front of you while turning, so the ease of turning diminishes. For example, as the nose becomes wider, it becomes more stable to stand there. But each of the three measurements does provide its own defining contribution to the board’s performance, and with that contribution usually comes some sacrifice to another aspect of the board’s performance. These dimensions give only a general idea of the board’s shape because varying intensities on the outline curve cannot be told with just three measurements.Īlthough much of the board’s riding characteristics can be attributed to the outline, one must realize that it is simply one element in a much larger assemblage of contents that makes up the final shape. Measurements are taken one foot from the nose, at the widest point in the center section, and one foot from the tail. The outline, or plan shape is the curve that forms the outer edge of the board when observing from the top or bottom of the board.
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