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Surfboard

Early Polynesian surfboards were made from hardwoods found locally on the many islands of the South Pacific. They were long and heavy and took great skill to control. Due to the scarcity of materials, surfing was a more elitist sport, popular with rulers and warriors.

It was these stately surfboards that western surfers first modeled their own after. Only they had access to lighter woods, such as balsa, which allowed the board to be a bit smaller and more maneuverable. They also used construction techniques, like hollowing them out or using foam cores, which enabled them to become smaller and more agile still.

This gave rise to the modern short surfboard, which is often not much longer than its rider. These vehicles are the most maneuverable and have mushroomed in popularity due to the ability to do jumps and flips off of waves. They are also used in big-wave surfing where a rider is towed in, usually by a jet-ski.

 

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