The Longboards That Stay in the Water

By Jane Worthington

Longboards have traveled far and wide. They were derived by the Polynesians when they entered the Island of Hawaii, making boards out of the wood from local trees. These surfboards were between 8-24 feet, and often weighed up to 150 pounds. Though the sport of surfing nearly died out, people continued the tradition, mostly in Waikiki, and it soon spread across the ocean to the coasts of California and Australia. The journey that this board has taken is impressive, and today there are four main styles of long boards.

First of course, is the "Classic". The classic is the one that originated in Hawaii, and much like the sport of surfing itself in the early 1900's, soon spread along the coast in California. One of the first spots to pick up the sport and the board, was Malibu Beach in Los Angeles County. The sport of surfing slowly caught on, and the longboard was one of the most popular boards. The style was adjusted from being super long, and the outrageous weight of the board was downsized due to a new way to make them, out of plywood or planking, called Hollowboards. The new boards were now between 10-14 feet long, and very light. Right after those adjustments around the 1950's, surfing's popularity as a whole took off.

The longer board also continued to adapt. The next major changes came in the late 1950's when surfboards started being made from polyurethane foam and fiberglass. This was a huge technological advancement for surfing. The longboard continued to be the dominant board, and people loved the sport. In the 1960's the Shortboard was introduced, which ignited sports enthusiasts' interest, because with this board, surfers could make tighter turns and better maneuver themselves at faster speeds. With this new breakthrough, the long board became nearly extinct.

Not for good though! In the early 1990's the long board made a comeback. People were reintroduced to why they were wildly popular in the first place. The classic maneuvers, and the infamous "glide," that the long board produces could not be duplicated by the Shortboard, or any board for that matter. Today there are three other versions of the longboard: The Tri-Fin, the Gun, and the 2+1. The Tri-Fin is a modern take on the Classic long board. It has three fins under the tail, as opposed to the Classic, which has only one. The additional fins give the rider more maneuverability, which tries to incorporate the best of both worlds from the Shortboard and the long board. Next is the Gun. It came after the Tri-Fin, and is also known as "the big wave board." It has a very thin shape, which mimics a needle. They usually vary between 9-12 feet, and allow surfers better wave catching opportunities by allowing the surfer better paddling capabilities. The last version of the modern long board is the 2+1. The 2+1 combines the glide of the Classic, with the power of the Tri-Fin. It allows for great maneuverability, and produces great speed.

The longboard has withstood the test of time, and continues adapting to the sport of surfing. The grace of the long board encompasses what the Hawaiians embraced in surfing hundreds of years ago; the love of the water, and the power of a great surfboard under you!

If you would like more information about longboard surfing or any other kind of surfboards for sale, please visit the Buyboardz website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Worthington