Longboard Surfing Makes a Comeback
When the sport of surfing first started, the only surfboards that were used were longboards. These were boards that were 9 – 14 ft in length and they were all the rage back then. Then, slowly, shortboards made an appearance and because they were faster and surfers could do more tricks with them, they caught on in a big way. Over time, people forgot about the longer version of the board and concentrated solely on the shortboards. However, now it seems that longboards are making a comeback as people find that they are just as fun to surf with as the shorter ones.
When people get their first lesson in surfing, it is usually on a longboard, mainly because it is easier for a novice to handle and they are so long that a surfer can actually walk along them. Longboards first appeared in Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing. The sport itself was introduced to mainland America by Duke Kahanamoku in 1912 and along with it came the longboards. These types of boards were the only thing available to the pioneers of the sport when it originated, and surfing with longboards really took off in Malibu, California in the 1920s. The sport kept growing, and in the 1950s, longboards changed from being made out of wood to being made from lighter materials. This was the first time that longboards became lighter and more flexible. Then the shortboards made an appearance and people put their longboards in storage where they lay for 30 years.
Recently, the use of longboards has made a return to the sport. People grew tired of the shorter version and they longed for something with a little more style and finesse. The use of longboards brought people back to the original days of surfing, and as the boards are now being made with even lighter materials and are faster and more manoeuvrable, their use is increasing. The use of the longer boards is growing in Britain and a longboard tour takes place every year which brings out the surfers who love the old school style. One of the reasons it has really taken off in England is because unlike Hawaii and Australia, which get some really huge waves, the UK gets smaller waves which are ideal for longboards. A surfing festival called Relentless Boardmasters, which brings almost 80,000 surfing fanatics, saw a lot more longboards being used this year.
Surfing a longboard is slightly different to doing it on the shorter version. One of the biggest differences between the two types of boards is the fact that on the shorter one, a surfer keeps his or her feet firmly planted on the board while a longboard is so much longer that a talented surfer can walk along the length of his or her board. Surfing a longboard is all about the fluidity of style; there are no fast turns and rapid moves on it, but it makes a surfer concentrate on proper form and executing just the right move at the right time. One of the biggest reasons the use of the longer type of board is seeing a comeback is because surfers who were in their teens when they first took up the sport are almost hitting their forties now and their physical skills and general fitness levels have decreased over the years. As surfing is easier with a longboard a lot of older surfers are returning to the style they started with. It looks cool to the younger generation because they think it is something retro and it is easier to ride for the older surfing crowd out there.
With the use of the longboard increasing amongst male, female, older and even young surfers, it seems the old school style is here to stay. With even more technological advancements to board design, we will see their use growing. A medium sized board has also made an appearance recently which is in the shape of a teardrop and is longer than a shortboard but shorter than a longboard. It shape and length make it the ideal board to take the benefits of both styles of boards. With its use growing in the UK, the trend of the longboard will spread to bigger surfing destinations in the coming years.
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