Onshore Wind vs. Offshore Wind: What They Mean for Surfing

Onshore Wind vs. Offshore Wind: What They Mean for Surfing

Like I talked about in another post about swells and how they’re formed, without wind there would be no waves. And you’ve probably heard the terms onshore winds and offshore winds thrown around, but don’t fully understand what they mean. On the surface, it seems simple enough: If the wind is onshore, it’s blowing from…

Surf Break Breakdown: The Different Types of Waves You Should Know

Surf Break Breakdown: The Different Types of Waves You Should Know

Big waves, small waves, hollow waves, mushy waves, smooth waves, crumbly waves… no two waves are exactly the same, and that’s what makes surfing so challenging (and exciting!). A lot of variables are involved in the physics of how a wave forms: swell intervals and intensity, wind knots and what direction the wind is blowing,…

Surfboard Fin Setups: Understanding Single, Twin, Thruster, and Quad Fins

Surfboard Fin Setups: Understanding Single, Twin, Thruster, and Quad Fins

Look on the bottom of any surfboard and you’ll notice one, two, three or more fins of different sizes and shapes. These fins—and the way they’re arranged—can have a major impact on your board’s performance, especially as you pass the novice level in your surfing and want more responsiveness. Fins give a surfboard stability, control,…

This Is Why Your Surfboard Has a Stringer

This Is Why Your Surfboard Has a Stringer

Have you ever noticed that little line running straight down the middle of your board? It isn’t merely decorative. There’s a lot that goes into surfboard construction and that line—called a stringer—is a fundamental part of it. Stringers aren’t visible on all boards, but they usually appear as thin strips of wood from the nose…