A wide choice of equipment used for surfing.

A wide choice of equipment used for surfing.

The first equipment used for surfing no matter which type of surfboard you choose you will be a leash. The leash ties you to the board for two reasons. The first reason is that it gives you something to hold on to that floats when you wipe out and the second is that it prevents the surfboard from getting away from you and crashing into and possibly injuring someone.

The next equipment used for surfing will be either wax to keep your feet from slipping on the board or a mat that is stuck to the surfboard where you stand and again to keep you from slipping.

If you plan on traveling with your board you will need a sturdy board bag because airlines are really hard on boards.

The last important piece of equipment used for surfing is your wet suit and the temperature of the water and air determines the thickness of your suit. Even in warm water a thin wetsuit will allow you a longer duration in the water.

The different kinds of equipment used for surfing boards are discussed below. You will be surprised at all your choices.

Bodyboards (sometimes called Bodysurfing Boards)
Surfing Equipment from Becker Surf

You tuck the base of the board into your waist and lie down on it in a prone position. Generally the hands grab the sides or the front of the bodyboard. 41 to 42 inches Soft plastics(these boards are flexible) This is a great way to begin your surfing. Learning how to read the waves is the first step. You can continue to body board as your equipment used for surfing or decide to try the larger type boards.

Surfing Kneeboards

You kneel, usually grabbing the sides of the kneeboard with your hands. These equipment used for surfing boards are usually about 5'6" feet and wider than the standard surfboard- Rigid plastic or surfboard materials. Some prefer kneeboarding because there is nothing greater than catching a ride down a tube !

Surfboards
Surfing Equipment from Becker Surf

Different kinds of equipment used for surfing boards range from 6 to 12 feet. They are made of custom polyurethane foam, centrally reinforced and laminated with fiberglass.

Standard Short Board : conventional pointed nose, three fin surf board, usually a rounded pin tail, a rounded off square tail or a swallow tail (slight V shaped tail).

Fish : loose term to describe a wider than normal short board that has a fairly wide swallow tail, all fish should have a wider tail and width than compared to standard short board, some equipment used for surfing boards have a fairly rounded off nose while others resemble a standard short board with just a little extra width.

Fun Board : typically in the six and a half to eight and a half with an outline similar to a long board, some equipment used for surfing fun boards will have a very rounded off nose while others may come to a rounded off point, what is important is that compared to a standard short board, a fun board has a lot more width through out and is thicker and thus more stable.

Long Board : there is a huge variety in shapes and design of long boards that range from eight and a half to ten and a half plus, the most popular size that we see is in the nine to nine and a half range.

Towboards
Are surfboards for riding the biggest waves; the surfer is towed into the wave by a motor vehicle (jet-ski). Surfing with this Equipment used for surfing towboard is an extreme sport.

This ends the relatively inexpensive forms of surfing because the next types of surfing requires a lot more equipment and the equipment is also more expensive.

Windsurfing Boards
Surfing Equipment from Becker Surf

You stand on your feet while holding the mast. 8 to 10 foot Composite plastics with polystyrene interior. Vastly improved understanding of the aerodynamic requirements and performance of windsurfing sails, along with widespread use of modern high-tech materials in just about every aspect of board, sail and equipment construction, has brought about incredible improvements.

People love the new windsurfing boards. You will need different boards and sails for different wind speeds and water conditions. You can go for a leisurely afternoon sail in a 10 knot breeze or take another board out for the ride of your life in 30 knot winds. Windsurfing in 30 knot winds is considered an extreme sport. Windsurfing takes place on lakes, rivers, or the ocean.

Here is a list of the equipment needed.

First of course you need the board. These are priced about the same as surfboards
The sails come next.
The rig: Mastfoot, Safety leash, Mast, Mastsleeve, Boom
Harness
Lines
Footstraps and pads

Then depending on the temperature you have:

Neoprene suits
Hoods
Gloves for both warm or cold weather
Water shoes
Rash guards
So you see - you need seperate equipment used for surfing not only for wind speeds but for temperature.

Kiteboarding
Kite boarding is an extreme sport that has emerged from the fusion of several existing sports: surfing, wakeboarding, and windsurfing.that only requires moderate wind in order to pull off 20 to 30 foot jumps. The "bigger, better, faster" world we live in, and a shorter learning curve than most other sports is very apealing so kitesurfing is gaining immense popularity all over the globe.

The concept behind the sport of kiteboarding is very basic; use the power generated from a large controllable kite to propel you across the water while riding a board. Then once you've got the hang of that, use the kite to launch yourself 30 feet into the air to perform radical maneuvers.

Basic Kiteboarding Equipment:

Kites come in many sizes for use in specific wind conditions.

For surfing you choose water re-launchable kites
Kiteboards vary from rider to rider with directional, twin tips, or wakeboards acording to your personal preference and desired performance on the water.
Harness
board leash
safety leash

Canoes or Kayaks
The equipment used for surfing Canoes or Kayaks that are used for surfing are the same ones that are used for those river white water adventures. You choose whether to use the sit down inside or on top type of the canoe or kayak. 9 to 12.5 feet made of plastics or fiberglass.

About the author:

Deb Andersen is the owner of which provides extensive information about Surfing, Water Skiing, Scuba, Kayaking and Kids Water Fun. Plus how to find your perfect water sport vacation.