Back to that Stringer Thing!

If you read my post about surfboard shapes, (Surfboards Demystified) you might still be wondering what this mysterious stringer thing is. So here goes!

Actually, it’s super simple. A stringer is the thin piece of wood that runs down the center of the board’s deck—from nose to tail. Think of it like the board’s spine.

The stringer's main purpose is to increase your board's structural strength. But here's a way it can help you in the water: make it a useful visual cue to line up and center your body on your surfboard. How? When you're paddling, just glance down occasionally to check that your face is centered over it.

Fun fact: Shapers like to write stuff on the bottom of the board next to the stringer. Often they'll sign their name, write the board's dimensions, and if it was shaped for someone specifically--such as you--they'll write "shaped for ____".

Do all boards have a stringer? Some, particularly those constructed of foam, don't. But these are the exception, rather than the rule.

So there you have it! The mysterious stringer :D 
Happy Surfing!

An earlier post you might find interesting:

SURFBOARDS DEMYSTIFIED