Friday, November 28, 2014

Surfboard Innovation, The Go Pro Camera, Goes Public

Surf culture is an incredible thing.  The community and industry that has sprung up around surfing is marvelous to behold.  Often products designed with surfing in mind receive a wider audience, and that is precisely the story behind the success of the Go Pro camera.

Go Pro cameras are rugged, waterproof cameras that are very simple but used widely in action sports. They can be mounted to sporting equipment, like a surfboard, and capture the action without worry that a drop or spill will destroy them.  They have no external monitor where you can see what you're shooting, but since the point for most Go Pro users is just to capture the action without taking away from the experience, the monitor isn't missed.

Nick Woodman invented the waterproof camera to capture his surfing in pictures. The cameras have come a long way, now offering quality video that is shot at a wide-angle to capture the most action possible.  The New Yorker article, "We Are A Camera" by Nick Paumgarten, details how surf culture helped popularize and refine the Go Pro camera, which has now gone public on the stock market to great success,
"In the next few years, with Schmidt testing it out on surfing trips and sending back astonishing images, Woodman made refinements, and started making money, too. He traveled around the country in a 1974 VW van he called Biscuit, to surf shops and trade shows (and did a couple of appearances on QVC); to raise extra funds he sold belts made of seashells he’d picked up in Bali. At surfing events, he handed out cameras to pros."
The popularity of the Go Pro camera is no surprise to surfers who have been using Go Pros for a long time to capture epic surfing, (and some even more epic wipeouts.)

Perhaps the next time you're out catching waves, you'll have the next multi-milion dollar idea that brings a little piece of surf culture to the world at large.

Please contact us for all your surfing needs.  We have a great selection of equipment, apparel and accessories. 
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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Students Innovate Surfboard Leashes

The very first surfboard leash was made from surgical cord that attached to the inventor's board with a suction cup.  The innovator, Pat O'Neill, was so excited about the surfboard leash he had made that he gave them away to his competitors. He wanted to popularize the practice of leashing your surfboard to your ankle.  Unfortunately, the leash he wore disqualified him from the competition he was competing in at the time, the Malibu International Surfing Competition.

Even though his controversial surfboard leashes left him out of contention in that competition, within a year using a surfboard leash was a common practice; one that continues to this day.  

Leashes have come a long way since 1971, and now they offer quick releases and swivels to keep them from becoming tangled around your ankles. Different lengths, thicknesses and materials all have been innovations along the way.

Now a group of students from Santa Barbara City College hope they have invented the newest industry changing enhancement to the surfboard leash.  They have designed a leash that self-adjusts to the correct length.  
If this feature works well, it could quickly be snapped up by current leash makers because surfers want different lengths for their leashes depending on the size of the waves they are surfing, and big waves are known to stretch leashes. We wish them luck with their new invention and hope it finds a home in the industry. 

When you are looking for surfboard leashes, please contact us. We have an incredible selection of surfboard leashes in our convenient online store.
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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Surfboards.com Has a Huge Selection Of Surfboard Leashes

When you're out catching waves, you need to know that your surfboard is not going to disappear into the ocean without you.  Surfboard leashes keep you connected to your board.  Leashes are so common now, it's hard to imagine that they were only introduced to the sport in 1971. Before that, surfers had to swim down their boards after each wipe-out.  Not to mention, the hazard a loose surfboard posed to swimmers and other surfers.
Surfboard leashes make surfing safer and simpler, although there are still some long board surfers who still refuse to wear a leash.  

When you are looking for a surfboard leash, there are a few factors to consider.  Make sure your leash is longer than the length of your board, an experienced surfer may only want a leash that is a few inches longer than their board; however, a novice surfer could get a leash up to a foot longer than their board.

When you are thinking about leash thickness, remember that a thicker leash is more durable, less likely to snap and will last longer. However, a thinner leashes provide less drag, so it may be important to have a thin leash to use for competition surfing.

You will also have decisions to make when it comes to the type and number of swivels and the type of cuff and rail surfer you want.  

When you've researched all your choices, please contact us. Surfboards.com has an incredible selection of leashes so you can get one that meets all your specifications. We offer 46 different leashes from four different companies.
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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Used Surfboards Save You Money When You're Learning The Sport

Many people have the goal of learning to surf on their bucket list.  Some people move to California just to learn the incredible sport of surfing.  When your goal is to learn how to catch a few waves, it can be frustrating to have to spend a lot of money on your surf equipment, not to mention an expensive new board.

Now, Surfboards.com can lower your cost of entry into the coolest sport on the planet.  We help you find Used Surfboards in your area.  You can find exactly what you're looking for in a used surfboard, and use some of the money you saved for great surfing apparel and accessories.

Once you've surfed a little longer and are ready to upgrade your surfboard, we'll help you sell your used surfboard through our local listings. You can use the money you earn on your used surfboard to buy another used board, or to get a new or custom board that suits your surfing needs.

We believe everyone, rich or poor, should have access to the incredible sport of surfing, and we're happy to enrich the surfing community by helping coordinate the sale of used surfboards. There is no community like the surfing community, so when you buy your used board you're likely to also score some great tips and advice from seasoned surfers.

When you need surfing apparel, equipment or accessories, please contact us, our online store has the most variety of surf products for surfers and for people who love surf culture.
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