An early morning dawns o­n the blue and green Pacific Ocean, kelp rolling in the misty foam filled waves that break against the sandy beaches. Black suited surfers wait their turn for the next set of waves. The beaches are deserted except for a few early morning walkers and sandpipers. The early morning is o­ne of the best times to catch waves and avoid the beach going crowds.

Peering over theses surfers waiting for a good wave will reveal surf boards of many shapes and sizes. To a surfer, a surf board is an instrument just like a set of golf clubs is to a golfer or violin is to a trained violinist.

If you watch a surfer gliding forward as the wave rises, turning to the right or left, you may see him cut back quickly and then down again. He may turn into the wave, riding right into the tube of the wave, disappearing for a moment, o­nly to reappear o­n the other side or bursting out o­n top. These surfers often use a short board that is designed for their height and weight based o­n a shape that they can control to turn and create speed to ride the wave.

Other surfers enjoy longer boards that allow them catch the wave, but may not turn as fast. These boards give the surfer the freedom to move up and down the board, and get their tows right at the end, so they can hang ten.

Surf boards come in almost every shape and size to meet the performance needs of the surfers. Boards can be made out of wood, fiberglass, or foam. Regardless of the type of surf board, selecting the right board can make all the difference between having a great experience catching a wave and fighting the board.