Breaking a Surfboard

[roadtrip2010]

I just got a surfboard for the first time and im going surfing very soon. The board is fiberglass not epoxy and i recently heard that they break very easily. How easily do they break? should i be worried?

[drowningbitbybit]

They 'ding' very easily, but breaking them takes some commitment.

Be careful not to bang them around, or put them on rough ground, and if you're tieing them to your car, tie them tight but not too tight.
Having said all that, boards ding, fact of life. It'll happen, the first time you'll be furious about damaging your new board, and after that it'll just be another badge of courage

You can break a board - Ive snapped one in half but only once, and it took a small mountain of water to do it (along with some incompetence on my part).
Board breakages often occur in shallow water when you jam the nose into the sand/rock, so just make sure you dont surf into the beach.

[drowningbitbybit]

Oh, and get a ding repair kit. You're bound to need it sooner or later.

[roadtrip2010]

Thanks. I was just worried i have gotten a 400 dollar board and might go snap in half the first time i use it. So it takes a pretty big wave to snap a board in half? And some bad luck?

[trifish]

my buddy snapped his epoxy board in 2-3 foot waves his first day ever out, ha. He still claims he doesnt know what happened, but im guessing he ran his nose into the sand on a pearl. Your board can be replaced if something happens, its your head you want to worry about. Make sure you understand the proper manners and rules out there if its your first time out and you will be fine

[roadtrip2010]

yeah im just going to make sure i dont get in too close and hit sand. Thanks alot even though hearing about your friend breaking his board in 2-3 foot waves scares me.

[RJD]

Fk it be carefull and go surf. Pointless having a surfboard if your too afraid to take it out.

But you should likely be starting on something of a size and thickness that wont break easily, a thin toothpic with light glass is more likely to break but your not gona get a wave on that as a beginer.

[kitesurfer]

So it takes a pretty big wave to snap a board in half? And some bad luck?

No it doesn't have to be a big wave as even small waves can pack alot of power. Just don't worry about it and if you do break it make sure you say it was a big ass mother fooking bomb of a wave.

KS

[drowningbitbybit]

say it was a big ass mother fooking bomb of a wave.

No, it was, really, big ass mother! A beast of a bomb...



...oh, sorry, you didnt mean me?

[isaluteyou]

of course ramming your board into a pier is a good way to get it snapped

[garbarrage]

buy a roll of silage tape for about 2 or 3 bucks. seals up dings nicely so you can still surf before you get a chance to fix your dings. stuff is great. moulds itself around corners so it doesn't leave folds that can let water in, and is designed to be water proof so won't come off while surfing. can actually be a bit of work to get it off. have had a patch of it on my board for about 6 weeks now. still water tight. especially good if like me you are a bit lazy.

[Aloha]

Avoid sucky, hollow, barreling waves , they'll snap your board.... and your back

[LucasG]

I've been surfing for a year and pretty much started surfing on a 7'6 and in a few weeks went to a 6'6 on 2 - 3 foot waves, never had any experience near breaking it in half. I just make sure I grab those waves in deep water, but not sure what type of place you surf at, so you got to be more careful depending on what you're standing on. But honestly, it's not that easy to break a board.

[roadtrip2010]

ok thanks alot. that makes me feel much better.

[SurfinGatNYU]

Also if You thinks its to late for you to try and catch dat wave dont do it. Ive seen many ppl do this as they are paddling to the line up they see a wave, quickly turn around and go for it. Then before the person can pop up the wave lifts the back of the board and then you drive the nose into the sand and now you have 2 pieces lol