surfboard

A surfboard is a long, narrow, buoyant board used in the sport of surfing. Surfing itself is the sport of riding breaking waves toward the shore on a surfboard.12

The history of surfing and surfboards has roots in premodern Hawaii and Polynesia, where it was practiced by all social classes. Though banned by missionaries in the 19th century, surfing experienced a revival in the early 20th century and spread to California and Australia. Early surfboards were solid wood, heavy, and difficult to maneuver. Innovations in materials like fiberglass and polyurethane, along with design changes such as fins and lighter construction, led to more maneuverable boards. Contemporary surfboards are shorter, narrower, thinner, and much lighter, allowing for complex maneuvers and a dynamic style of surfing.2