Mastering Rotational Speed in Wakesurfing

Understanding and optimizing rotational speed is crucial for taking your wakesurfing to the next level. Whether you're aiming to nail that elusive 360 or simply want a more responsive ride, focusing on rotational speed can make a significant difference.

Mastering Linear Speed in Wakesurfing

Why Did We Start Smith Board Co?

Whatever that is that makes for no bad days on the water, that’s why we started this. We love to surf. We love to think about how to make things better. But we love to be out on the water. Yes, our mission is to build the best boards in the world, but the reason we want to do that is to give people more of that feeling. That love for being out on the water. That is a part of who Dakota, Ben, Lewis, myself and everyone else on the Smith Board Co team, and we want to help as many people as possible share that feeling. That’s why we started this. That’s why SMITH exists.

The Impact of Snub Noses and Tails on Wakesurf Board Performance

If you’ve been wakesurfing for awhile or have looked into which board would be good for you, you’ve probably noticed that some boards look like the nose or tail of the board has been cut off. If you’ve never heard of a snub nose or snub tail, then rest assured that cut isn’t an accident. It’s actually a design feature called a snub nose (if it’s on the front of the board), or a snub tail (if it's on the back of the board), and it has a pretty big effect on how a wakesurf boards gonna ride. If you don’t read any further into the nitty gritty of why these features do what they do, then you can just generally think of a snub nose and tail is going to increase the agility of your board allowing for quicker turning. The reasoning is a little different for each, so we’ll get into the why of it below

Human Body Mechanics and Performance

What we haven’t covered in previous posts is how we, as riders, influence performance. Riders affect the performance of a wakesurf board in two major ways: skill level and body mechanics. These factors, along with Agility, Speed, and Air, all play a crucial role in your board's performance. Unfortunately, at Smith Board Co., we can’t engineer your skill or body mechanics (though we’re still holding out hope for cyborgs!). That's why we focus on the three aspects we can control.

Understanding The Rocker

Understanding the rocker of your wakesurf board is one of the keys to optimizing your riding experience. Whether you're looking to enhance speed, improve control, or prevent nosediving, finding the right balance in your board's rocker will allow you to ride more confidently and effectively on the water.

Not All Carbon Fiber is the Same: Why Quality Matters in Wakesurfing

When you hear the term "carbon fiber," it might be easy to think of it as a one-size-fits-all material. After all, carbon fiber is just carbon fiber, right? But in reality, not all carbon fiber is created equal. Just like any other material, the quality, manufacturing process, and design application can make a world of difference. At Smith Board Co, we believe that understanding these differences is crucial, not just for those of us in the engineering and design worlds, but for every rider looking to push the limits on the water.

Agility: The Unsung Hero of Wakesurf Board Performance

In our ongoing series, we’ve been breaking down what makes up the elusive concept of "performance" in wakesurf boards. We’ve already explored how Speed and Air contribute to your ride, and now it’s time to shine a spotlight on Agility. This is the final piece of our performance trifecta, and it’s the one that truly defines how responsive and versatile your board can be.

The Rise of Carbon Fiber in Wakesurf Boards

At Smith Board Co, carbon fiber is more than just a buzzword; it is an integral piece of our path to a higher performing board. Carbon fiber is an unlock to a whole new level of board performance. We’re currently engineering carbon fiber into our full board lineup and will look to transition every one of our boards over from the industry standard glass fiber to the higher performing carbon fiber.

Wakesurf board width and how it affects your ride

At Smith Board Co., our mission is to delve deeper into these nuanced aspects of wakesurf board design, providing the industry with comprehensive insights and data-driven understanding. By continually testing, simulating, and sharing our findings, we aim to empower riders with the knowledge needed to choose the perfect board for their style and skill level. Stay tuned for more detailed explorations of other critical board features in our ongoing blog series.