Ding Meaning in Surfing

A ding is a hole, crack, or dent in the surfboard skin. These occur from collisions with rocks, other boards, or the hard seafloor. A ding allows water to enter the foam and make the board heavy. Surfers must repair dings quickly to prevent the core from rotting over time. Small cracks can often be fixed with a simple resin patch kit. A surfer finds a small ding on the rail after a session. Covering the hole with tape provides a temporary fix in the water. One athlete uses a sanding block to smooth a repaired ding area. Keeping the board watertight is the most important part of surfboard maintenance.