Stringer Meaning in Surfing

A stringer is a thin strip of wood running down the center. This piece is usually made of balsa or plywood and reinforces foam. It provides the surfboard with the necessary strength, rigidity, and controlled flex. The stringer also serves as a visual guide for centering the feet. Most traditional surfboards have one stringer visible under the fiberglass skin of boards. A surfer looks at the wooden stringer to align the front foot. This component prevents the board from snapping under the weight of heavy waves. One person carries a board with a dark wooden line down the middle. Without a stringer, a foam board would be too soft to ride waves. It acts as the backbone for the entire structure of the modern surfboard.