Background Information

(typical shortboard)



I have currently been surfing for 7 years, I have surfed and competed on both the east and west coast of the united states. During my participation in the art/sport of surfing I have gained an understanding of the existing equipment and wave conditions on the East and West coasts as well as the island of Puerto Rico. These conditions include beachbreak conditions (sand bottom), Pointbreak conditions (cobblestone and reef bottom).

My objective is to design a surfboard exculsivley for the conditions here at the Jersey shore. This board will be designed for beach break and sandy bottom conditions of New Jersey (See Figure 1 below). These waves are also effected by the continental shelf, this shelf is a constant barrier to incoming swells on the majority of the East Coast. In order to surf these waves you will need a specific board as you would at Pipeline in Hawaii or Trestles California (see Figures 2&3 below).


(Fig. 1: Longbranch, NJ)


(Fig. 2: Trestles, California)


(Fig.3: Pipeline, Hawaii)

Board design and manufacturing has historically been in Hawaii and California. As a result of this boards are shipped to New Jersey and are not designed for East Coast wave conditions. Visitors to New Jersey often ask if theres even waves here, yet there is an entire surf community, surf shops and magazines specifically for New Jersey.
Waves on the East Coast move slower than pacific waves due to the continental shelf and break over shallow sandy bottom instead of the common reef breaks on the Pacific coast and Hawaii. The waves in New Jersey are often less powerful and tend to break all at once instead of gradually as waves do over a reef point. The difference in wave conditions leads to a need for different board designs yet boards are still manufactured in these pacific regions and the board design has become the norm although it may not be the best design for East Coast conditions.
By designing a board specific to New Jersey wave conditions, I believe it will perform better than a typical mass manufactured board in these waves.