April 22, 2004

Thanks for making my first surfing experience possible.  I knew I wouldn't
be able to surf without prescription eyewear, and thanks to Silverfish I was
able to finally do it.  I was in Hawaii last week and took lessons with
Hawaiian Fire Surf school.  The instructors rocked, and I even got
compliments from them about my shades.  They were really surprised that they
stayed on thru the entire lesson.  I admit, I was surprised myself.  They
didn't feel like they were sliding around or even wanting to come off!
Hawaii is awesome, Hawaiian Fire is awesome and so is Silverfish!  Mahalo!

A longboard is a type of surfboard. By general description it will be nine feet or longer, or three feet taller than the rider in overall length. The strong point of a longboard is its substantial buoyancy and planing surface, which enables most surfers using it to ride waves generally deemed too small to propel a shortboard, as well as anything else. In the proper conditions, a skilled surfer can ride a wave standing on the nose of a longboard, literally putting his "toes on the nose " or even "hanging ten " toes over the very edge of the nose.

Longboards are the original variety of board used in standup surfing. The ancient Hawaiians used 10 to 14 foot Olo solid wooden boards when practicing their ancient art of hui' nalu. Duke Kahanamoku brought surfing to mainland United States. From that point on, surfing became an integral part of the California beach lifestyle. In Malibu (in Los Angeles county), the beach was so popular amongst the early surfers that it lent its name to the type of longboard, the Malibu Surfboard. In the 1920s boards made of plywood or planking called Hollowboards came into use. These were typically 15 to 20 feet in length. After World War II, balsa boards became popular, followed in the late 1950s by foam and fiberglass.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.silverfish.com/

http://www.australianlongboarding.com/