When we don’t take care of our bodies, we see the damage done; for instance, not wearing sunscreen often results in skin damage and sunburns. Similarly, what do you think will happen if you do not take care of your surfboard?
If you store your surfboard on its tail, it will get damaged. How you store and treat your surfboard is significant for its durability and performance. Many surfers make a mistake by not storing their boards properly. Surfers think it’s okay to keep the surfboard on its tail.
If you’ve mistakenly stored your surfboard on its tail, or you’re not sure how to store your surfboard, you’ve come to the right place. We understand the importance of storing surfboards properly, and for this reason, we’ve come up with more manageable and better ways to help you take care of your surfboard.
Read along to learn about the mistakes you should be avoiding and what steps you need to take.
How Can You Store Your Surfboard Properly?
You can store your surfboard on its tail, but you are inviting damage. But if thatʻs the only option you have, itʻs important to follow a few guidelines to ensure your boards stay safe.
The last thing you want is to see a fresh ding on your board when the swell starts pumping.
- Install Stand Up Racks
Using racks for storing your surfboards like these ones on Amazon can be just the thing you need. These racks are great for securing surfboards and ensuring they don’t come in contact with the floor.
You will not need to drill into the wall; instead, you need to slide the surfboard into the rack. The good thing is that the board’s tail will rest on a soft bottom that will protect it.
- Get Racks Mounted on Walls
If you lack the floor space, don’t fret; we’d suggest racks that you can hang on the wall. The specialty of these racks is that the nose and tail of the board would both be horizontal.
You wouldn’t need to hang the board in a way that would put unnecessary weight on any of its parts that could lead to it being damaged.
- Go For Surfboard Slings
Once again, if you’re short on space, then these surfboard slings would be very helpful. It consists of two ropes that you can attach to a hook on the wall.
One rope holds the nose, while the other is for the tail, and you need to fit the board into it so it can all balance evenly.
- At Least Use A Board Bag
If you canʻt use racks to store your surfboard, at least put it in a board bag. That way if you do lean it against the wall on itʻs tail or on itʻs side, it has some extra padding for protection. Itʻs the least you can do for something that costs as much as it does.
How to Safely Store Your Surfboard?
If you want your surfboard to be in the best condition possible, you must store it properly and ensure it’s kept in the ideal state. Here are some ways you can do that:
- Avoid Sun Exposure
It doesn’t matter if your surfboard is kept somewhere inside or outside; what matters the most is that it’s not exposed to sunlight. You might think that sunlight cannot damage surfboards, but it’s the opposite in reality.
If your board is exposed to sunlight, it’ll go yellow. Knowing that the UV rays have reached your board if your board goes from white to a weird yellowish color.
But that’s not all. Your surfboard won’t just change colors because of sun damage; it will also start to deteriorate. It means that the surfboard’s foam will get damaged, and it will be extremely weak.
As a result, you can quickly form dents on your board. So it’s best to keep your surfboard out of the sun.
If you store it inside your house or a garage, make sure no sunlight reaches it. And if you store the surfboard outside, read this post so you can learn more about how to keep it protected.
- Properly Store the Surfboard for Long-Term
To not find any damage long-term, you have to start taking care of your board. After every surfing session, you must wash your surfboard with fresh water and store it somewhere.
The salt in the seawater is harmful to your surfboard, so the salt will corrode away no matter how strong your surfboard may be. In addition, if you do not clean your surfboard, the salt will ruin the surface of the surfboard, the traction pad, and the leash rope.
Once you have washed the surfboard properly and gotten rid of the salt, let it air dry before packing it up.
- Don’t Leave Your Surfboard in the Car
One of the worst mistakes is leaving your surfboard in your car. The extreme heat level can damage the surfboard and would completely ruin its structure.
If your car is parked out all day long, then its temperature can rise to 100 degrees easily, and your surfboard would not be able to survive this.
Read more about why itʻs bad to leave a surfboard in a car.
Takeaway
I think it’s pretty clear that your surfboard can be kept on its tail or any other way, as long as there’s a soft foam or any other material that breaks the harsh contact between the surfboard and the floor.
To protect your surfboard from any damage, you need to take extra care of it. It includes covering up the board and storing it in an optimal place.
