Blog Layout

how to strap your surfboard

Part 6

Now as far as regular shaped short boards and guns are concerned, I am quite convinced now, that it is both safer and more aero dynamic and in return, more cost efficient, to stack your surf boards with the noses facing forward. That’s right! The noses of your surfboards facing forward and the decks of your boards facing down (decks facing down, towards the roof of your vehicle). We came to our final conclusion on this matter when we directly experimented with this theory on a trip to Western Australia. I don’t exactly recall but the trip came into existence roughly about 2 to 3 weeks after the haphazard event of leaving my surfboard on the roof of my car. That near disaster turned epiphany, really was a revelation into the proper aerodynamics of how to strap your surfboard or surfboards on to the roof of your car. That season of massive road trip travel and adventure on the continent of Australia, saved me 100’s of dollars in petrol costs and I’m sure as well, saved my truck some major wear and tear even though we were still driving for such long periods of time but now obviously, with way less wind resistance.

Surfing in Hawaii photo by moses

When you stack SUP’s ( Stand Up Paddle Boards ), it doesn’t really matter. The reason is because SUP’s are so Big, long and thick that no matter how you put them on your car, they are just way to bulky to be in any way shape or form, wind dynamic. I generally strap my SUP’s to the roof of my truck with the tails and fins facing the front or hood. When you stack SUP’s or multiple, extra large long boards to your chariot, it’s good to use longer and extra durable straps. When driving at high speeds on the free ways, driving with all that extra bulk and the G-force of the winds resisting against you can put some serious torque on your straps.

In both of the above circumstances, it’s good to place towels or a sarong of some sort, in-between your boards. This will help your boards to not slide or shift around. Sometimes, when you own a truck, you don’t strap your boards to the roof, you just place them in the truck bed itself. When doing this method, it is a must that you place towels, rash guards, board shorts or even if you have to, use your wetsuits to place in-between your surfboards. Not only does this help to eliminate your boards from sliding around and getting dung up, but rather, it also keeps the bottoms of your boards from getting what surfers call a Chinese wax job (wax caked on the bottom of your board), which most believe, slows down your surf attack. When you place some sort of cloth in-between your boards you also prevent damage from occurring by creating a barrier for noses and fins to not gouge into the bottom of the other persons equipment. Generally, the tail of your surfboard equipment is heavier due to the fin cluster. So with this in mind, when I put the surf boards in the truck bed with no straps involved, I put the boards in the truck bed with fins facing towards the front of the vehicle.

Surfboards are ready to go to ride North Shore

So finally, the steps on how to strap your surfboard . (using short boards as the example) (Note: Probably best NOT to stack more then 4 boards in a stack, and you can utilize up to 2 rows of 4. We’ve done more but its always better to be safe then sorry.)

Step 1: Place surf boards on roof. Decks down. Noses of the boards facing towards the hood of your car. (Note: Almost always easier and faster with two people. If strong winds, two people is a must! If by yourself in strong winds, you can attempt to park your car facing into the wind. Strong wind equals caution!)

Step 2: When you do use straps, you have to remember to set and place your straps as straight as possible and actually start with the straps and the straps knuckle upside down on the roof of your automobile. This is because later in the process you will be doing a half twist in the straps. You have the two different straps that must be spaced out in proportion to the distance between front and back car window frames (this is give or take, about 4 to 6 feet) and you would place them more forward towards the hood of your car in the window frames. (This is so it isn’t bothering the people riding in the cars head space.)

Once you meticulously do step 2, then

In between sets longboarding in Hawaii

Step 3: Now with your 2 completely straightened straps, right above both vehicle window frames you must turn both straps, and on both sides of the vehicle, at a half twist. You need do this prior to inserting the strap into the metal knuckle. (If you don’t do this part of the process, once you hit 35mph and over, the straps rattle and buzz at an ultra high frequency and it is actually quite annoying, as well as distracting while you drive around.)

Step 4: Once you pull and tighten the straps, give the boards a final tug just to see how secure they really are.

And one last thing as far as how to strap your surf board is concerned,

Step 5: If there is any strap left over and dangling about, find a way to wrap it around something or just bring the excess back into the car.

Hope this long, drawn out blog was plenty informative for you and stay tuned for more “how to’s” in the future, presented by the team at OSE.

how to strap your surfboard and travel

THE END……. Oh and by the way…………………………………..

Don’t forget to  follow us on instagram  and for some more fun and adventure. Always remember; when you’re out here on the fabled north shore of Oahu (a.k.a. The Seven Mile Miracle), look up the team at  www.oahusurfingexperience.com . If you have the fortune of being able to hook up with the crew at OSE, you will most likely have your Hawai’i experience of a life time. They offer with great certainty, the best and safest  surfing lessons  that you will ever have available to you.  SUPing lessons  are another option they have on offer… but don’t hesitate for a second to inquire about their unique and exclusive  mermaid photo shoots  for mothers and daughters and young ladies alike, who wish to transform their daily land-loving life into a mystical memory of fantasy that will last for a life time.

how to strap your surfboard and go on a trip google it

wax remover best ever
By admin 22 Sep, 2019
Best wax remover As surfers, we must always remember to re-do our wax from time to time. Because eventually, your your wax becomes less effective. The post Best wax remover appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
places to eat in Haleiwa
25 Aug, 2019
favorite places to eat in Haleiwa Taking a vacation stroll through Historic Hale’iwa Town and not quite sure what sounds […]
best surf lessons
By admin 23 Jul, 2019
Best surf instructors Most definitely not cocky, but with out a second guess, we are most definitely confident in saying;
By admin 17 Jul, 2019
Things to do in Haleiwa  There are so many Things to do in Haleiwa and on the rest of the […] The post Things to do in Haleiwa  appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
north shore movies
By admin 08 Jul, 2019
Movies shot on the North Shore of Oahu The North shore of Oahu is such a famously recognizable and iconic places with Oahu Surfing Experience.
mermaid photoshoot
By admin 24 Feb, 2019
mermaid photo shoots Oahu mermaid experience If you weren’t born yesterday, you most likely have heard of mermaids… right? well we are your team here at Oahu Surfing Experience.
By admin 04 Feb, 2019
Five good reasons to take up surfing Five good reasons to take up surfing lessons with Oahu Surfing Experience. There […] The post Five good reasons to take up surfing appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
By admin 04 Nov, 2018
Great surf Hurricane Walaka Here at Oahu Surfing Experience presents to you, a photo blog recap of last months blessings we […] The post Great surf Hurricane Walaka  appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
By admin 22 Oct, 2018
kua aina the best burgers Aloha! Welcome to the legendary Burger and Sandwich restaurant from Hawaii. Are you wondering what […] The post kua aina the best burgers appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
By admin 15 Oct, 2018
  Summer training at Sandy Beach  Summer training at Sandy Beach was seriously not a joke. It might not have […] The post Summer training at Sandy Beach  appeared first on Oahu Surfing Experience.
More Posts
Share by: