Turn On It, Tune Out, Drop In

SE WIND 10 KT...BACKING TO E.
WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
MIXED SWELL SW 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS AND S 2 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
TONIGHT NE WIND 5 KT...BACKING TO N AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
MIXED SWELL W 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS AND S 2 FT AT 15 SECONDS.

Most rails in use today represent some variation of the down rail. This type of rail best suits the modern surfboard, as the soft, round part of the rail grants holding power in turns. The drag and suction of the water wrapping around the rails keep the board from spinning out easily. The tucked-under bottom edge enables the board to plane faster when driving down the line, as the water flow off of the bottom has a harder time bending over and around the firm edge; it releases straight off at that point, thereby reducing drag.

An over-simplified primer on rail shapes would probably contain these main premises: the lower and harder a rail is, the faster and stiffer it will be. The softer and rounder, the slower and more neutral-handling it'll be. Fuller, boxier rails are harder to sink, so have more potential for leverage. Thinner, tapered rails sink easily, but with less stored energy, are not as likely to leap out of turns.

Naturally, there are many examples of hybrids and compromise applications of the above-named rail types that can be exploited for specific board designs...

SURFERMAG.COM: In a recent Surfer Magazine Interview, Gerry Lopez credited you completely with the invention of the down-rail and called it “the most significant step in modern shortboard evolution.” He basically credited you with a design innovation that, it can be argued, is more important than Simon Anderson’s thruster.

MICHAEL HYNSON: Well, that was awfully nice of him (head down, visibly moved by Lopez’s compliment). Yea, I mean, after riding it, I just can’t imagine a surfboard made any other way. It still amazes me that Joel Tudor can take out anything, some 1955 era slug, and ride it just like he’s riding something modern. He makes you think, “what’s the big deal?” But when you go out and try to do it yourself, it’s a whole different story. I can’t get one of those things to go left or right. I get tired just thinking about it. You can’t get it to turn when you want it to and then it’ll turn when you don’t want it too (laughs).