Twenty years ago, Bruce Brown released Endless Summer II, the sequel to the original classic where young men tramped the world in search of the perfect wave. Today, more people in more places are in search of the perfect board, something U.S. manufacturers are helping put together …

FOAM BLANK:

The guts of the board has developed into the likes of Oceanside, Calif., blank maker Arctic Foam’s lightweight polyurethane that has found popularity in the burgeoning surf market on the Iberian Peninsula, current home to the largest wave (80 feet) ever ridden.

FIBERGLASS CLOTH:

Don’t think surfboards have come a long way since Gidget? The same fiberglass Fiberglass Source of Oceanside sells to shapers it sells to aerospace and the military.

WAX:

Bumper stickers may suggest Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax is the big seller but Carlsbad, Calif.-based Wax Research sells more than half of all surf wax sold internationally—28 countries—including China and Russia. Cowabunga, Comrade!

FINS:

Started by two brothers with engineering backgrounds, FCS has gained a reputation for producing innovative and technologically advanced fins, which explains its huge presence in its birthplace: surfing hotbed Australia.

LEASHES:

Originally derided as a “kook cord,” leashes made by the likes of Hood River, Ore.’s Dakine have become standard gear and is credited, or despised, for making it easier for surfers around the world to take up the sport.
RESIN: Most surfboards have three layers of differing resin, which is why an industry leader such as San Diego-based Wahoo International offers laminating, sanding, clear casting and gloss resins, distributing them in 23 foreign markets. Check them out at Surf Shop Dubai!

GRIP PAD:

These not only help hold you to the board but have become something of a fashion statement. It’s a testament to the sport’s international reach that you can dig your toes into the images of such global icons as Bob Marley, Bruce Lee and Che Guevara.