The Goofboard classic was created by a surfer looking to develop a balance training device that felt more similar to surfing because he was unsatisfied with the performance of traditional balance boards.

He discovered that placing a roller parallel to the balance board deck created asurfing trainer that helps recreate the feeling of actually surfing.

These parallel roller boards will contribute to developing the heel to toe balance skills that you need for surfing, stand up paddleboarding and other board sports.

Parts of this guide.

An Introduction to goof boards products.

What balance board would be the best for you depending on your goals.

How to get started using the goof board

Diy balance boards vs. the goofboard.

Additional resources.

gOOFBOARDS BALANCE BOARD LINE UP.

Goofboard recently made an upgrade to their goofboard classic board, the newer version of the board comes with U-blocks that clip into the bottom of the deck as well as the roller.

The U-blocks allow a safer way to get started developing your heel to toe balance skills than starting off with using the board with the roller.

I like the U-block system because it lets you safely and progressively work on developing more advanced balance skills.

For example, if you want to work on getting better at cross stepping you can master it first with the U-blocks than move on to cross stepping with the roller with your hand on a wall for support than finally working on cross stepping without touching the wall.

It looks like goofboard dropped the freestyle board from their line up but replaced it with the axis.

I will continue to update this guide as they release their new boards. (Last update 1/24/18)

The Updated Goofboard Classic Dimensions

Classic Board 44” x 15” or  112cm x 38cm

Roller is 37” x 4” or  94cm x 10cm

Weight limit  450 lbs. or 204k

Comes with U-blocks that lift the board 2 inches from the ground.

The Goofboard Axis Dimensions

The axis is 32 inches long 14.5 inches wide the roller is 27 inches long and has a 5-inch diameter.

It also comes with U-blocks that lift the board 2 inches from the ground.

Gooofboard classic vs the axis

What are the differences?

The axis allows you to move the position of the roller, so you ride the board rail to rail and side to side.

This board is also shorter than the classics by  12 inches.

If you remove the stopper from the bottom of the board, you can practice rotations which are useful for getting better at moves like the bottom turn.

What is similar about both these boards?

Both these boards come with the u-block system that will allow you to gradually work your way up to using the board with the roller.

Both boards  allow you to work on your heel to toe balance skills.

What board would be better for you?

If you are looking for a board to primarily work on your board walking skills you should stick with this classic because it will give you much more room to practice your footwork.

The axis board would be good for you if want the added ability of being able to use the board like a traditional balance board side and do not mind having less room to practice board walking skills.

THE GOOFBOARD IN USE.

This video also shows the new U-block system.

Part 2. What balance board would be the best for you?

The Goofboard for beginner surfers and suping and intermediate to advanced level longboarders.

I think the goofboard classic would be the best choice balance board for people that fall into these categories.

The goofboard classic is ideal for beginner surfers or SUPers that need to learn to develop their heel to toe balance skills to help with surfing or suping fundamentals like standing on the board and learning to carve the board before they can move on to more advanced maneuvers such as the bottom turn and cutback.

The Goofboard classic is good for intermediate and higher level longboarders because it will allow you to progressively challenge yourself with new footwork dills on land.

The Goofboard for intermediate or advanced level short board surfers.

Goofboards are ideal for beginner surfers, long boarding and stand up paddle boarding but it might not be the best choice if you are at an intermediate to an advanced level short boarding surfer.

Once you get to an intermediate or higher level, you have to make a decision on what type of skills you want to develop to continue work on to get better at surfing.

Some of the areas you can focus on improving are board walking skills, turns/maneuvers, aerials or general balance skills.

While the goofboard is your best choice for developing board walking skills and general heel to toe balance skills, there are better options of surf trainers if you want to work on developing your maneuvers.

If you want to work on improving performance in surfing maneuvers, it would be best to have a surfing trainer that allows you to replicate the exact movement pattern of the maneuver that you're trying to improve so you can get it ingrained into your muscle memory.  

Check out my balance training guide to short board surfing for more information about products that will allow you work on developing these advanced surfing skills.

The Goofboard Axis for casual balance training or fitness.

Despite being heavily marketed to surfers, the Goofboard axis is an excellent balance board for casual users for many reasons.

They are a lot of fun to use while still being challenging at the same time, unlike other balance boards that can just feel like a workout.

The Axis lets you use the board in the rail to rail or or side to side position.

The new U-blocks allow you ease into balance training.

They don't sit up as high in the air as other some other balance boards, so you will not take as hard as fall if you lose your balance.

The board is less likely to shoot out from you due to the stoppers at the ends of the board.

A board shooting out can not only cause you to take a hard fall it can launch the board like a projectile and damage your property or injure bystanders.

The goofboard classic or axis for fitness

These boards will not be your best choice if you are looking for a board to use for general balance training and workouts.

For general fitness, I recommend using a larger size board that you can use with a stability cushion as well as with a roller.

Larger size board will allow you practice a wider variety of exercises.

I also don't recommend using free weight with a balance board deck on a roller I think it is much safer to use a stability pad placed under the board.

Indo board makes some ideal board for fitness, and general balance training for more information check out my guide to indo boards.

The Goofboard classic or axis for snowboarding and skateboarding.

You can use the goofboard classic to help improve your heel to toe carving skills and overall balance, but I think there are better skateboard and snowboard trainers out there that were designed specifically for the needs of skaters and snowboards.

Check out my guide to balance trainingfor street skateboarding I cover what the best skate trainers for depending on what type of skills you want to work on such as ollies, flipping tricks, manuals, grinds and more.

Check out my guide to balance and cross training for snowboarding I cover trainers that are better suited for the types of skills used in snowboarding such as aerials, jibbing, turning and more.

With all that being said Goofboards can help snowboarders and skateboarders out by improve their skills, but not as much as some other products.

 The Goofboard Classic for longboard skateboarding.

I think a goofboard would be a good choice for longboard skateboarders that are more interested in tricks that involve footwork than flipping tricks, slides, and downhill because most of the longboard dancing skills can be practiced on a goofboard.

Additionally using the goofboard will build strength in your ankles, this will help to improve your longboard footwork.

If you are into other types of longboarding check out my balance training guide to longboard skateboarding to see other longboard skate trainers that would be better to help you improve your performance.

Tip-Look up longboard dancing videos for ideas of moves you can practice on the goofboard

Part 3: geTTING STARTED USING THE goofboard

Getting started using the goofboard in now easier than ever due to the new U-blocks.

If you are new to balance training, you should spend some time developing your heel to toe balance skills befoe you move on to using the board with the roller help avoid taking a lot of falls during the initial learning process.

Check out my balance board safety guide to learn some more tips to help avoid balance board injures

Tips for using the goofboard

Keep your knees and hips slightly bent, if you feel like you are going to fall try pulling your hips back similar to doing a squat to catch your balance.

Your arms play a significant role in staying balanced experiment with putting your arms in different positions to find what works for you. For example, try keeping your arms over your head or have each arm positioned over the rails of the board.

Try not to look at your feet too much because your head position also plays a major role in staying balanced. Your body will end up following where your head is so to try and maintain good posture.

Surround yourself with pillows, couch cushions or crash pads to help ease the impact of taking a fall.

Use the board near a wall or folding chair, so you have something to grab onto if you feel like you are going to fall.

Check your surrounding before you use the board make sure there are no sharp corners you can hit your head on around you.

How to progressively work your way up to doing more challenging moves with the roller.

First, pick a skill you want to work on then follow these steps

1. use the board with the U-blocks with your hands on the wall to help with your balance

2.  Continue to use the U-blocks but remove your hands from the wall

3. Switch to the roller and use your hand on the wall for support again.

4. Using the roller without using your hands on the wall on think carpet (this will slow down the board)

5. Use the roller without using your hand on the wall on a smooth hard surface.

Video example of the types of skills you can work on after you have mastered the basics of using the board.

Cross stepping and Hanging 5

How to get better at your pop up.

Part 4: To Buy or Build a surf balance trainer?

It is not that complicated to build something that functions somewhat like a goofboard all you need is some plywood with some rails under it and a pipe.

If you are the do it yourself type and already have some scrap wood, something suitable to use as a roller and the wood working tools needed to build it you could save some money doing so.

 If you do not already have these things or can't acquire them for free, you will not save all that much money building your own.

The goofboard classic was the only product goofboard was producing for awhile, and from the looks of it, they spent a lot of time refining it to get it where it is today especially now that they have added the U-blocks.

A diy goof board is not going to be quite like the real thing, and it's just not going to be the same performance wise as a professional built one.  

My experience with my diy goofboard

Guide to learn how to build your own goofboard.

What I liked about my diy surfing trainer.

It can be cheaper than agoofboard, the one I built cost me almost nothing because I already had the tools and supplies needed to make it. I did spend some money to experiment with different types of rollers.

It somewhat replicates the performance of a Goofboard classic but I guess it is a lot more twitchy.

 It's enjoyable to use but also very challenging.

It has slightly improved my performance in surfing and skateboarding.

 Please note I am at a beginner skill level at both those things.

What I don't like about my DIY surf trainer.

It is ugly.

The rails of the board can damage the carpet.

I have to wear shoes while using it to avoid splinters on my feet. I have a few ideas on how to solve this problem, but none of them are as fast as putting my shoes on, so I haven't gotten around to fixing this issue yet.

Finding a suitable roller for your skill level can be a pain. You can not ease into learning how to use the board like you can with new U-blocks feature on the goofboard classic.

My experiences using the board with different types of rollers.

The board was very twitchy and hard to use when I was using the 2in black pipe.

I then moved on to a 4in PVC pipe this slowed the board down a bit but the board slid around on the PVC pipe.

I then put duct tape on the bottom of the board and the PVC pipe, that stopped the board from sliding around, but now the board doesn't roll as smoothly on the pipe.

I also experimented with thick cardboard tubes, they worked well for awhile, but eventually, they became deformed and stopped working.

 My experience on a do it yourself goofboard vs a do it yourself rocker balance board.

 Before I built a diy goofboard I was using a simple diy balance board consisting of a plank of wood and a 2-liter bottle ( check video if you want an example).

The only moves that I felt were safe to do on that plank of wood and 2-liter balance board were standing, rocking side to side and squatting I would not recommend this type of balance board it was not fun to use and felt very dangerous.

 I found out the type of balance skills I was developing using the plank of wood and 2- liter was not all that useful for surfing or using a goofboard.

 When I first got on my diy goofboardI realized none of the balance skills I learned on the traditional style balance board transferred to the goofboard it was an entirely different experience riding the goofboard for me.

If you are into board sports, you should not waste your time using traditional balance boards because there will not be much transfer of skills, you need a trainer that will allow you to work on your heel to toe balance.

Additional resources

My guide to longboard surfing balance and cross training.

This site has a playlist of longboard dancing moves that you can use to help give you some ideas of things to practice on the goofboard.

Take your balance and surfing skills to the next level with one of Goofboards products below..

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