What is a Balance Board?

Balance Board Components

Used on a dry flat surface, a balance board is a board used by a rider in the recreational sport of
balance boarding and or multi-sport training for static (stationary) and dynamic (in motion)
balance recovery skills, rehab, injury prevention and physical therapy.

Balance equipment that doesn't span or roll over a fixed fulcrum (rock), in motion under the deck
like a balance board are wobble boards, teeter boards or rocker boards. These balance training
tools are static balance training and rehab devices, not balance boards.

Balance Board Composition: The Vew-Do Balance Board has three main components; the riding
deck, a round tapered fulcrum (rock) and a rail system that guides the board over the rock and
helps maintain the rider's position on the board. The riding deck independently sits atop the
fulcrum (rock). The board can then multi-directionally span the fulcrum (rock) underneath the deck
when activated by specific body movements of the rider.

Today's Vew-Do Balance Board is still manufactured primarily of wood; just like many other board
sport products including skateboards and snowboards. The deck is generally made from 7 or 9 ply
zero-void Canadian maple (depending on the model and intended use) laminated in a criss-cross
pattern to prevent warping. The decks are either flat or concave and mimic some of the design
characteristics of snowboards and skateboards.

Although some manufacturers use other materials, hardwood decks are more desirable because of
the performance capabilities for the riders. Wood decks have the ability to flex and pop like a
skateboard or a snowboard when performing tricks, stunts and for overall performance regardless
of use. Depending on the model, the top of the deck where the rider places their feet is covered
with grip tape or a sandpaper-like finish for traction.

Vew-Do uses two types of sub-decks (bottom of the board) all of which have grip tape to maintain
optimal friction between the deck and the rock. The 9-ply boards are geared towards recreational,
strength and fitness users and sit directly atop the rock, while the 7-ply boards use an addition
bomb-proof molded sub-deck for added height and durability. Performance balance boarding and
high-performance users require the extra height and strength to achieve maximum air-time and
the ability to absorb high impact landings and maneuverability on the rock.

The fulcrum, which as you now know is commonly referred to as the rock, is precision turned from
a solid piece of hardwood. Although Vew-Do has used a variety of materials over the years for its
rocks, solid hardwood is the only material that is durable enough to maintains its roundness,
survive high impact balance boarding during extreme and maintain a high level of performance.

How does it Work?

When the rider activates the Vew-Do Balance Board with movement, the board continuously
disrupts your center of balance using dynamic and multi-directional motion. This puts you in
"balance recovery" mode and forces you to use and develop all three of your body's balance
systems.
As you achieve a higher skill progression, you're body will store this information as muscle
memory. In reality, it's really an "unbalance" board. That's because the skill enhancement for
balance recovery is gained by disrupting your balance or base of support (BOS). Balance training is
training to go from an unbalanced state back to a balanced state.

In addition to improving balance recovery skills, proprioception and other benefits, balance boards
also add physical conditioning, strengthening of muscles, tendons and ligaments, calorie burning
and enjoyment to your training routine.