Types of Surfboards
The word is full of people who like to geek out on certain things. Sneakers, collectible figurines, cars. Surfboard designs are our nerd juice. Surfing has evolved significantly since the ancient Polynesian carved their little slices of wave-riding paradise from wood. As surfing has changed, surfboard designs have diversified to suit various wave conditions and styles. Understanding the different shapes of surfboards can help surfers choose the right board for their skill level and the types of waves they intend to ride. Here’s a beginner’s guide to the main surfboard types, what they’re good for, and a little insight about each one.
The Longboard
The longboard is the original surfboard shape, tracing back to ancient Hawaii where boards were made from solid wood. Modern longboards gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, characterized by their considerable length and stability. Today, longboards can range from beginner soft-top versions, full performance models, nose-riding specialist boards, or the trusty ‘log’ surfboard, which is flat, big and made to trim like a dream.
While some people will tell you a longboard can be 8ft in length and up, most competition rule books start this surfboard designs’ street-legal length at 9ft.
Why Would You Surf A Longboard?
Longboards are perfect for beginners due to their stability and ease of paddling. They’re also favored by experienced surfers for their ability to glide smoothly on small to medium waves, making them ideal for classic, stylish maneuvers like nose riding and cross-stepping.
Surfboard Design:
Length: 9 to 12 feet
Width: Wide, typically around 22-24 inches
Thickness: Thick for buoyancy
Nose: Rounded
Tail: Wide and often rounded or squared
The Shortboard
Shortboards emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, revolutionizing surfing by allowing for more aggressive and radical maneuvers. They’re the most popular type of surfboard today, with the likes of Sharp Eye, Pyzel, DHD, …Lost, Rusty, JS, and many more rocking these as they’re main models. It’s what you’ll find every surfer on the WSL Championship Tour ride most of the time
Why Would You Surf A Shortboard?
Shortboards are designed for performance surfing. They allow for quick turns, airs, and threading through sneaky pits. They are less stable and harder to paddle, making them only suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Surfboard Design
Length: 5 to 7 feet
Width: Narrower than longboards, around 17-20 inches
Thickness: Typically 2-3 inches thick at most
Nose: Pointed
Tail: Variety of shapes, often squash, round, or swallow tail
The Fish
The fish surfboard originated in the early 1970s, developed by San Diego surfer Steve Lis. It became popular for its speed and maneuverability in smaller waves. They’re often experimental, with twin fins, quad fins, or various bottom curves. While these types of surfboards went dormant through the 80s, there was a huge resurgence in the 90s when Tom Curren busted out a 5’7’’ Tommy Peterson Fireball at huge Bawa in the iconic Rip Curl Search film Beyond the Boundaries. …Lost’s film 5’5’’ x 19 ¼ further cemented the craze and things have only gotten crazier since.
Why Would You Surf A Fish?
Fish boards are excellent for small to medium waves. They offer great speed and can perform well in conditions where shortboards might struggle. Their design allows for easy paddling and smooth, fast rides. They’re also just a whole lotta fun.
Surfboard Design
Length: 5 to 6 feet
Width: Wider, often 19-22 inches
Thickness: Thickish, providing buoyancy. They’ll often feature channel bottoms as well.
Nose: Wider than shortboards
Tail: Swallow tail, or sometimes a bat tail
The Funboard
The funboard is a hybrid design that emerged to bridge the gap between longboards and shortboards, offering the best of both worlds. Not quite technically a ‘fish’, they can range from things like Bars of Soap, to Mid Length Surfboards, which have become especially popular in recent years thanks to shapers like Chris Christenson.
Why Would You Surf A Funboard?
Fun, silly! Funboards are versatile and also great for surfers transitioning from longboards to shortboards. They are stable and easy to paddle, making them suitable for a wide range of wave conditions and skill levels.
Surfboard Design
Length: 5 to 8 feet
Width: Moderate, around 20-22 inches
Thickness: Medium thickness
Nose: Kind of anything you like really
Tail: Varied, often rounded, swallow or squash tail
The Mini Mal
The mini-malibu, or mini mal, is a shorter version of the longboard, combining elements of longboards and shortboards. They still have the rounded nose of a traditional longboard, but are easier to turn because of their reduced length and volume. They’re kind of like the OG fun board.
Why Would You Surf A Mini Mal?
Mini-mals are great for beginners and intermediate surfers. They offer stability and easy paddling like longboards but are more maneuverable. They work well in a variety of wave conditions.
Surfboard Design
Length: 7 to 8 feet
Width: Wide, similar to longboards
Thickness: Thick for stability
Nose: Rounded
Tail: Varied, often rounded or squash tail
The Gun Surfboard
Guns are designed for big wave surfing, developed originally in the 1950s and 1960s as surfers began tackling larger and more dangerous waves. Also called Rhino Chasers, they were mostly pioneered at places like Waimea Bay. Recently, guns have evolved to surf even big breaks, allowing people to paddle in at places like Jaws, which had only previously been tackled by tow in surfers.
Why Would You Surf A Gun?
Guns are specialized boards for big wave surfing. Their length and shape provide the stability and speed needed to handle powerful waves over 10 feet high. They are not suitable for small waves or beginners.
Surfboard Design
Length: 8 to 12 feet
Width: Narrower for their size, around 18-22 inches
Thickness: Varied, depending on the size of waves they are designed for
Nose: Pointed
Tail: Pintail for better control in big waves
The Step-Up Surfboard
Step up surfboards are basically halfway between a shortboard and a gun. Used most often in 6-8ft waves, they’re a few inches larger than your normal board, allowing for between paddle power and hold off the bottom. The DHD Sweet Spot is a good example of a step-up.
Why Would You Surf A Step Up?
As the name suggests, you’d ride a step up when the waves get bigger (but not too big that you need a rhino chaser gun). With a gun, you’re basically holding on with your toe nails and hoping to make the drop. With a step up, you’re looking to throw layback hammers like John John.
Surfboard Design
Length: 6 to 7 feet
Width: Medium, around 18-20 inches
Thickness: Medium – around 2.5-3’ inches
Nose: Pointed
Tail: Pintail or rounded pin for better control in big waves
Tow Surfboards
Tow surfboards emerged in the 1990s with the advent of tow-in surfing, a technique that allows surfers to catch waves that are too big, ledgy or fast to paddle into. This innovation is credited to big wave surfers like Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama, who sought to ride the massive waves of spots like Jaws in Maui and Teahupo’o in Tahiti.
Why Would You Surf A Tow Board?
Tow surfboards are specialized for riding extremely large, fast-moving waves that are nearly impossible to catch by paddling alone. They are designed for big waves or slab surfing where control and stability at high speeds are crucial. The use of foot straps helps surfers stay connected to the board in turbulent conditions, making these boards essential for tackling some of the most challenging waves in the world.
Surfboard Design
Length: 5 to 6ish feet
Width: Narrow, around 16-18 inches
Thickness: Thin for control and maneuverability, but glassed heavily for both strength and weight
Nose: Pointed for cutting through water at high speeds
Tail: Often pintail or rounded pin for maintaining control at high speeds
Other Features: Typically equipped with foot straps for stability during high-speed rides
Final Thoughts On Surfboard Designs
Choosing the right surfboard shape depends on your skill level, the type of waves you plan to surf, and your personal preferences. Whether you’re a beginner looking for stability or an experienced surfer seeking performance, there’s a surfboard design tailored to your needs. Understanding the history and functionality of each type can help you make an informed decision. Don’t be afraid to experiment. That’s all part of the fun.
