Surfboard Types and Uses

There are many different types and shapes of surfboards. A surfer’s ability and style of surfing determines what type of board they ride. This article takes you through the basics of board dimensions, the types and shapes of surfboards there are, what the rocker, fins, and tail shapes are, and what’s best for beginners.

The length, width, and depth of a surfboard greatly affect its or the surfer’s performance in the water.

Length

The length of the surfboard is very important. The longer the board the easier it is to paddle and to stand up on as it feels more stable under the surfer’s feet. Due to this extra stability, beginner’s generally started with a longer board. But that isn’t to say more advanced surfers always progress onto a shorter board. Longboard surfing practically has its own sub-culture, with its own professional surf scene, and is often associated with ‘soul surfing’. Longer boards are less maneuverable due to their length. Surfers who want to perform faster, more aggressive and aerial maneuvers tend to ride shorter surfboards.

Width

The width of the surfboard affects its buoyancy in the water and how stable the surfboard feels under feet. As with the length, the wider the board the more stability the surfboard will have.

Thickness

The depth or thickness of the surfboard determines how well it floats. The greater the floatation, the smoother the ride is and the easier it is to paddle. The heavier the surfer, the thicker the surfboard should ideally be.

Types of surfboard

Surfboards have evolved greatly over time. Historically, surfboards were made out of wood. Some still are. Modern surfboards have a styrofoam core coated in fiberglass and epoxy resin, which makes them lighter but not as durable as their predecessors.

1

Softboard (also called FoamBoard)

Designed specifically for beginners and younger surfers. Literally named as they are made of foam, which crucially makes them much more buoyant in the water and safer.

Ability: Beginners
Size range: 7'0" - 8'4"

Pros:
~ Ideal for learning to surf
~ Easily catches waves
~ Suitable for marginal/weak conditions

Cons:
~ Difficult to duck-dive
~ Not ideal for hollow or larger surf
~ Difficult to travel with

2

Shortboard

The most common surfboard used for contest-style surfing. It sacrifices paddling ease for speed, power, and control.

Ability: Intermediate~advanced surfers
Size range: 5’6″ to 6’4″ long and between 16″ and 19″ wide, often with a rounded square tail

Pros:
~ Maneuverable
~ Easy to duck dive
~ Lightweight

Cons:
~ Can be hard to generate speed in weaker waves
~ Only suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers
~ Easier to snap than most other boards

3

Fish

While the fish is a shortboard, it differs in that it has a wider, rounder nose, a wider mid-section width, and a ‘swallow tail’. They are designed to improve wave catching capability while maintaining speed and maneuvering performance — ideal for small to medium sized waves.

Ability: Intermediate~advanced surfers
Size range: 5’2″ and 6’4″ long and between 18″ and 22″ wide

Pros:
~ Catch waves easily
~ Performs well in weak/small surf
~ Thick boards like a fish don't snap as easily

Cons:
~ Only suitable for intermediate+ surfers
~ Not suited for hollow or large waves
~ Not as performance orientated as a shortboard

4

Hybrid

Primarily a shortboard, this intermediate level board is mixed together with the characteristics of a minimal to provide the perfect bridge between a softboard and a shortboard.

Ability: Progressing beginners to intermediate-advanced riders
Size range: 6'6" - 8'4"

Pros:
~ Suitable for larger surfers
~ Performs well in most conditions
~ Great alternative to a shortboard

Cons:
~ Harder to duck dive due to the increased volume
~ Not ideal in hollow waves

5

Longboard

Longboards are much more stable in the water, easier to paddle, and great for catching smaller waves — making them the ideal surfboard to learn on. They generally only have one large fin.

There is a great deal of style attached to riding a longboard.

Ability: Beginners - advanced
Size range: 9'0" - 12'0"

Pros:
~ Ideal for learning
~ Easily catches waves
~ Performs well in weak, small surf
~ Excellent re-sale value

Cons:
~ Hard to duck-dive
~ Not suited for hollow surf
~ Difficult to travel with

6

Gun

The gun is long, narrow, and has a pointy nose and tail. They are specifically designed for big wave surfing and more powerful, steeper waves. Because of their shape, they are easier and faster to paddle and easier to control on the steeper wave faces.

The name derives from the term ‘elephant gun’, meaning the surfboard is the surfer’s gun for hunting down big waves.

Ability: Advanced +
Size range: 7'0" - 12'0"

Pros:
~ Ideal for catching huge waves

Cons:
~ Difficult to duck dive
~ Difficult to travel with
~ Only suitable for huge waves

7

Bodyboard (Boogie Board)

Bodyboards are small, more rectangular boards you lay on rather than stand on. Used by a variety of age groups, they are a popular, and safer choice for families and children playing in small waves, or at crowded beaches. They can be very cheap and are a lot of fun.

Ability: Beginners - advanced
Size range: 38″ - 46″

8

'SUP' (STAND UP PADDLEBOARD)

SUP's don’t require waves to have fun on. In fact, a piece of open water like a lake offers the perfect place to get the basics before taking to the surf.

Ability: Advanced +
Size range: 7'0" - 12'0"

Pros:
~ Ideal for small conditions
~ Catch waves before any surfer

Cons:
~ Impossible to duck dive
~ Hard to travel with

Tail

The rear-end of the surfboard. There are many different shapes of tail — often experimented with in surfboard design for their performance in the water.

Nose

The front-end of the surfboard. Much like the tail, the nose comes in different shapes. Shorter boards tend to have sharper nose whereas longer boards have a round one.

Fins (Skegs)

The fin is the curved bit hanging down from the bottom of the surfboard near the tail. They give the surfboard directional stability on the face of the wave enabling turns and tricks.

Rocker

The rocker refers to the bottom curve of the surfboard. The rocker is adjusted to enhance factors such as speed or maneuverability.

Surfboard wax

Typically surf wax products look like a bar of soap. Surfers use surf wax to provide grip on the surface of their surfboard. The wax is applied by being rubbed over the top deck of a surfboard. The friction this creates melts the wax into tiny bumps, providing grip for a surfer’s feet on an otherwise slippery surface in the water.

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Surfboard Types and Uses

Dimensions of a surfboard

The length, width, and depth of a surfboard greatly affect its or the surfer’s performance in the water.

Length

Width

Thickness

Types of surfboard

Surfboards have evolved greatly over time. Historically, surfboards were made out of wood. Some still are. Modern surfboards have a styrofoam core coated in fiberglass and epoxy resin, which makes them lighter but not as durable as their predecessors.

1

Softboard (also called FoamBoard)

2

Shortboard

3

Fish

4

Hybrid

5

Longboard

6

Gun

7

Bodyboard (Boogie Board)

8

'SUP' (STAND UP PADDLEBOARD)

Surfboard makeup

To explain some common terminology:

Tail

Nose

Fins (Skegs)

Rocker

Surfboard wax

YouTube
Tutorial

Find out more about world's best Surf Spots!

Surfboard Types and Uses

Dimensions of a surfboard

The length, width, and depth of a surfboard greatly affect its or the surfer’s performance in the water.

Length

Width

Thickness

Types of surfboard

Surfboards have evolved greatly over time. Historically, surfboards were made out of wood. Some still are. Modern surfboards have a styrofoam core coated in fiberglass and epoxy resin, which makes them lighter but not as durable as their predecessors.

1

Softboard (also called FoamBoard)

2

Shortboard

3

Fish

4

Hybrid

5

Longboard

6

Gun

7

Bodyboard (Boogie Board)

8

'SUP' (STAND UP PADDLEBOARD)

Surfboard makeup

To explain some common terminology:

Tail

Nose

Fins (Skegs)﻿

Rocker

Surfboard wax

YouTubeTutorial

Find out more about world's best Surf Spots!

Fins (Skegs)

YouTube
Tutorial