Surfboard guide: How to find the right surfboard?

In addition to the right wetsuit and surfing accessories, the right surfboard is crucial for maximum fun in the waves.

But the choice of surfboards is huge:

Depending on the shape, size, volume, fin setup and the shape of the nose, tail and rocker, the surfing behavior in the waves differs.

The best is yet to come:

Find out everything you need to know about surfboards in this article. You’re guaranteed to find the right surfboard!

Surfboard shapes

Choosing the right surfboard depends on many factors. The first question is the right surfboard shape.

Each shape has different characteristics in terms of buoyancy, stability, maneuverability and speed of the surfboard.

What do the properties say about surfing behavior?

• Buoyancy = how easy it is to get a wave.
• Stability = how stable the board remains when paddling and surfing.
• Maneuverability = how agile the board is on the water.
• Speed = speed when paddling and maneuvering on the wave.

Which shape is right for you depends on your surfing skills and which waves you want to jump into the water on.

Surfboards for beginners

Surfboards that are suitable for beginners:

• Softboards
• Malibus
• Minimalibus

Softboards

Softboards are the surfboards that most people use to try surfing for the first time and learn to surf. They are large, have a soft surface, a lot of volume and fewer sharp fins.

• Size: approx. 5″5 and 8″5
• Shafts: Small / Medium
• Level: Beginner

Even though many surfers want to leave the softie phase behind them as quickly as possible, softboards can be a hell of a lot of fun on days with small waves!

The advantages and disadvantages of softboards at a glance:

• great for paddle boards for beginners to paddle and stand up the first waves
• Very low risk of injury
• Very high stability and buoyancy
• bulky to carry and more difficult to transport
• not suitable for larger waves
• Low maneuverability

Conclusion: Softboards are perfect for children, beginners and surfers looking to get back on the board after an injury.

Malibu & Minimalibu

A Malibu is the ideal beginner board after the softboard phase. It is around 8’0 feet long, relatively wide and thick. Thanks to the large volume, small waves are very easy to paddle and stand on. With a round nose and tail, it is also very stable in the water and thus compensates for wobbly take-offs and ‘riding errors’.

• Size: approx. 7″ – 8″
• Shafts: Small / Medium
• Level: advanced beginners

A Minimalibu – also affectionately known as a ‘Mini-Mal’ – is similar in design to a Malibu with the difference that it is slightly smaller (between 7’0 and 8’0 feet). The rocker is only slightly pronounced, which makes the board easier to planing.

The advantages and disadvantages of Malibus and Minimalibus at a glance:

• high stability, enables easy gliding of a shaft
• lots of buoyancy, requires less effort when paddling
• not very maneuverable, difficult to duck dive
• bulky to carry and more difficult to transport

Conclusion: Malibus and Minimalibus are great for advanced beginners and guarantee fun for small to medium waves! The length of the surfboard is less important than the shape of the nose and tail, as well as the surfboard width. A narrow 7’4 Minimalibu will be harder to surf than a wide 6’8.

Surfboards for advanced surfers

Surfboards that are suitable for advanced surfers:

• Funboards
• Fish
• Egg

Funboard

Funboards – often referred to as evolution boards – are the perfect intermediate stage on the way from mini mal to shortboard with a length of 6’8 to 7’6 feet.

• Size: approx. 6″ – 8″
• Shafts: Small / Medium
• Level: Beginner / Advanced

Funboards have a less voluminous nose when reviewed against the Malibu/Mini-Malibu. This enables sharper turns and more precise control.

Egg boards are also very popular. They have a very similar shape to funboards, but are slightly shorter and quite wide.

The advantages and disadvantages of Egg and Funboards at a glance:

• more maneuverable than a Malibu
• more stable than a shortboard
• Duck dives (diving under a wave) are possible
• less fast and maneuverable than a shortboard
• heavier to transport than a fish or shortboard

Conclusion: Funboards can still be surfed quite easily in small waves due to their relatively high volume. But even in medium-sized waves, surfers still have a lot of fun thanks to its greater maneuverability.

Fish

A fish is suitable for surfers who already have some experience. It is similar in size to a shortboard, but has a significantly higher volume and therefore more buoyancy.

• Size: approx. 4″5 – 7″
• Shafts: Small / Medium
• Level: Advanced / Professional

The high volume makes it easier to catch waves than with a classic shortboard. At the same time, the shape offers high maneuverability.

In big waves (overhead high), however, it is not as powerful as a shortboard.

The advantages and disadvantages of fish boards at a glance:

• more volume than a shortboard, waves can be planed with less effort
• more responsive and maneuverable than a funboard
• more stable than a shortboard
• Duck dives (diving under a wave) are possible
• less responsive than a shortboard
• forgives fewer mistakes than a funboard

Conclusion: A fish or hybrid is suitable for surfing small to medium-sized waves and is the ideal board as a transition from fun to shortboard!

Surfboards for professionals

Surfboards that are suitable for professionals:

• Shortboard
• Gun (Big Wave Surfboard)
• Longboard

Shortboard

Shortboards are short (5’6-6’9″), have little volume, a tapered nose and a pronounced nose rocker. They are easy to handle, light and very agile.

• Size: approx. 5″ – 6″
• Shafts: Medium / Large
• Level: Advanced / Professional

The short boards are a lot of fun, but also very demanding to handle. They are best suited for radical maneuvers in medium to large waves. At the same time, shortboards forgive very few mistakes when paddling and maneuvering.

On the other hand, advanced surfers with shortboards have less fun in waves that are too small and/or round.

The advantages and disadvantages of shortboards at a glance:

• Very high maneuverability and manoeuvrability
• radical surf tricks and maneuvers possible (e.g. floater, 360, air tricks)
• higher speed than a fish or fun board
• Duck dives (diving under a wave) are very easy to do
• little buoyancy, requires more effort when paddling
• unstable during take-off and demanding in handling
• Not suitable for small waves

Conclusion: Shortboards are demanding boards for experienced surfers. Go for a shortboard if you already have enough surfing experience with fish or fun boards, for example, and are looking for a new challenge.

Gun

Guns are special surfboards that are surfed in big waves. Thanks to their extremely narrow width and a length of 7’0 to 12’0 feet, they reach enormous speeds.

• Size: 7″ and larger
• Waves: Large / Monstrous
• Level: Professional

The advantages and disadvantages of Guns at a glance:

• achieves enormously high speeds
• High stability and buoyancy
• only suitable for big waves

Conclusion: Are you looking for the extreme and want to surf 5m, 10m or even 20m high waves? A gun shape is the board of your choice!

Longboard

Longboards are up to 12′ feet long and are suitable for relaxed cruising and special longboard moves (e.g. noserides, cross steps, hang five, hang ten). They are usually surfed as a single fin.

• Size: 8″ and larger
• Waves: Small
• Level: Advanced / Professional

Although it is very easy to catch small waves due to their size, they are not beginner boards:

Longboards require a lot of physical effort to set the somewhat sluggish boards with their round, voluminous noses in motion and to initiate turns. And getting into the line-up is not always easy.

The advantages and disadvantages of longboards at a glance:

• Very high buoyancy and high stability
• Maneuvers such as noseride, cross steps and hang five are possible
• Low maneuverability and sluggish
• Due to the length, transportation is usually very time-consuming and needs to be well thought out

Conclusion: Longboards are suitable for relaxed cruising and fancy longboard maneuvers in small to medium-sized waves.

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Surfboard construction

These properties are important

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In addition to the shape, the following features in particular have a direct influence on surfing behavior:

• Nose,
• Tail,
• Rocker,
• Finns,
• Size,
• Volume and
• Material.

Note: Surfboards with the same shape can still differ greatly in structure, size, volume and material.

PRO-TIP: Not every surf store has salespeople who know their way around surfboards. You should therefore familiarize yourself with the various features and their effects on surfing behaviour beforehand.

Nose

The front tip of the board is called the nose. Depending on the shape of the board, this can be very pointed (pointed nose), rounded (pointed round nose) or completely round (rounded nose).

An overview of the different nose types:

• Rounded nose: completely round, always found on beginner boards.
• Pointed Round Nose: rounded and pointed.
• Pointed nose: very pointed, usually found on shortboards.

The rounder the nose, the easier it is to handle:

• more buoyancy and stability,
• easier paddling and planing.

The more pointed the nose, the more demanding the handling:

• more agility and maneuverability,
• Increased speed during maneuvers.

Tail

The rear end of the board is called the tail. The surfing behavior changes significantly depending on the width of the tail and the shape of the corners.

The different tail shapes at a glance:

• Pin: runs pin pointed, i.e. pointed together, is less stable, but ensures maximum speed, grip and control. Well suited for fast and steep waves, mainly used for guns.
• Round: Combination of pin and squash, less stable than squash tails, but faster and very good maneuverability. Well suited for fast and steep waves.
• Square: wide tail with pointed edges, provides tipping stability with simultaneous maneuverability.
• Squash: rounded square, very common on shortboards, provides stability and speed for radical turns.
• Swallow: Swallowtail/V-shaped, offers a lot of lift, brakes quickly, gives strong grip and good control during turns. Well suited for small and powerless waves.

The wider the tail is:

• the larger the contact surface,
• all the more buoyancy and
• the easier and faster it is to plane small and medium-sized waves.

The narrower and more pointed the tail is:

• the more control and tipping stability in steeper waves and
• all the more resistance in powerless smaller waves.

The edgier the tail is:

• the higher the agility and maneuverability.

Rail

The sides of the board are called rails. A distinction is made between hard and soft rails:

The edgier and sharper the rails:

• the more grip they offer in steep, fast waves.

The rounder and thicker the rails:

• the better the support in smaller, rounded and rather powerless waves.

The center of gravity of the rails (the apex) determines how much the rails dig into the water.

Rocker

The rocker (also known as the rocker scoop line) refers to the bend of the board.

If you look at the board lying on the ground from the side, the nose rocker tells you how far the nose is up from the ground and the tail rocker … right?

The strength of the bend gives the board different riding characteristics:

Flat rocker boards are almost straight. They offer less flow resistance and glide faster in the wave.

In steep waves, however, boards with flat rocker tend to nosedive more quickly and are somewhat less maneuverable.

Full rocker boards glide more slowly and are more difficult to paddle due to their small contact surface.

In steep waves, boards with full rocker are more stable and easier to maneuver. They allow tighter turns and nosedives are less frequent.

Stringer

The stringer is a thin wooden connecting strip and forms the “backbone” of the surfboard. It runs through the center of the board, from the nose to the tail.

The stringer serves to reinforce the board so that it does not break apart. Some (epoxy) boards also work without stringers.

Finns

Fins are attached to the tail on the underside of the board (bottom) and are used for steering.

• Single fins are mainly found on longboards. They give the surfboard plenty of support and stability. Radical turns, on the other hand, are more difficult.
• Twin fins are suitable for very tight turns and for pushing at higher speeds. Due to the lower resistance, however, long powerful maneuvers are more difficult.
• Thruster fins (three fins) are the most commonly used and surfed. They are versatile and combine the best of stability and maneuverability. The center fin prevents the tail from breaking out easily.
• Quad fins reach a high speed when pushing and are less prone to breaking out than twin fins or thrusters. On the other hand, radical maneuvers such as snaps or tight cut backs (due to the higher resistance in the water) are more difficult.

Did you know? The top dog among fin manufacturers is FCS. FCS fins have become an integral part of modern surfing.

Size

The size of surfboards is usually given in feet (feet) and inches (inches):

• One foot (ft.) = 12 inches (in.) = 30.48 cm

There are usually three dimensions indicated on the surfboards:

1. the length of the surfboard in feet,
2. the width of the widest point in inches,
3. and the board thickness.

1 The longer the surfboard, the more speed:

Long boards reach high speeds when surfing straight ahead. At the same time, waves can be paddled much earlier and more easily.

2 The wider the surfboard, the more stability:

The more contact surface a surfboard has, the more stable it is on the water. Smaller and less powerful waves are easier to surf.

3 The thicker the surfboard, the more speed but less maneuverability:

The thicker a surfboard is, the more volume it has. A lot of volume means that waves can be paddled faster and easier. On the other hand, the board loses maneuverability with increasing thickness. It is slower to maneuver.

Pro tip: The optimum surfboard size should always be chosen with your own body size in mind.

Surfboards for beginners should be at least 30-50 cm longer than you are.

Volume

The volume of surfboards, expressed in liters, determines the static buoyancy.

As a rule of thumb, the longer, wider and thicker a board is, the more volume it has.

But be careful: two surfboards can have exactly the same dimensions and still have different volumes.

The reason for the different volumes is that the width and thickness of the surfboard is only measured at the widest and thickest points. However, the two boards have different dimensions towards the nose and tail.

More volume means more buoyancy and stability when surfing.

• The ⌀ volume of shortboards is between 25 – 35 liters.
• The ⌀ volume of fish and funboards is between 35 – 50 liters.
• The ⌀ volume of longboards is between 60 – 100 liters.

Why is “lots of volume” important for beginners?

Plenty of volume guarantees quick success and a high wave rate. At the same time, plenty of buoyancy makes paddling and planing waves easier.

The reverse is also true:

The less volume a surfboard has, the more sensitive it is to movement. This makes the board more agile and maneuverable, but at the same time less forgiving when paddling and surfing.

Leash

The leash is attached to the board (on the leash plug) and to the leg and prevents the board from drifting too far away from you after a wipe-out and can be reached again quickly.

To ensure that the board is not too far away after a fall, the leash should be about as long as the surfboard itself.

Check the leash regularly for damage.

The belt stretches over time due to the heavy use. If the leash becomes too long or tears, replace it immediately.

If the leash breaks during a surf session, this is not only annoying, but can also be dangerous.

Important: Always make sure that the leash has no cuts, that the swivel joint can rotate freely and that the Velcro fastener on the board and leg is always securely fastened!

By the way: A pad is often glued to the deck above the leash plug (also known as a deck pad or traction pad). Pads increase stability and are preferred by many surfers over surf wax.

Material

Surfboards are traditionally made from polyester or epoxy resin. These materials are relatively inexpensive and easy to work with; boards made of polyester can compensate for unevenness in the wave well and have enough ‘flex’ for radical maneuvers.

The disadvantage of polyester boards is that they are quite sensitive. Even a slight knock, e.g. during transportation, can cause deep dents (so-called dings). Time-consuming and sometimes expensive repairs are the result.

If dings are not repaired in time, the core (usually made of polyurethane) can draw water. Once the core has taken on water, the beautiful surfboard quickly becomes nothing more than a decoration.

Surfboards made of epoxy (epoxy resin) are much more durable and therefore more suitable for beginners. Epoxy boards compensate less for unevenness in the shaft, but reach high speeds more easily.

The disadvantage of epoxy boards is that they usually cost slightly more than comparable polyester boards, as the raw materials are more expensive.

Entry-level epoxy boards are somewhat heavier due to their thick lamination. Their core usually consists of non-water-repellent, compressed EPS elements. The advantage over high-performance epoxy boards is that they are even more durable and robust.

High performance epoxy boards for advanced surfers have a light, water-repellent core and a thin lamination. This saves weight and makes the boards a lot lighter.

The advantages and disadvantages of polyester vs. epoxy surfboards at a glance:

Polyester boards	Epoxy boards
Cheaper	More expensive
Not very environmentally friendly	A little more environmentally friendly
Heavier and slower	Lighter and reaches higher speeds
Better dampens unevenness in the shaft	Compensates for unevenness in the shaft less well
Repair-intensive, core draws water more quickly	More robust, core absorbs water less quickly

What many surfers don’t know: Wooden surfboards are also becoming increasingly popular.

Anyone who thinks that wooden surfboards have to be incredibly heavy is mistaken. Balsa wood in particular combines maximum performance with low weight and high environmental friendliness. We dare to predict that there will be more and more shapers in the future who will switch from toxic plastic to natural materials.

Important: Check the surfboard for damage after every session.

Dents, cracks and the like should always be repaired before the next surf session(find out more here). Duct tape has proved to be a great first aid measure.

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Buy a surfboard

The crazy thing is:

Many surfers tend to switch to a board that is too small too soon for reasons of coolness. The result:

Your own technique and paddle power can’t keep up, the wave count drops and instead of fun in the water it quickly becomes frustrating.

Save yourself this mistake and choose a surfboard that suits your skill level.

With the right surfboard, you can keep enjoying the most beautiful sport in the world and build up enough self-confidence to take the next steps at the right time.

The most important things to know about buying a surfboard at a glance:

Buy surfboard Checklist

If you’ve read through our surfboard guide so far, you should already have a good idea of which shape and surfboard setup suits your current abilities.

You should consider the following 5 points when buying a surfboard:

1Choose a board that suits your interests and abilities

If you are unsure, ask people who know the area and who may have seen you surfing.

But don’t let anyone impose anything on you: Only you know what you enjoy most about surfing and what you would like to learn in the near future.

2Choose a board that suits your body and fitness level

As a general rule, the bigger and heavier you are, the bigger and bulkier the board should be.

As a beginner, choose a board that is at least one head longer than you are.

Forget all the volume calculators on the Internet. The only way to find the right volume is to try out a lot.

3Think about which spots and conditions you want to surf

Different shaft sizes and shapes have different requirements:

In the Baltic Sea, for example, you often encounter powerless, disorganized windswell, while Bali’s reefs attract glassy waves with lots of power at the same time.

Where (and when) will you be in the water more often? Do you feel more comfortable with knee-high peelers or do you want to tackle bigger waves as soon as possible?

4Think about how much time you have to practice surfing

Progress does not happen overnight! Include this in the board decision.

The jump to the shortboard takes much longer than most people think. So it’s better to surf one size bigger with pride than to come out of the water with permanent frustration!

5Try out different boards before you decide

Especially at the beginning, you should take every opportunity to test different sizes, volumes and shapes. This is the best way to find out which board suits you best.

Borrow different boards on your next surf trip, swap with friends or buy a used surfboard (to sell it again quickly if necessary).

Buy used surfboards

Take a good look at the wear marks and color of the board.

An average used board with few signs of wear (pressure marks, dents or scratches) costs about half the original price.

Stay away from used surfboards with major (repaired) damage or cracks!

In the event of major damage – even if it has been professionally repaired – you can never be sure without a test surf whether water has already penetrated the board and damaged the core.

Why is the color of the surfboard important?

The more yellow and brittle the surface of the surfboard appears, the longer the surfboard has been exposed to the sun.

Boards that are too yellow and have deep pressure marks should be avoided. They tend to already have their best waves behind them.

What should you look out for now?

Invest a few $ more and buy a used surfboard that:

• is slightly yellowed,
• has hardly any pressure marks or dents,
• the lamination is not brittle and
• You are sure that the core has not drawn any water.

Stick to this Checklist and you’ll have lots of fun in the water with your used surfboard even after your first surf session!

Well-known surfboard brands and manufacturers

The number and selection of surfboard manufacturers is huge. An overview of some of the best-known brands:

And what about wooden surfboards?

Beautiful boards with an ultra-light balsa wood core are available from the Kun_tiqi brand, for example. There are also shapers, such as Yoni Eco Surfboards, who offer workshops on how to build wooden boards yourself.

Good to know:

The major manufacturer Torq relies on so-called no-waste production for its TET boards . The sophisticated production technology avoids almost all waste during manufacture.

Surfboards from BIC’s Earth range are produced partly from renewable and recyclable materials, and toxic paints and resins are avoided.
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Traveling with a surfboard in your luggage

But beware, it’s not always worth taking them with you.

What are the pros and cons of taking surfboards with you when traveling?

Everyone has to decide for themselves how important the individual factors are. From our own experience, we can recommend the following:

Are you traveling for a maximum of 1 to 2 weeks on your next surfing vacation and not in your own car?

⇒ It’s best to hire a surfboard on site.

Are you going on your next surfing vacation with your own car or are you travelling for longer than 2 weeks?

⇒ Bring your own surfboard or buy one on site.

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FAQ

Done: From kook to surfboard expert in 15 minutes!

Do you already feel like you could open a surf store tomorrow?

Did you like the surfboard guide or do you still have questions? Write to us, we look forward to every comment!

Let the merry board hunt begin.