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Surfing is an entire lifestyle in itself and connects you to nature; it’s a way to advance your skills and become a better surfer. When beginning your journey into surfing or learning how to surf, knowing about the different styles of surfboards will help you have a better time while out in the water.
This guide will help you create a complete surfboard quiver, including beginner boards for catching your first wave and more advanced boards for carving and turning with confidence.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Board selection starts with a volume calculator, ensuring your board has the exact buoyancy needed for your weight and fitness.
- Traditional PU boards are being phased out in favor of EPS/Epoxy and Graphene cores for superior strength-to-weight ratios.
- Over 30% of premium boards now feature bio-resins and recycled materials, offering the same “flex” as classic builds without the environmental footprint.
Mid-length surfboards generally represent the “best of both worlds”–offering enough stability for confident wave catching while still providing an extremely lively ride under your feet.
For example, some boards are stable and forgiving, ideal for beginners, while others are designed for speed and precision for more experienced riders.
Shortboards are typically the type of surfboard that most advanced surfers will select to meet the demands they have created for themselves within their level of ability. They thrive in more powerful surf and allow experienced surfers to perform rapid turns and complex moves.
Surfers who have mastered basic skills and want a board that reacts quickly and performs on aggressive waves.
Shortboards are recommended for use when a surfer has outgrown the use of more beginner-level surfboards and is now looking for a surfboard that can meet their increasing level of ability.
Mid‑length boards sit between shortboards and longboards in terms of size and performance.
They will also satisfy those surfers who are interested in a combination of stability and responsiveness when riding. Therefore, they can be used by those surfers who are between beginner and intermediate surfboards, or who would like to ride a variety of wave conditions.
Mid-length surfboards generally represent the “best of both worlds”–offering enough stability for confident wave catching while still providing an extremely lively ride under your feet.
Longboards are the largest of the traditional shapes of surfboards, and their design allows for a smooth, flowing style when riding waves. Because longboards have so much more surface area than the other types mentioned above, they will also be much easier to paddle and catch, especially when dealing with smaller or slower surf conditions.
Longboards also allow for classic moves like nose riding, which is harder to achieve on shorter boards.
If you want to maximize the number of waves you ride and enjoy your surfing experience, then longboards are the surfboard of choice.
Besides standard short, mid‑length, and longboard categories, there are specialized boards that serve specific purposes:
Fish shapes are wider and shorter, offering excellent speed and glide in smaller surf. With their larger outline, they provide enhanced form and a greater level of stability, while also allowing an advanced rider to execute turns easily.
An egg surfboard offers good balance and buoyancy through its round shape–typically a good choice for intermediate–level riders who wish to develop their skills before moving onto a shortboard.
You can find smaller versions of egg surfboards designed for youth or small-stature surfers that enable them to build confidence and develop skill–particularly for beginner surfers; these boards will also assist you with improving your wave riding.
In terms of selecting your best surfboard from the many different shapes, sizes, and designs on the market, you’ll also want to consider the following items:
When you know your personal surfing style, you’ll have a clearer sense of the only type and size of surfboard that will be best suited for your location and surfing conditions.
From stable longboards that allow you to catch all the waves to performance-oriented shortboards where you can test yourself and push the limits of your surfing ability, there is a surfboard for every individual surfer and every environment.
By learning what each board type offers, you’ll be better equipped to choose the right board — or even build a diverse quiver that keeps you stoked no matter what the ocean brings.
