Surfboard Types

With its sleek lines and sun-kissed history, the surfboard has long captured the imagination. While all surfboards are crafted for the same general intent -- catching waves -- one board can differ radically in design from another. More than mere fashion, these designs suit various abilities, preferences and wave types. A little knowledge of each design provides a crucial tool for consumers seeking to purchase a surfboard.

  1. Shortboard

    • Shortboards range in length from 5 to 7 feet. Available with as many as four fins, these boards feature an upturned nose, called a "rocker." A Rocker prevents the tip of the surfboard from burrowing beneath the water. Surfers favor shortboards when searching for speed and maneuverability in surf ranging from 1 to 8 feet in height. Novice surfers might find shortboards difficult to use.

    Fish

    • Shorter and wider than shortboards, the "fish" surfboard closely resembles its name. Its compact design makes the fish ideal for small to medium-size surf. Easier to paddle than shortboards, fish surfboards might be a more ideal choice for novice surfers. Generally, these retro-inspired surfboards contain between two and three fins and measure under 6 feet in length.

    Egg

    • Similar in design to the fish, the "egg" is equally suited to small and medium-size surf. Measuring under 6 feet in length, egg surfboards employ a three-fin configuration, with two fins flanking a larger center fin. Equally fast but with more turning ability than a fish, egg surfboards might be best suited for surfers of intermediate to advanced ability.

    Big Wave Board

    • Also known as "big wave guns," big wave boards are designed to handle the largest of surf. Generally, the longest of these boards measures over 9 feet in length and contains either a single or three-fin set-up. Resembling a protracted shortboard, the big wave board contains a narrow tail and nose that helps the board maintain speed and control across the wave. Given the board's size, and the type of surf for which it is designed, big wave boards are best handled by expert surfers.

    Longboard

    • A direct descended of early surfboard design, the longboard measures from 8 to 10½ feet in length. Its comparatively long length and thick profile increase the board's stability and wave-catching ability, making it ideal for novice surfers. Longboards contain either one or three fins. More performance-oriented longboards feature a narrower profile and increased front and rear rocker -- curvature of the nose and tail.

    Funboard

    • A sort of jack-of-all-trades surfboard, the funboard falls somewhere between the shortboard and longboard in its designs and performance. Ranging in length from 7 to 8 feet, the funboard provides the paddling ease of the longboard coupled with the maneuverability of the shortboard. Most effective in small to medium-size surf, the funboard, like the longboard, is ideally suited for novice surfers.