Different Types of Boards

Filed under: Surfing

Surfing could not be possible without surfboards. Such materials come in various shapes and sizes. There are several types of boards that are available commercially to surfing enthusiasts. Thus, choosing a good and appropriate surfboard has become a daunting activity for beginners and for experienced surfers.

These days, surfboards have become more specific after being compounded by improved technologies and modern ways to surf. Through the years, different styles of surfing have emerged. This is the reason why surfers from all around the world are finding it more difficult to find and buy the best surfboards they could ever use.

For starters, using an appropriate type of surfboard could make learning the activity more fun and improving skills much easier. For beginners, the best boards are those that are wide, light, and thick. You should take note that wider and larger surfboards are logically more buoyant and are allowing easier picking of waves, specifically weak and small waves.

Larger style surfboards are popularly called as mals (long boards) or mini-mals (fun boards). They are most ideal as learning surfboards. Most of such boards are coming with soft top decks that do not require any form of waxing of the topmost surface for wave riding. This way, possible build up of dirty wax and melting wax (which could affect quality and functionality) could be prevented.

Because such boards are soft, they surely would not hurt especially if the surfer is accidentally hit in the head, in the face, and in other body parts by the deck. Experts recommend mini-mals and fun boards for their great flotation. It should be noted that the better a surfboard floats, the faster it could paddle and the easier it could catch waves. There would be more time for a surfer to get to his feet before the ocean waves break. The size is just perfect to handle the water.

Long boards

In general, long boards are surfboards that measure about 8.5 feet in length. They would float when used practically by anyone. The boards are also not very easy to maneuver but they surely could provide better and easier paddling and catching of waves.

The use of long boards is ideal when waves are up to waist high. They could make paddling effortless with buoyancy. Long boards offer stable platform for facilitating easy moves. In observation, surfers in all levels could enjoy riding long boards. Once a surfer who is a beginner learns paddling through whitewater, the long board could be a great tool for learning. Modern long boards are refined, are lighter, and are easily maneuverable. Usually, tail shapes in such boards are either rounded-pin or square shaped.

Short boards

Short boards are short, fast, and are easier to turn. However, a surfer needs more experience before riding one. These boards make it harder to catch waves, requiring experienced balance for a rider to stay up. In the commercial market, short boards are considered as high-performance and reliably shaped boards.

These surfboards are typically 5.6 feet to 7 feet in length and about 16 inches to 19 inches in thickness. Fishes are one of the types of short boards. These have wider noses. Fishes are considered better alternatives for surfing in small waves. They have extra float and shorter but more pivotal boards.

As mentioned, surfers short boards are considered performance boards. They are typically used for shredding and ripping. These surfboards should not be used by beginners.

Fun boards

These surfboards are considered as ideal crossbreeds of long boards and short boards. Fun boards are much easier to turn compared to long boards. They are much more buoyant and could easily catch waves. In many cases, fun boards are called mini-mals or mini-tankers. They handle good surf and small surf with easier paddling.

The performance of fun boards are usually improved through a three-fin combination complete with down rails and edges, which give the boards higher carving capability. Wave catching and paddling ability of fun boards are much better than their counterpart shorter-performance boards because the forward portion is much wider in comparison.

Fun boards also facilitate better flotation and are easier to paddle. They feature stability when surfers wait for waves while standing up on the board. The fairly light weight makes these boards fun and easy to carry around. Fun boards are for surfers who aim to have more fun surfing.