Surfboards come in all shapes, sizes, and colours; some have three or more fins, while others have one fin gracing their undersides. These aren't just style differences; each board design, and what they're made of, has a specific purpose. They're meant for different surf conditions and even for different surfers' body types. We could sort surfboards into two main categories - long- and shortboards, but this chart tells us more of what we need to know.
| 🏄♂️Board | 🔩Features | 👩Who it's for👨 |
|---|---|---|
| Shortboard | 180 to 210 cm long Pointed nose Square tail Thin rails 3 fins (typically) | Intermediate to advanced surfers. Surfers who like to do stunts. |
| Fish | Under 180 cm long Blunt nose Swallow (split) tail two fins (typically) | Intermediate to advanced surfers. Best for small, slow waves. More relaxed surf on larger waves. |
| Funboard Also called mini-mal or minimal | 210 to 240 cm Slightly thicker; designed for stability. Typically 3 or more fins. | Beginners ready to step up their surfing skills. Longboarders who want to have more action and fun. |
| Longboard | 270 to 370 cm long Rounded nose and tail Single fin | All surfers; perfect for beginners. Best for paddling, great for stability, longer rides. |
| Gun | 210 to 370 cm long Very thin Pointed nose and tail 1, 3, or 4 fins | Advanced surfers only! Meant for big, powerful waves. |
| Foamie Also called soft-top | Various lengths and fin counts. Typically wider than standard boards Stable and buoyant Low-cost | Perfect for beginners surfing waves up to one metre. |
| Poly | Various lengths, shapes, and fin counts. Slightly heavier than standard boards Easy to repair (and easier to damage) | All surfers, but the added weight will be tough on beginners. Perfect for surfing big waves. |
| Epoxy | Various lengths, shapes, and fin counts. Lightweight Durable | Perfect for beginners. Great for surfing small waves. |
| Wood | Various lengths, shapes. Typically one fin. Heavy; more stable but harder to control. | Intermediate to advanced surfers. |
A Word on Surfboard Materials
You'll note our table lists the five categories of surfboards first, followed by four classes of surfboard materials. Life would be so much simpler if board materials were specific to each type of board! That's not the case, though, and each material type offers surfers different responses.
They also have different qualities, some great and others that can be huge drawbacks. So, we treat you to an exposé of surfboard types, first by shape and size, and then, by what they're made of.
What Are Surfboards Made of?
- Modern surfboard materials include wood, epoxies, and foams coated in fibreglass and resin.
- Early experimental boards were made of polyurethane, which has now become mainstream.
- Throughout history, boards were always carved-shaped from wood.
Shortboards
These are the types of surfboards for surfers who've already mastered the basics of surfing. They range in size from 180 to 210 cm in length, with pointy noses and square tails.
They're slightly thicker, to accommodate channels on their underside. To keep these boards agile yet controlled, board makers carve such channels to compel the water off the board's surface. Concave channels are common but other profiles exist.
Shortboards are not suitable for beginner surfers. Their short size, pointy nose, and thin rails make them hard to paddle. They don't have a lot of room for popping up, either.
Perhaps you're an absolute beginner at surfing and have no idea what those terms mean. If so, take a moment to master the language of surfing.
It features on all surf forecast platforms to describe surf conditions and anywhere else you might learn about surfing, including this article.
Fish
These boards are even shorter than shortboards, which means they're far more agile. They have a blunt nose and a notched tail. In fact, they're called 'fish' because their tail looks like a fish's tail. They're also wider than standard shortboards, which makes them easier to paddle.
They're thicker, too, so the surfers have more control over their action. Its two fins are typically far apart, giving them the control they're famous for. These boards come highly recommended for experienced surfers to tackle big waves with. Intermediate surfers can ride slow, small waves on them.
Fish are not recommended for absolute beginners.
But if you've mastered surfing basics, you might try one.
Funboard
These boards go by many names, including mini-mals and minimals. Still, the 'fun' in funboard captures their essence the best.
They blend the stability of longboards with the agility of shortboards to make for a thoroughly dynamic surf session.
Accordingly, their size ranges between longboards' and shortboards' lengths, borrowing the best from both boards' designs.
You can find funboards in varying widths, thicknesses, and shapes. The number of fins is also variable. They're the perfect board for beginners looking to take their surfing skills up a notch or two. This is the board you need to master turns and new manoeuvres. How long it will take you to learn these tricks depends on a lot of factors, though.
Longboard
[It was] bought at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, for two dollars.
Tommy Walker, first (male) Australian surfer
Surfing has a far longer history than many give it credit for. For most of that time, longboards were the only surfing equipment wave riders needed. Today, this type of board remains the standard, though it's undergone some modifications.
For instance, adding fins, which became a thing only in the 1960s. Today, some surfboard types have up to five fins; the classic longboard is generally happy with just one.
Longboards are the most stable and the easiest to paddle. Their length gives surfers plenty of room to pop up and lots of board to glide over the waves with. We might say that every surfer should have at least one longboard. Certainly, every beginner should surf with this board when they start out.
Gun
This board delivers exactly what its name promises: rapid-fire action in turbulent waters. It is definitely not meant for beginner surfers, no matter their adventurous spirit.
Guns come in various sizes: as small as the smallest funboard to as long as the longest longboard. Their nose and tail are their defining characteristics: both are pointed to deliver maximum manoeuvrability.
Flipping one over, you will find any number of fins, up to four with a stabilising 5th nub as close to the tail as possible.
For safety's sake, don't ride a gun unless you're a well-seasoned surfer! It's not just about wipeouts, it's the powerful waters that will tumble you like a washing machine.
Soft-Tops
More familiarly called foamies, these boards perform almost as well as boards made of more durable materials. That wasn't always the case; it took pro surfers showing what these boards can do to bring them wide acceptance.
The inexpensive soft-top is ideal for absolute beginners. They float well (they're buoyant), and their three fins give them comfortable stability. They're lightweight, so getting smacked with your board when you wipe out won't hurt so bad. They're low-maintenance; they usually don't even need waxing.
The lowest-priced foamies don't always deliver the best quality.
As a 'first board' to test whether you want to pursue surfing, an inexpensive board might do. If you already know surfing's for you, splash out a bit more for a high-quality soft-top board.
Polyurethane (Poly) Boards
These boards began making waves (pun intended) after the Second World War. Surfboard materials were scarce then, but chemical compounds were gaining ground. Surfers began experimenting with 'polys', ultimately creating suitable boards.
Poly pros
- slightly heavier than other boards
- easy to maintain and repair
- more flexible
- inexpensive
Poly cons
- extra weight can be hard to manage
- a challenge for beginners
- damages easily
Poly boards typically have a polyurethane core wrapped in fibreglass and coated with a polyester resin. The foam-resin combination gives these boards a bit of flexibility.
That's great for feeling the wave and controlling your action. On the downside, those flexible boards are easy to damage, especially their fibreglass coating.
Epoxy Boards
Boards made with this material have been around for 75 years, but they were never very popular. In 2005, a dramatic shift happened in the surfboard manufacturing industry, which led to wide acceptance of epoxy boards.
Their construction is a lot like poly boards but the cores are very light. They're also coated with fibreglass and resin, making them more durable than their poly cousins. But, like the polys, they have good and bad points.
Epoxy pros
- lightweight
- suitable for smaller waves
- maximum durability
- great for beginners
Epoxy cons
- extra rigidity means less feel
- more painful collisions
- can be pricey
- Not particularly stable on choppy waters
If you're at a level of surf fitness that you can respond quickly and well to wave activity, you shouldn't have any problem surfing on an epoxy board.
As an absolute beginner, you might hold off on having an epoxy board crafted specifically for you. However, once you gain a bit of experience, having such a board in your quiver is an absolute must.
Wood Boards
Archaeologists estimate the earliest evidence of surfing activity to be between three and five thousand years old, in Peru. Those early surfers didn't ride the waves for fun and sport; it was how they got to their fishing spots. Their 'boards' were woven out of sedge fibres.
We have to go further into the oceans to find the first surfers. Hawaii and other Polynesian islands' inhabitants routinely took to the waters atop wooden boards.
The Hawaiian word for surfing, literally 'wave sliding'.
It's fair to say that Hawaiian surfers gave the world surfing as we know it. Other populations around the world surfed but their technique didn't quite match up to the type of surfing we do today.
Be it a publication or an instructor, any guide to surfing will tell you that a wooden board delivers the most authentic surfing experience.
As a beginner, you don't have to rush out and order your custom-shaped wooden board straightaway.
But you should definitely plan on adding one to your quiver should surfing become your sport of choice. History and authenticity aside, wood boards have one major high point and one major flaw:
They are highly durable, particularly if well-maintained.
They can be very heavy, making them harder to manoeuvre.
That downside is okay for now; as a beginner, you won't manoeuvre much anyway. Also, keep in mind that these boards can be very expensive, especially if they're custom-made. You're wise to put off the investment until you're sure you want to commit to surfing.
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