THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE TYPES OF SURFBOARDS
The surf is, if not the most, one of the most spectacular and addictive sports that exist. Surfing is pure fun. It doesn't matter if you are 10 or 60 years old, the sensation of sliding down a wave on a board is nothing like anything else. That accumulation of feelings: peace, adrenaline, connection with the sea, freedom, sometimes fear... the sea is the best place in the world to disconnect, there is nothing like it. Surfing is like that first love: once you surf, something stays with you forever. It goes without saying that we encourage you to try this sport. If you are thinking of starting out in this world and want to buy your first board, we are going to tell you what is the most important thing about each type of surfboard. Besides that, at
So, like "for tastes colors and for gardens flowers", the same thing happens in surfing. There are thousands of styles of surfing, and for each one, a type of board. Finding the right board is key, as it will directly affect your performance in the water. To choose a board you will have to look at your objectives, your level and the conditions in which you are going to surf. These are the 12 table types:
1. SHORTBOARD
The classic surfboard. The most common model. As its name indicates, it is a small board, short in length and narrow edges, which provides speed and great maneuverability. It is the most versatile, it is valid for practically any type of wave and it is ideal for aerials, snaps, cutbacks... It is perfect for riders of medium level. If you are just starting out, surfing on this board will be more than difficult for you, since it is too thin and you will need a bigger board that offers stability.
2. TWIN FIN
This board literally translates as “twin keels” (twin: twins and fin: keels), because, unlike conventional 3-keel boards, this board It is characterized by having only two. Its peculiar design is inspired by the 70s. The twin fin are wide, with a large nose and a low rocker (curvature), giving a lot of float and speed. Thanks to its swallowtail, it's great for when you're just starting to do turns and maneuvers like cutbacks. When to surf with a twin fin? They are perfect for those days of soft waves without much force. They work great in small and medium waves, not so much in big waves.
3. SOFTBOARD OR CORK BOARD
Also called “corchopán”, they are the boards with which you start surfing, the ones that will leave you in all the schools. Its own name tells us: “softboard”: “soft board”. They are made of foam, a material similar to that of a sponge, and covered with EVA. They offer many advantages: being "soft", in the event of an accident the blow will not be strong, so they are very safe and their stability is greater than any other, due to the buoyancy of their material. The only downside is that they are heavy to carry and maneuverability is poor, but if this is your first time you will still not care. The softboard will be your best friend in the water.
4. MINI MALIBU
The board mini malibu is the perfect companion for those who want to start, or those who already defend themselves a little in the water and want to evolve. It is an excellent alternative to cork and is the best purchase option for your first fiber surfboard. If you have started in classes and now you want to continue surfing on your own, mini malibu is your board. They are very wide, both in the tail and in the nose. That is why they are so stable and it is so comfortable to row on them.
5. EVOLUTIONARY TABLE OR FUN BOARD
The evolutionary tables are big and thick. They measure between 2.15 and 2.75 meters. The nose is very wide, the rocker is flat and they are ideal for any type of wave and condition, whether they are small waves or big ones. Being so large and stable, paddling them will be very easy for you. Together with the mini Malibu, they are the perfect option to leave the softboard and improve until you get a shortboard.
6. LONGBOARD OR PLANK
En longboard is a modality within surfing and has its own board. Longboards have traditionally been used as a style in which surfers walk across the board to the tip. Surely you have seen them in many old photos, with Hawaiian girls riding the waves. Currently they are also used in a more conventional way, as normal boards in which to perform maneuvers. These long boards, or planks, have a rounded nose and are the bomb for small to medium waves. In big waves it doesn't work so well, since due to its size it's impossible to duck to pass the series. Seeing a longboarder in the water is quite a spectacle.
7. HYBRID SURFBOARD
The hybrid surfboard is a combination of various board types reminiscent of a shortboard and a mini malibu. It is a super versatile board, which cannot be missing in any rider's collection. It works great in any type of wave, the maneuverability it offers is very high and you don't have to be a pro to use it.
8. GUN
The surfboard gun was created for exclusive use in big waves, XL waves, between 6 and 12 meters high. Come on, we only recommend this table if you are crazy and you are taking the risk. To surf this type of wave requires a lot of experience and preparation, both physically and mentally. They are boards between 6.6 and 10 feet. Its size makes it possible to lower a wave of such dimensions, since in an XL wave, a small board would not support the force and would be totally unstable. The thickness of these boards, the weight and the enormous size stand out. Have you seen the waves of Nazaré or Mavericks? Well, this is the type of table that is used.
9. SINGLE END
Have you noticed that there are boards that have only one keel in the center? Those are the single fin and they are designed for the most classic surfing of the seventies. They give a lot of stability and are great for starting bottom turns. However, with a smaller board you can change direction faster and with less effort.
10. BONZER
Past, present and future. This is how the Bonzer tables are defined. They were born in 1970 in California, thanks to the Campbell brothers. Its design completely broke with the molds, it was a very advanced creation for that time. It is excellent for carvings and tube surfing. A lot of speed, it allows you to make all kinds of turns very quickly, with more technique. Timeless, they are characterized by having 3 or 5 keels on the tail. It is the surfboard with the most futuristic design. What makes it special? The triangular placement of the keels, in a lateral position.
11. HULL
The Hull board is perfect for planing on a wave, thanks to its mobility and speed. Within this category there are two types of tables, depending on the technique sought. On the one hand, there are the PH or planing hulls (gliding hulls), designed to move above the surface of the water, and on the other, the DH or displacement hulls, to move through the water. This may sound strange, but in reality it all depends on the design of the bottom and the edges. Currently, the most common are the PH, with a flat or concave bottom and hard edges on the tail. The DH have a V bottom and rounded edges, great for moving the water to the sides when riding the wave. None is better than another, they just offer different surfing. And what do you prefer: moving or planning?
12. MID LENGTH OR MEDIA LENGTH
Mid Length boards are halfway between hybrids, mini malibu and longboards. Their keels are usually arranged as follows: 2 - 1 or 4 -1. Thanks to their length and low volume in the nose and tail, they offer a lot of power when paddling. They are super versatile, they work well on any size wave.
These are the 12 types of surfboards. As you can see, they are not few. Now that you know everything about the different boards, get the best one for you and run to the beach. Surfing is medicine. Think no more. You will have fun like a child and the depth of the sea will make you fall in love.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- WHAT KINDS OF SURFBOARDS ARE THERE?
There are up to 12 different types of boards: shortboard, twin fin, softboard, mini malibu, evolutionary board, longboard, hybrid board, gun, single fin, bonzer, hull and mid length.
- WHAT IS THE BEST SURFBOARD FOR BEGINNERS?
We recommend your first experience on the waves with a softboard or cork board. They are softer than the rest, which translates into several advantages: in the event of an accident, the blow will not be dangerous, they are very safe and provide a lot of stability, since the material stands out for its buoyancy.
- WHAT ARE SOFTBOARDS MADE OF?
Softboards are made of foam, a sponge-like material, and covered with EVA.
- WHAT IS THE BEST BOARD FOR SURFING BIG WAVES?
If XL waves are your thing, your board is a gun. They are designed to surf waves between 6 and 12 meters high. They are boards between 6.6 and 10 feet. Its size makes it possible to lower a wave of such dimensions, since a small board would not support the force and would be totally unstable. The thickness of these boards, the weight and the enormous size stand out.
- WHAT IS A BONZER BOARD LIKE?
The bonzer board has 3-5 fins set laterally and is great for carvings and tube surfing. A lot of speed, it allows you to make all kinds of turns very quickly, with more technique. It is the surfboard with the most futuristic design.
- WHAT IS A TWIN FIN BOARD?
The board twin fin has only two fins. Its peculiar design is inspired by the 70s. The twin fins are wide, with a large nose and low rocker, thus giving a lot of float and speed. Thanks to its swallowtail, it's great for when you're just starting to do turns and maneuvers like cutbacks. They are perfect for those days of soft waves without much force. They work great in small and medium waves, not so much in big waves.
