Surfer’s Vocabulary and Slang The Basics of Surfing

Types of Surfboards

Posted by Annie Shay on Jun 30, 2013 in Learning Center | 0 comments

Types of Surfboards

A surfboard is a long platform used in surfing. Even though it is very light, it is strong enough to support a surfer riding the waves. The surfboards were invented by ancient Hawaiian and were named papa he’e nalu. Hawaiians considered surfing a religious practice and the boards were thought to be sacred. Made from trees, these surfboards were very large and heavy. Modern surfboards are developed from polyurethane or polystyrene foam with a coat of fiberglass, carbon fibers, epoxy resins, polyester and cloth. The new surfboards are light, fast and easily maneuverable. Every year, almost 400,000 surfboards are manufactured throughout the world. Surfboards have numerous sizes, shapes and designs but the most common types are shortboard, longboard, funboard, fish, gun and hybrid.

Shortboard

A shortboard, also called a thruster, is one of the most popular surf boards available. It is approximately 6 to 7 feet long, very thin with a pointed nose and a rounded tail. It features about two to five fins. It is commonly used for shredding, contest style surfing and offers fabulous speed, control and power to the surfer. However, you will have to put extra effort during paddling. Shortboards are great for steep, fast waves, a frames, and barrels. If you want to try out new tricks and moves, shortboard will prove to be really excellent.

Longboard

Longboard is a single finned surfboard with a large squarish nose. It is said to be the most oldest and traditional surf board and is also known by the name of ‘cruizer’ or ‘log’. Its length can range from 8 to 12 feet and width can be up to 20 inches. Longboards are very stable in the water making them perfect for beginners who have just started to practice. Their increased size allows easy paddling, wave catching, and turnings. Once you are an expert on surfing, you can catch a wave on a longboard very smoothly.

Funboard

Funboards are larger than longboards. Their size varies between 6’6″ and 8’0″ in length and 20″ to 22″ in width. The funboard is a superb blend of a longboard and a shortboard. It features great paddling power, turning abilities and more volume which provides stability in the water. It is ideal for novices and surfers who want to switch to a smaller board. Funboards have numerous designs with different kinds of noses, foils and tails.

Fish

Fish is a short, wide and stubby surfboard with a length of 6 feet. It has a pair of fins, a shallow tail and a very round nose. Fish is great to catch medium to small sized waves and boasts impressive wave catching features, improved maneuverability and more speed.