Surfboards come in different shapes and sizes. Each shape and size fall into a certain category which helps determine the type of the surfboard, conditions for use and how it’s best ridden.

Some examples of the most common types of surfboards include: longboards, short boards, fun boards, fish, gun and a hybrid of all the other types. It’s important to have a surfboard comparison and to know their functions in order to determine what would best fit your needs.

To give you an overview about the type of surfboards available, here are some of the major categories which most surfboards are grouped into:

Shortboard

These types of boards usually fall at a length which ranges below 7’. They usually have a large amount of rocker, which allows the surfer to smoothly and efficiently surf in the critical areas of a large wave.

More often, these boards come with sharp noses, thin rails and with either three or four fins. This short surfboard design has taken surfboarding to a higher standard and allowed its users to further improve the sport by providing them with more flexibility and mobility while in the water.

Longboard

This is probably one of the oldest and most traditional designs for surfboards. Surfboards that fall into this category range in length from 8’ to 12’ long and are usually 2.5” thick with a width of 20”.

The added volume enables the surfers to more easily paddle through the water with less effort, making it easier to catch fast-moving waves. Most suggest that beginners should start off using a longboard type of surfboard.

This will enable them to easily learn about how to select a wave, how to paddle correctly, and learn about the turning basics while riding a wave.

Experts who make use of this longboard type of surfboards are known for their smooth surfing style that they execute in a graceful and fluid manner.

Funboard

This type of surfboard is on the border between a short and a long board. It’s larger than a short board but not as long as the longboard, and ranges from 6’ to 8’. It has a lot of volume, though not the same as the long board, making it an ideal board if you’re planning to eventually transition into the short board type of surfboard.

Amateur surfers are recommended to use this type of surfing board since it will enable them to have a smooth transition from a long board to a shorter board, while still maintaining the much-needed stability and paddling power. It can also come in/ with different foils, tail and nose shapes that users can choose from according to their preferences.

Fish board

This design was popularly known during the 1970s and can be traced back to having origins in the knee board. These surfboards are typically shorter, yet wider, than the short board type. The additional volume and wider width make it ideal for small mushy surf.

Based on the name itself, these boards resemble a typical fish both in its look and its function; these boards can smoothly and easily navigate against the waves like the fish in the sea.

Fish boards typically are a flat surfboard with a bit of a rocker that allows the surfer to paddle through rough waves and still carry speed, even through the flat sections of a wave.

Gun

This is the type of surfboard you’ll need if you’re planning to head out on a beach where the waves are huge. This surfboard has a range in length which goes from 6’6” to 10’.

The added length in this surfboard allows its user to gain enough speed when paddling in order to catch a huge and fast moving wave. These boards have been designed to handle high drops and high speeds with great control. Each board has a great rocker and has three to four fins.

Hybrid

Just as the name suggests, a hybrid surfboard combines key components from different types of boards and makes it into one unique type that surfers with special needs and requirements may find necessary for their better surfing experience.

An example of a hybrid is one that combines the performance of a short board design with the stability, look and even tail design of a fish type surfboard.

The hybrid type of surfboard is ideal for surfing in different surf using a smaller board, or for heavy-built surfers who would love to use smaller types of surfboards without compromising performance.

These are just some of the basic surfboard designs, but are not limited to these categories. There are other types of surfboard designs like paddle boards, Alaia, mini-Simmons, Bonzer and many more. If you are curious about a board type, name or brand, send us a contact email and we will email you back with all the information we have on that particular model.

Each of these boards should well complement the surfing environment. Make sure to make a thorough study of the type of board that will best fit you and your environment.

Make wise purchasing decisions by comparing surfboards beforehand as this will spare you all the trouble of buying the wrong type of surfboard for you.

Related posts:

Finding your Mr./Ms. Right of Surfboards: Choosing the Best Surfboard for You Best Beginner Surfboards for New Riders What’s in a Surfboard? Materials Surfboards Are Made Of Shark Alert: Preventing an Attack While Surfing