Surfboard Anatomy: Types, Shapes and Designs

What is a Surfboard?

The surfboard is a long, narrow, buoyant board that is essential for the practice of surfing. The surfer can use the surfboard standing or lying to surf a wave. Since the beginning of the 20th century, when the sport of surfing became more popular, the english word “surfboard” is used everyday and internationally.

The History of Surfboards

The origin of surfboards, like that of surfing, is hardly known, but it is certainly ancient. While the first surfboards were made of wood, incredibly heavy and not really maneuverable, surfboards today are made of materials like epoxy and carbon. If you are interested in how surfboards have evolved over the last centuries, click here.

Parts of a Surfboard

In order for a surfboard to work the way it is supposed to, many different parts are necessary. The following describes these parts of a surfboard and explains why they are important and what they do.

Nose

The nose is the tip (the front area) of the surfboard. There are different shapes of the nose of surfboards. For example, shortboards usually have a more pointed nose, while longboards have a wide, rounded nose. The shape of the nose affects the paddle power and maneuverability of the surfboard.

Tail

The tail is the end (the back area) of the surfboard. There are many different shapes of the tail such as swallow, squash or pin. The shape of the tail affects the stability, the ability to catch waves and the maneuverability of the surfboard. In addition, the leash plug is placed on the top of the tail and the fin boxes and fins are placed on the bottom of the tail.

Rails

The rails are the edges of the surfboard. They run along the surfboard and are thus the transition from deck and bottom. The shape of the rails can range from rounded (soft) to squared (hard).

When you make a turn with the surfboard, the rails are in constant contact with the water. Therefore, the rails have the most impact on the maneuverability of the surfboard. Rounded rails are more forgiving and offer more volume, while more squared rails dig more into the water, giving you more maneuverability.

Deck

The deck is the top of the surfboard on which the surfer lies while paddling and stands while surfing. Wax is applied to the deck – and usually a traction pad on shortboards – to provide grip for the feet.

Bottom

The bottom of the surfboard is – yeah – the bottom of the surfboard. Depending on how the bottom is bent (= rocker) water flows under it. This factor influences how much glide and flow your surfboard has.

Stringer

The stringer is a strip of mostly wood that runs through the middle of the entire surfboard. It increases the strength of the surfboard and also reduces too much flex. Depending on the material of the surfboard, stringers are not necessary. There are also surfboards with multiple stringers.

Fin Boxes

A fin box is a plug system on your surfboard that allows you to easily insert or remove fins. The fin boxes are attached to the tail on the bottom of the surfboard. There are three different types of fin boxes. Learn more about fins & fin boxes here.

Leash Plug

The leash plug of a surfboard is a small cup with a metal bar. It is placed at the tail on the deck of the surfboard. It is used to attach the leash to the surfboard.

Dimensions of a Surfboard

In addition to the different parts of a surfboard, it is also often described by its dimensions (also called “dims”). Dimensions are the length, the width and the thickness of a surfboard. The dims of a surfboard affect the volume and shape of the surfboard.

The measurements of a surfboard are given in feet and inches. Mostly the dimensions are written on the board. A possible dimension on a board could look like this: 5’8″ x 20 x 2.25

Length

The length of a surfboard is measured in feet and is taken from the tail to the nose vertically along the stringer. The length of common surfboards usually varies from 4’8″ (kids surfboard) to 12’0″ feet (longboard). Normal shortboards are generally between 5’5″ and 6’6″ feet long.

Width

The width of a surfboard is measured in inches and taken at the widest point of the surfboard. This point is very different depending on the shape of the surfboard. Also, the nose (and tail) of the surfboard are usually much narrower than the middle part.

Thickness

The thickness of a surfboard is the thickest part of the surfboard and is usually located in the middle of the surfboard. The thickness is also given in inches and varies according to the shape of the surfboard. Nose (and tail) are usually thinner.

Design of a Surfboard

Outline

The outline is the overall shape of the surfboard. This includes the shape of the nose, tail and rails. The outline of a surfboard has a significant influence on the performance of the surfboard and the riding experience.

The outline of the surfboard also shows the distribution of the surface of the surfboard. How thick or thin a surfboard is at a certain point (tail / nose) defines the outline.

Rocker

The rocker of a surfboard is made up of two parts: The nose rocker and the tail rocker. Both have a big impact on the performance of the surfboard and how it rides in which waves.

The nose rocker (= bend from the center of the surfboard to the nose) mainly affects the paddling, the entry into the wave and the maneuverability.

Less nose rocker allows you to glide better through the water, resulting in faster paddling, catching more waves and maintaining speed. However, the likelihood of a nose dive is higher. Also, versality is limited.

More nose rocker, on the other hand, creates more drag as you glide through the water. This means that paddling and maintaining speed is more difficult. On the other hand, the surfboard is much more versatile in maneuvers and suitable for drops in hollow waves.

The tail rocker is quite similar. Less tail rocker increases the ability to catch waves, but is more difficult to maneuver. More tail rocker makes the surfboard more maneuverable but it is harder to catch waves.

Bottom Contours

The bottom contours of the surfboard are the way the bottom of the surfboard is shaped. Depending on the shape, the bottom of the surfboard lies differently on the water. Roughly, there are three types of bottom contours: Flat, Concave and Convex.

Flat

Flat means, as the name implies, that the surfboard lies flat and even on the water. This shape is mainly found on soft tops and surfboards for small waves (= grovellers), as the flat board glides easily over the water surface and maintains speed even in weak waves.

Concave

With a concave, the surfboard is shaped in such a way that the bottom area is above the rails. This contour creates lift and flow and is particularly suitable for bigger and clean waves. The most common forms of concaves are single concave and double concave.

Convex

A convex bottom contour of a surfboard is the exact opposite. The area of the bottom of the surfboard is below the rails. Forms of this are Vee or Belly bottoms. They are especially suitable for rail to rail surfing.

Surfboard Materials

Surfboards are basically always made of a styrofoam core and a material that seals the surfboard and prevents water from entering. Many surfboards also have a stringer, which additionally stabilizes the board. The material that encloses the surfboard blank differs.

Wood

Until the 20th century, surfboards were made entirely of wood. These boards were often very heavy and difficult to maneuver. Only with the appearance of PU boards were wooden surfboards replaced.

But the use of wood in the construction of surfboards has become popular again in recent years. Since epoxy and PU surfboards are harmful to the environment, more and more manufacturers are trying to make the sport more sustainable by using wooden surfboards.

In contrast to earlier surfboards, however, these are no longer made entirely of wood. New shapes of wooden surfboards either enclose a foam core with wood or there are different hollow concepts.

PU / Polyester

The most traditional and most commonly used material for surfboards is polyurethane foam (PU) with polyester resin. The foam blank is laminated with fiberglass mats and resin to give the surfboard strength and make it more durable.

PU surfboards are especially suitable for bigger wave due to their high flexibility. In addition, these surfboards lie deeper in the water, which offers advantages for high performance surfing and maneuverability while rail to rail surfing.

Due to the material PU surfboards are cheaper compared to EPS surfboards. However, these boards are very fragile and in case of a ding, it must be repaired immediately because the core of the surfboard will otherwise suck water.

EPS / Epoxy

Epoxy resin is more durable than polyester resin and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is more buoyant than PU foam. So, with the same construction, an epoxy surfboard has more durability and buoyancy.

Epoxy surfboards are also lighter and more environmentally friendly than polyester surfboards. However, epoxy is more complicated to work with than polyester. This often makes the surfboards more expensive.

Epoxy surfboards are particularly suitable for weak and small waves, as characteristics provide more lift and speed. The use of epoxy surfboards has also become popular in wave pools.

Carbon

In carbon surfboards, an EPS foam core is wrapped in carbon fiber. This technology is designed to combine lightness, strength and durability.

More and more manufacturers are trying carbon construction for surfboards. Among the best known manufacturers are Dark Arts Surf and Varial. Due to the amount of carbon, carbon surfboards are very expensive.

Other Materials

In recent years, many new materials have emerged for the construction of surfboards. Mostly they try to create an environmentally friendly pedant that is just as capable as PU or EPS surfboards.

These include, for example, surfboards made of mushrooms or printed with a 3D printer. Many more options are expected to appear in the next few years. However, it will be some time before an equivalent replacement is found that will also establish itself on the surfboard market.

Different Types & Shapes of Surfboards

Shortboard

Shortboard is a fairly general term and actually includes all surfboards up to about 6’6″ in length. However, due to the many different shapes in shortboards, they can be divided into various categories.

Fish

The Fish bears its name due to the special tail shape: The fish-like swallow tail. Mostly fish surfboards are between 4’8″ and 6’4″ long.

A Fish can be described as short, wide and thick with a flat rocker. That being said, a Fish can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. These range from the classic retro fish to the high performance fish.

The flat rocker of a Fish allows effortless speed and good paddling, especially in small and weak waves. Due to their shortness, fish surfboards are also very versatile.

Classic fish surfboards have a twin fin setup with keel fins that allow for speed and wide turns. However, quad setups are no longer uncommon, especially on modern fish surfboards.

High Performance Shortboard (HPSB)

A high-performance shortboard (HPSB) has sharpe rails, a high nose and tail rocker and a low volume compared to other surfboards.

High-performance shortboards are therefore particularly suitable for experienced and advanced surfers, as the boards are primarily designed for bigger and punchy surf and hollow waves.

While the high rocker allows steep drops and high maneuverability, high-performance surfboards forgive little to no mistakes.

These boards need to be surfed close to the pocket, the most energetic part of the wave, otherwise it is hard to maintain speed. High-performance surfboards are also harder to paddle compared to other surfboards.

Hybrid Surfboard

The term hybrid surfboard is used for a variety of surfboards and shapes. Basically a hybrid surfboard is the combination of a HPSB and a fun wave board like Fish or Groveller. The mix of the two shapes should combine the best features.

Characteristic for a hybrid surfboard is a low rocker with a slightly wider nose than the HPSB, a wider outline, modern rails and a little more thickness. The length of hybrid surfboards is typically between 5’8 and 7’0, but there are also shorter and longer hybrid surfboards.

The shape of the board as well as the extra volume (due to the thickness) give hybrid boards stability and more flow especially in smaller and weaker waves. They are also characterized by their good paddleability and maneuverability.

Even if hybrid boards are not suitable for every occasion (e.g. steep drops), they are one of the most popular surfboards today. Due to their attributes they are called all rounder or one quiver board. The most famous hybrid surfboard is the Hypto Crypto from Haydenshapes.

Longboard / Malibu

Longboard surfboards, or simply longboards, are the descendants of the first surfboards and have been around for many years. Longboards are characterized by their length (at least 9′ feet), thick rails and a single fin. Longboards can be roughly divided into two types.

In addition to the classic and traditional Malibu longboard, there is also the nose rider longboard. The nose rider longboard usually has a vee bottom, which supports riding on the nose.

Due to the longer shape, longboards allow easy paddling and so it is possible to catch small and weak waves. The shape also helps the board to glide into the wave early and the surfer can surf through already broken sections.

The length of the surfboard requires a different style of surfing than a shortboard. While the shortboard surfer shifts his weight and rarely moves his feet, the longboard surfer must move back and forth on the surfboard to maneuver it.

Longboards have earned more and more popularity, especially in recent years. Especially in areas with limited swell or smaller waves, the longboard offers a good alternative to traditional shortboards.

Mid-Length / Mini-Mal

A mid-length surfboard is used when the waves are too small for your shortboard and too big for your longboard. That is the rough purpose of a mid-length surfboard. Also the length of the mid-length is between the shortboard and the longboard, so between 6’6 and 8’0.

Mid-length surfboards come in many different shapes and outlines with different fin setups. The term mid-length has become more popular in recent years and comes from marketing agencies. Before that these boards were also called Mini-Malibu or fun boards.

Mid-lengths are supposed to put the fun of surfing in the first place. Their length should guarantee easy paddling and a high amount of caught waves. In addition, it offers a lot of glide and flow and, despite its length, good maneuverability.

Gun

Gun surfboards, or simply called Guns, are used for surfing very big waves. Guns are narrow and long (up to 12′ feet) high performance surfboards. They have a pin tail, a narrow nose and extra thickness.

The shape of the Gun offers the surfer a lot of stability even at high speed in big waves. While the narrow shape of the board provides a lot of contact between the rails and the water, the pin tail allows turns in big and powerful waves.

Guns are only suitable for very advanced surfers and should be adapted exactly to the respective surf spot and wave.

Tow-in Surfboard

A Tow-In surfboard is a surfboard with foot straps with which the surfer is pulled into gigantic waves with the help of a jet ski. These surfboards are an invention of waterman and entrepreneur Laird Hamilton.

In shape, Tow-in surfboards have many similarities with normal shortboards, but they are slightly larger. Because the surfers do not have to paddle into the big waves by their own power, the surfboards are not as long as Guns.

The described shapes of surfboards are only a small selection of the most popular and most used surfboards. There are many more and different types and shapes like bodyboards, stand-up paddle boards (SUP) and many more.