Guide to choosing a surfboard
There are many different shapes of surfboards, here are some details on a few main categories, as well as some of the characteristics and shapes that surfers in the Gulf of Mexico and on South Padre Island prefer for riding our waves.
Shortboards
Shortboards are small surfboards designed for maneuverability and generally higher performance, aggressive style riding. Typically shortboard surfboards are less than 6’6″ long, less than 22″ wide at the widest point, and have a narrow pointed nose and tail.
Shortboards of many shapes are ridden in Gulf Waves. Many surfers here use wider tailed and flatter nosed boards.
Longboards
Longboards surfboards are large boards designed to easily catch and ride waves, and to be easy to balance on and ride. Longboards are generally 9′ long or more, and 22″ wide or wider at the widest point, with rounded noses.
A lot of longboarders here on South Padre Island, with boards of many shapes. Pin tail, squash tail, single concave, spooned noses, it seems everything works pretty well here.
Hybrid / Malibu / Funshape / Egg
Hybrids surfboards also known as Malibus, Funshapes, or Egg shapes look like small longboards and incorporate a blend of the shape and performance characteristics of shortboards and longboards. Hybrid shaped surfboards are generally between 7′ and 9′ long and no less than 21″ wide at the widest point, with rounded noses.
Hybrid surfboards are generally the best boards to learn to surf on, are fun to surf in a variety of wave conditions, and work very well here on South Padre Island.
Fish
A fish shaped surfboard is a variation of a shortboard, incorporating more width in the nose, tail, and center of the board than a typical shortboard, as well as a straighter outline shape and flatter rocker. Fish shaped surfboards are typically between 5′ and 6.5′ long and 20″ to 23″ wide.
These specialty shortboards work very well in South Padre Island, and are a local favorite for higher performance surfing especially when the waves are small.
Gun
A gun shaped surfboard is a variation of a hybrid or fun shape, generally 6’9″ – 10′ long, and less than 19″ wide at the widest point. Gun shaped boards are medium long and skinny, and always incorporate a very narrow and pointed nose and tail.
Gun shaped surfboards are specifically designed for riding the biggest waves in the world, and are not generally used on South Padre Island except by experienced surfers riding our biggest waves (hurricane generated swell).
Shape Characteristics That Effect Performance
Length: measured properly from the tip of the nose of the surfboard to the tail, along the bottom of the board
Width: measured straight across the board from edge to edge at the widest point. Width measurements are generally also taken in numerous other locations on a surfboard. Nose and tail width are measure 12″ from the ends of the board, center width is measured from halfway between the nose and tail.
Outline or profile shape: The shape and curvature of a surfboard from nose to tail around the edges of the board.
Rocker: The shape and curvature of the bottom of a surfboard from nose to tail. Rocker shape typically varies throughout the length of the board, with different amounts of rocker in the nose area, tail area, and center of the board.
Tail shape: The shape of the tail of a surfboard is another factor that influences the way a board rides. Major differences in tail shape create big differences in the feel and, turning, and riding characteristics of a board, while minor tail shape differences have a subtle and affect. Some common tail shapes include pin, round, squash, swallow and bat.
