Whether you’re just starting out in the world of surfing, or you’re an experienced wave rider, it’s important to buy the right board for you and your level of experience.
Picking the right characteristics in your board is more important than you might think and we’re here to help you make your decision, so you can avoid spending heaps of money on a board when you might not need to.
Board Volume
You’re probably wondering, “what’s board volume?”. It’s the area in litres contained by the surfboard and can be calculated using the sum below…
Volume of Board = Height X Width X Length
Typically, beginners should be riding their total body weight in volume. To put it simply, if you weigh 70kg, your board should be 70 litres in volume.
Alternatively, more experienced surfers should ride 30-40% of their weight in volume.
Board Shape and Fins
There are so many different types of surfboards and they are all tailored to your ability and experiences. Here are a few…
Tow Board
The tow board is part of the small board family and ranges from 4’8 to 6’2’ in height. They have 3-4 fins and are great for expert surfers who are looking to ride the bigger waves.
Fish Surfboard
This board type was originally very popular in the 60s and 70s and has very much come back into orbit. Its board height ranges from 5’2 to 6’4’, and comes with either 2 large fins or 4 small ones and can be used in both smaller and larger waves.
These are great for dedicated surfers who surf throughout the year and experience a broad range of wave sizes.
They contain more volume, making paddling much easier too.
Short Board
Originally popular in the 80s, this board works with a variety of wave types and generates an extremely fast speed.
It measures 5’8 to 6’8’ in height with 3-4 fins.
These are perfect for the more advanced surfers out there who are looking to perform tricks and sharp turns and enjoy riding the rougher, Winter waves.
Hybrid
The name Hybrid comes from the fact it can do two things. It can manoeuvre just as good as a shortboard and catch waves like the larger surfboard ranges.
Its height varies from 6’6 to 7’2’ and contains more volume for paddling, making wave catching much easier.
It’s conclusively a great all-rounder and is recommended for intermediates.
Longboard
The board recognised from the 60s decade is still going strong and offers more safety and volume for the user.
It’s great for catching waves and offering longer glides on the less steep waves.
The longboard is 9’0 to 9’6’ in height.
If you’re thinking of occupying yourself over the Winter months and are looking for a convenient and waterproof way of storing your belongings when in the water, our waterproof bags are the answer!
Check out the range, here!