SURFBOARDS

The main qualities of a surfboard are to float and glide on the water. Another way to choose your board is based on what you will look like walking with it on the beach or in your Instagram photos, but it is less practical to find the right board for your needs. The shape and dimensions of our board greatly influence the experience it will give us and can even determine the speed of our progression. There are as many sizes of surfboards as there are surfers, that is to say, many, but we can still classify them into 6 categories:

1. Foam boards, also called “foamies” because of the materials used to make them. These boards are a good option for learning to surf, since they are more resistant, which is practical knowing that collisions with other people’s boards are not uncommon in the process of learning the sport. Ideally, we don’t let our board hit another surfer’s, but if by any chance it happens, it’s a good idea to apologize and offer to pay for any damage caused, and maybe even invite your new friend to go have a beer or drink a coconut after the session. Depending on where you go surfing, you’ll see that the ocean is full of surprises, like rocks and coral, which can also damage your board. You’ll also learn that the ocean is extremely powerful, and that the waves can throw our board onto our head, another good reason to opt for a foam board when we don’t have 100% control of it.   
3. Longboards. As their name suggests, these are boards that are long, and therefore with a lot of volume. Moreover, the size of a board is not limited to its length, but the width and thickness are also important, among other things because they determine the volume of a board, which is measured in liters. So longboards are boards over 9', allow you to take smaller waves thanks to their high volume. On the other hand, they are more difficult to handle in hollower waves, more conducive to "nosedives" that is to say, nose diving, making us do 3-4 twirls underwater, rinsing our sinuses well, and also giving a good show to everyone on the beach. This type of board also allows the surfer to walk on it, and it is the closest thing to walking on water! Longboarding is a style of surfing in itself, which is somewhat reminiscent of the origins of the sport.
   
   
4. Fish boards weren't called that because they're made of fish scales, no, no. It's more the shape of the tail of the board that reminds of a fish tail. They're generally shorter and wider, and are often used with only 2 fins. They allow you to catch small to medium waves and generate a lot of speed, and therefore, generate a lot of fun for your rider.
   
   
5. Funboards, also called mid-length, are as their name suggests, neither long nor short. They are also very fun to surf! They allow you to take on almost all types of waves. They are small enough to maneuver on hollower and faster waves, and have enough volume to take on smaller waves. However, they have a bit of the sofa-bed syndrome (which is neither a good sofa nor a comfortable bed) that is to say that they do not offer the performance of a shortboard, nor quite the style of a longboard. That being said, they are ideal for learning, determining the type of board you will want with more experience, but also a good option to have for “shortboarders” on days when the waves are too small, or for “longboarders” on days with bigger waves.
   
   
6. Shortboards are arguably the most coveted type of board among experienced surfers. As you might have guessed, they are shorter boards with less volume, which means it is important to be confident in your paddling abilities before making the transition to a smaller board. These boards allow you to do just about every maneuver imaginable, from turns, to airs, to duck diving across the waves. 

For more information on boards, feel free to visit us at the Oasis Surf shop where we offer a nice selection of boards for sale. Look up once you get there, they are hanging from the ceiling!