The main qualities of a surfboard are that it floats and glides on the water. Another way to choose your board is based on how it will look walking on the beach or in your Instagram photos, but this is less practical for finding 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 surfboard dimensions as there are surfers, that is to say, many, but we can still classify them into 5 categories:
Foam boards
Foam boards, also called "foamies" due to the material used to make them. These boards are a good option for learning to surf, as they are more durable, which is useful considering 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 it does happen, it's a good idea to apologize and offer to pay for any damages, and maybe even invite your new friend to go out for a beer or a coconut after the session. Depending on where you surf, you'll find that the ocean is full of surprises, like rocks and coral, which can also damage your board. You'll also learn that the ocean has tremendous force, and that waves can throw our board onto our head, another good reason to opt for a foam board when you don't have 100% control of it.
Longboards
Longboards. As their name suggests, these are boards that are long, and therefore have a lot of volume. Moreover, the size of a board is not only 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', allowing 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 spins 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's the closest thing to walking on water! Longboarding is a style of surfing in itself, somewhat reminiscent of the origins of the sport.
Fishs
Fish boards weren't named that because they're made of fish scales, no, no. It's more the shape of the board's tail that resembles a fish tail. They're generally shorter and wider, and are often used with just two 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.
Funboards
Funboards, also called mid-lengths, are, as their name suggests, neither long nor short. They are also a lot of fun to surf! They allow you to ride just about any type of wave. They are small enough to maneuver on hollower, faster waves, and have enough volume to ride smaller waves. However, they have a bit of the sofa-bed syndrome (which is neither a good sofa nor a comfortable bed), meaning they don't 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'll 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.
Shortboards
Shortboards are arguably the most popular board type for experienced surfers. As you might have guessed, these are shorter boards with less volume, meaning it's important to be confident in your paddling abilities before making the transition to a smaller board. These boards allow you to perform just about any maneuver imaginable, from turns and airs to duck diving across 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!
