Julian Wilson laying into one on the Gold Coast. Photo: Hurley
When you first start surfing, going for shorter, more performance-focused boards seems cool and consistent with what the “good” surfers are doing. Although it’s practical for most beginners, not many surfers want to be seen walking around with a nine-foot foam top, especially when the waves are firing. Conversely, the iconic images of pro surfers pulling into stand-up barrels on a tiny 6′ 2″ are the images that resonate with surfers globally.
For those considering focusing more on the standard shortboard, there are a few very important things to consider before jumping the gun. Here we take a look at the pros and cons of surfing high performance shortboards for the everyday surfer so that we hopefully answer the ever-so-important question: Is the shortboard the right kind of board for me?
The Pros
The majority of professional surfers around the world almost exclusively choose the shortboard as their weapon of choice. But you must understand these are the guys who need the least help. The shortboard gives those who ride them the ability to push the boundaries of performance both on the face of the wave and above the lip. The design has allowed airs to be bigger and the the turns to be more radical. Similarly, the waves these guys are surfing are getting bigger, hollower, and more critical. You can do these things on, for example, a fish, but not in the same way or to the same level as you can on a high performance shortboard.
John John Florence gets critical on his high performance Pyzel Surfboard. Photo: WSL
A few characteristics that separate shortboards from the rest include: more critical detail in rails, bottom contours, and rockers, which allow these board to be ultra sensitive under your feet. All of these factors may allow you to put it on rail harder, drive off the bottom faster, boost higher airs, and just react a lot better in general. A shortboard can also give you the ability to, for example, react quicker to someone falling on a wave, enabling you to turn around quicker and take off on the shoulder.
Because of these refined designs, you can pull off maneuvers and handle situations a little better than you could on other bigger equipment. Late drops on steep waves and hard, tight turns in the pocket become easier and more manageable.
Shortboards like to be surfed hard. You can push them more than wider alternate shapes like your modern fish or hybrid shape. They allow you to pump down the line to generate speed instead of sitting in the sweet spot as most surfers on bigger boards depend on.
The Cons
The number one thing that most new shortboarders complain about is that a shorter board limits the amount of waves they catch. Of course, it all depends on your abilities and even the type of waves you have access to. But some of us, especially the older folks, still want to rip, but can’t put in as much effort to “working” the board. Some may need a little more natural glide or trim speed instead of having to pump the board to generate speed. This is essentially where hybrid shapes stem from. These shapes pack more volume, handle a wider variety of waves, but can still be surfed at a relatively high level.
Trimming and riding the nose of a log is a feeling you can’t get from your shortboard.
Because the shortboard has become so refined, they usually have less volume, which may equate to having to paddle a little harder to catch that wave. Sure they can take late drops way better, but that doesn’t help the older, slower surfers who aren’t as quick and nimble as they used to be.
Shortboards may also limit the type of waves you are motivated to surf. In other words, a high performance shortboard is a lot more fun in good quality waves, but they may be more difficult to ride in small slop. This is precisely why it’s important to build your quiver with a variety of boards. You will learn that your average morning surf check will be way more appealing when you have more options to choose from.
Summary
At the end of the day, it really comes down to one question: What do you want to get from your surfing? Of course, there is no right or wrong way to surf, but there is having the wrong equipment. So if you are dead set on only having high performance shortboards, make sure they are sized appropriately for you and your abilities. You will enjoy surfing a lot more and progress a lot faster.
Find out more and compare surfboards online at Boardcave.com.
