The longboard. A necessary addition to every surfer’s quiver. Photo: Chris Grundy
If you’re considering getting a longboard, here is what you need to know. Maybe it’s a fad, maybe you think it is only for hipster revivalists, or maybe it is the fact that a custom longboard can give you that unique “trim” feeling that your other boards don’t have.
Whatever it is, you have no excuse to omit a longboard of some sort from your quiver. Everyone should have one, even if you don’t take it seriously… it is surfing after all, and it is supposed to be fun. Hopping on a log is exactly that…fun!
So the question is, what should you be looking for in a longboard? Well, that will depend on what you want out of a longboard. There are three main types we can discuss here, the high performance long board, the more traditional style of log, and the soft top longboard. There are variations of each of these within their own categories, so we will just take a look at the general characteristics of each and let you go from there.
The TPLB by Timmy Patterson Surfboards is the perfect blend for performance longboarding.
The High Performance Long Board:
The HPLB is exactly what is sounds like: a longboard designed to surf like a shortboard. This style of longboard usually has a little more rocker, more advanced rails and bottom contours, usually a 2+1 fin set up (single fin center with side bites), and is glassed lighter than a traditional log.
These boards are meant to be surfed aggressively. The combination of the rocker, rails, bottom, fin set up, and weight allow you to get more vertical on a wave and perform more critical turns on critical sections of the wave. Although you can still perch up on the nose for some tip time, you often see these boards being surfed in a similar way to a high performance short board. Hard gouging turns, floaters, and even airs can be done on this style of board, as they are generally glassed lighter, which results in a snappier flex pattern and overall lighter weight for their size.
Much like shortboards, the high performance longboard is also commonly found in both PU and epoxy versions. The PU gives you the traditional flex patterns we all know and love, while the epoxy is a much lighter board all around. When it comes to surfing one of these boards like a shortboard, the weight will be a big factor in its performance, so going epoxy is a great idea.
The fins used in this style of board is usually geared more towards performance style. The center fin will have a good balance of drive and release (much like a shortboards fin) but obviously, it will be much bigger than what you would find on a shortboard. The side bite fins will often be similar in size and shape to that of what you would find on a shortboard, and help give the surfer more control over the board when trying to surf it hard through turns as well as providing more hold on a steeper faced wave.
This is an extremely fun type of board to surf if you are into getting high performance, but still want a longboard. If you are looking for a completely different ride and want to save your high performance surfing for your shortboards, you will want to have a look at a more traditional style of log.
If you are looking for a classic style log, be sure to check out the What I Rideby Robert August Surfboards
Traditional Longboards:
Your traditional style of longboard, or log, is usually made in PU with heavier weight fiberglass and more traditional rails and bottom contours.
There are a variety of fin choices depending on the style of log or how you want your board to act. If you’re interested in the basics of fins for longboards from the Flex Fin to the D-fin, give this a read. While one end of the fin spectrum allows for more progressive traditional surfing, the other end is geared more towards a classic log nose riding trim.
These traditional style of boards have more weight, so they carry their own momentum through flat sections, as well as giving you a little more stability when surfing the board from the nose.
Usually consisting of full rails, and a rolled belly like bottom with vee out the tail, logs give you stability and make it a little easier to transition from rail to rail–perfect for when you want to walk around the board a little. Some of these boards even incorporate some concave up in the nose area which helps create lift and add control when surfing from the nose.
The traditional log is perfect for long mellow point breaks, or softer days. The more lined up the wave, the more fun you can have on one of these boards. This is definitely a style of board that every surfer should have or at least try out at some point in their lives.
Fun is fun is fun, right? Don’t take surfing so seriously.
The soft top longboard:
The high performance longboard and the traditional log can be a ton of fun, but if you are less experienced, they may not be the right choice. The high performance longboard may not have the stability you need, while the traditional heavy log might be a little too intimidating. It is a lot of board to move around, and if you struggle paddling, they can be a challenge just to make it out through the white water and into the line up.
Even for the experienced surfer, you might be heading out to an extremely crowded break and worry about having that heavy torpedo becoming a hazard to everyone around you. The perfect solution to all of these problems is the soft top longboard!
Easy to paddle, super stable, run up to the nose, go tandem with your bros, and get bonked on the nose…it doesn’t really matter, these soft tops can do it all, and without the possibility of doing serious damage to yourself or others.
These boards are usually pretty resilient, too. No wax needed, you can leave them out in the sun, let your kids jump all over them on land, and certainly no dings when you run into other on a party wave. And nowadays, many of them can actually surf fairly well. You can take off late and they will hold a line. And if you feel inclined to take it to that closeout section, go for it. That is definitely something you would otherwise avoid when surfing a traditional log… endless fun and perfect for everybody’s quiver from the beginner to the advanced surfer.
As with any type of surfboard, there are many variations of longboards that I haven’t even touched on. The purpose here was just to give you a general idea of what to start looking for and what to consider if you are going to be in the market for a longboard soon.
Whatever the choice is, a longboard of some sort is essential in any quiver. Even the elite level surfers making their living surfing shortboards on the world tour have a few stashed away in their garages.
This first appeared on Boardcave.com. Check them out on Instagram and Facebook.
