Tiny, tight, fits just right…Album Surfboards has a large range of hybrids for you to choose from.
There’s been a lot of hype around hybrid surfboards the last few years. But what exactly is a hybrid surfboard and what is it that makes it one? With so many different surfboard models available, sometimes it’s confusing as to why boards are placed in different categories. If you really break it down, the hybrid surfboard could technically be the blending of two or more design concepts.
If you take it even more literally, every surfboard is essentially a hybrid surfboard. It doesn’t matter what kind of board you are talking about, every board on the planet has a blend of designs concepts within it, at least to some degree.
But let’s lighten up and not take things too literally. The term hybrid surfboard is likened to a style of board that is becoming more popular, especially as more people open their minds and try them out.
Two Boards Make One
The general hybrid as we know it now is the blending of the fish surfboard and a high performance shortboard. There are a lot of elements at play here, but the goal is to get a board that is easy to paddle, very stable and fast like a fish, yet with the maneuverability of a high performance shortboard.
A board like this is going feature elements like low rocker, wider outline with the wide point pushed forward, more thickness throughout, especially under the chest, modern style rails, functional bottom contours and, depending on the performance level intended, a slightly pulled in tail.
The world famous Craig Anderson with the world famous Hypto Krypto.
The Hypto Krypto by Haydenshapes Surfboards is probably the most well-known board that is considered a hybrid. But the design is not as new as you think.
Pretty much every brand or shaper has at least one hybrid board in their range, and rightly so. In fact, hybrids are so functional for the everyday surfer that, if they are not already, they will become more common than a traditional shortboard. And let’s face it, you are probably not a pro surfer, and what works for them probably won’t work as well for you.
You probably work a normal job or go to school, which means you are only afforded limited time to get out in the water. Most of us have obligations outside of surfing that keep us from surfing on a regular basis, and if you only have high performance surfboards in your quiver, it really sucks when your brief window to surf holds onshore, high tide, mushy waves. You’ll go check the surf with your trusty 6’1 x 18 3/4 x 2 3/8, and unless it is head high and rippable or hollow, you’re going home or ending up frustrated.
Having a hybrid in your quiver is going to keep you in the water on those average to below average days, as well as the head high and hollow days. You may even find that your hybrid might replace your shorty on the good days…that’s how versatile they can be.
Flat rocker, wider outline but holding performance on the wave and above the lip, the Slug by SUPERbrand is a blast in most conditions.
The flat rocker combined with the width and thickness allow you to get into waves with ease, and keep you flying down the line, right through fat sections with little effort on the mushy days. Even on the good days, where there might be a slow section you need to negotiate until you can get to the inside where the wave stands up again, the hybrid surfboard shines.
Even though they have lower rocker, their ability to be surfed at least a few inches shorter than your standard shorty makes up for it by their ability to fit in the pocket. The rocker you find on a short board is not as essential since your board will fit within that tight pocket without a problem. That shorter board comes in extra handy in smaller surf too, as you can whip turns around in a tighter radius than something longer, allowing you to squeeze as many turns in as short of an area as possible.
Can They Handle Sizable Surf?
On the bigger better days, these board can still perform. That low rocker might have you concerned about their ability to stick late drops, or when coming off a top turn on a steep wave. There are easy solutions to this problem, however. First of all, the idea of these board allowing you to get into waves earlier helps with avoiding the possibility of taking a late drop. It is still bound to happen every now and then, however. It is surfing, after all.
When it come top turns on steeper waves, having design elements like a little vee in the nose area can help with this. That convex vee will act similar to the bow of a boat. It’ll help displace the water around the nose, keeping that nose from diving under the water.
Carrozza Surfboards’ Lil Buddy is the perfect blend of a fishy nose and performance shorty tail.
It’s Where General Surfboards are Heading
Hybrid shapes work, and once you get used to them, they can work really well. Just take a look a general shortboard design these days–even the top level pros are riding shortboards that are a little wider with a touch less rocker than what you would find in the ’90s.
Hybrids are highly functional for the everyday surfer. They allow you to maximize your available surfing time, getting you into waves earlier and easier, through sections faster, and still performing at higher levels than a fish or something similar.
