If you're buying a surfboard for the first time, finding a “board” can be a bit overwhelming when you're not in the know. A lot of factors play into making the best choice when it comes to that perfect board. A persons weight, surfing ability, what you want out of surfing, wave conditions and height are all factors when making that final decision. The "Surfboard Buyers Guide" is here only as a tool to aid in the research of buying the board most suitable to your needs.

• Generally the thicker the board the more floatation you'll get, thus making it easier to paddle into waves •

• Longer boards are more stable and tend to be thicker, thus making it easier to paddle into waves and to stand on •

• As with every other aspect of surfboard design, the best option lies in the happy medium of compromise •

• When choosing a shortboard a good rule of thumb is 1-3 inches bigger than you •

Now, we’ll discuss some of the terms you might hear when looking for a board.

Rocker : Surfboard rocker or the bottom curvature that runs the length of your board, from tip to tail. Some basic 'rules' concerning rocker are as follows: The more rocker or bottom curve that a board has, the looser (but slower) it will be. Water

flow has to follow the excess curve, ends up pushing water, and drag is the result. Flatter rocker brings more speed but brings a decrease in maneuverability. Generally, boards with more rocker work better in larger, hollow waves where the added curve and drag can contribute to more control for the rider. Flatter bottoms are normally used on small­wave boards designed for slower, mushier surf, where the speed (and added leverage) helps keep the board planing.

Concave : Feeds water under your board and out through the tail, giving it more speed and acceleration. Varieties include single concave, double concave and single to double concave (single under the front root feeding into a double under the back foot)

Tail : The Shape of the tail end of the board. Each tail shape has a different affect on how the board handles. Tail shapes are as follows: Squash, Pin, rounded pin, swallow, and square tail. Please see Types of Tails

Pin Tail: The core function of a pin tail is maintaining control. As the waves get larger and faster, the tails tend to get narrower. A pin tail is usually the best choice on medium-large to very large days at places like Pipeline. This tail is generally used in large surf on large boards.

Rounded Pin : The rounded pin is an excellent tail for semi-gun style boards which are designed for 4' to 10' surf. This tail is narrower than the round tail allowing it to maintain better control on big fast waves. This is a great choice for a mid range

travel board or for the occasional bigger days at your local break.

Swallow Tail : The Swallow (or Fish tail) has a wider planning surface similar to a squash tail but the cut out allows for better control when turning. This tail is ideally suited for small wave boards with wider tails as well as power surfers who want to maintain control through deep carving turns.

Squash Tail : Designed for small to medium sized performance surfing, the squash tail is currently the standard for most shortboards. This tail is highly responsive and ideal for generating and maintaining speed through slow spots.

Bat Tail : Designed in the eighties, this tail tends to be a fast maneuverable tail. Mostly shaped on a shortboard, this tail has really become popular in the last few years. This board comes generally with the quad and tri-fin set-up.

The Shortboard : (squash, pin, rounded pin, swallow, square, bat, round square and diamond tail,) (SpitFire, Mustang, Performance Shortboard) A more performance oriented shape. These boards tend to be thinner and narrower then any other type of board. Used in smaller more steep waves in the 3 – 8 feet range. Most shortboards differ in the type of tail, how much rocker, and the board thickness. Square and squash tail shapes usually give the board more snappy turns, whereas a rounded pintail yields more drawn out turns. Generally, boards with a squash or square tail are better for small peaky waves, and the rounded pin is better for bigger and/or hollow waves •

• Not recommended for beginners

The Fish : (swallow tail) (RetroFish) Typically a shorter, thicker board that has a swallow tail. This board is used in a bit smaller waves ranging in the 2-5 foot range and has better buoyancy due to the thickness. The width tends to gives the board a good turning arc, and the thickness gives the board extra buoyancy to keep speed on the smaller mushy waves. Cutbacks and off the tops are easy and yield a curved arc rather than a snap This board can come in a three fin set up (tri-fin) or a twin fin set up (twinny). Also included in this category is the Retro Fish

• Beginner to Expert

The Gun : (pin tail, rounded pin) A board designed for the larger more powerful waves.

Guns range in size from 7 feet to over 1 2 feet. Size of the board chosen depends on the wave size. Guns have the shape of a shortboard (pointed nose and narrow), but are very long and usually have a pintail. Usually ridden in waves 8 feet and larger. A must for very large waves •

• Not recommended for beginners

The Longboard : ( squash, rounded pin tails)(ClassicLongboard) The longboard originates from the first surfboard designs. This board is fast and easy to paddle. Catching waves and standing up is easy due to the length and thickness. Usually ridden in waves l' to 6' feet and bigger if you know what you're doing •

• Beginners to Expert

The Performance Longboard : (Squash, rounded pin)(Jason Ribbink) Utilizing the Longboard design. This board tends to be thinner with more rocker. Utilizing the single fin or tri-fin set up, this board is more of a hot dogger board where as a The Lonboard is a cruiser

• Intermediate to Expert

The Mini-Malibu : (squash, rounded pin) Also known as a funboard. With the maneuverability of a shortboard and thickness and length like a longboard, this board is great for the beginner or anyone for that matter that wants a fun all around board.

• Beginners to Expert (great learning board)

The information presented here is intended only to aid in your research. Choosing a surfboard can be a very difficult and confusing task if you don’t have the knowledge and understanding of surfboards and their design. As you learn more about surfboards and surfing, and as your skill level increases, your surfboard of choice will most likely change. There’s a lot more that could be said in regards to surfing, board design and board types. But above all else, surfing is meant to be fun.

As with every other aspect of surfboard design, the best option lies in the happy medium of compromise

surf-board (surf'bord', -bord')

A long , narrow I somewhat rounded board , usually having one to four fins I used for surfing.