Beginners learn to surf on soft top high volume surf boards. If they progress to hard boards they can make a choice and often wonder Why to Select Short Board Surfing vs Long Boards. It is true that most good surfers can surf both and many do.
The short board is an aggressive board for steep waves and executing maneuvers. The long board is best in slow developing waves that are not steep and the maneuvers require very little body torquing. This leaves out monster waves like Mavericks or Jaws where surfers move to gunn surf boards.
The short surf board is low volume board under 6’10” and makes three things more difficult for beginners. They sink in the water so paddling is strenuous. They require the arc of the wave to rise overhead for power. They are not as stable to ride. Surfers for short boards usually can visit the water often to maintain stamina and timing.
Riding the Long Board
The long board is a high volume board that begins at 9′ in length. It is easy to paddle so doesn’t require frequent visits to the water to maintain stamina. This may be its greatest asset. It catches waves easy so waves can be caught as soon as they start to form eliminating the difficult timing issues. They are easy to pop up on and easy to ride. A long board can be driven in the pocket without maneuvers being necessary.
Both boards can be taken to professional levels. The long board can be ridden on big waves and the maneuvers are handled differently than short boards by walking back and forth on the board and leaning on the tail to bring the nose around for carves. The short board carves by leaning the rails into the wave and then torquing the body starting at the head and arriving at the feet to create carves.
The short boarder is more likely to visit the water often. The short board ability needs to be consistently maintained. The long board can be ridden less often as the physical and timing demands are far more relaxed. Younger people generally want the short board and older people generally seek the long board. There is also a progression where young people graduate to long boards as they get older for physical reasons and because they don’t get to the water often.
Many surfers have both in their quiver. If they surf a lot, they want the variety. On smaller wave days the long board can be the most fun. On peaky bigger wave days the short board is the choice
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
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