Which Surfboard Shape is Right for You

So, with that in mind let's talk about the different designs of longboards, and how you can choose the right board for you, with a certain emphasis on the center of style; noseriding. 

 Erika and Anna with their surf quiver for the Mentawais

To set the scene, let’s understand the physics going on under our feet. For a nose ride to function, we need two things; a wide nose providing lift up front, along with the surfboard rail engaged in the wave face for grip and hold, and finally whitewater on the tail countering your weight upfront. We don’t really know how much of each is required, but some of each or a lot of one will often suffice.

The longer the board, likely the more encouraging it will be. So anything 9ft plus will give you the rail length required. Smaller than 9ft boards would work too, but longer just makes it easier.

There are three common outlines in longboarding and they’re each described by where the widest point of the board is located; wide point forward, wide point center, and wide point back.

WIDE POINT FORWARD
A wide point forward board is going to be your most nose ride friendly; especially if you’re learning. Having a big wide nose on the board is going to provide a tonne of hydrodynamic lift helping to counter your weight upfront; allowing you to make more errors in your nose ride timing, positioning or being heavy-footed without the board giving up on you right away. A wide nose will also support you more at slower speeds, like on softer waves. So if you surf mushy waves then this board will also help.

Level: Beginner nose rider-friendly
Example: Wingnut Nose rider

WIDE POINT CENTER

A wide point center or parallel railed longboard as it's sometimes referred gives strong rail engagement, as the majority of the board's length is parallel to the wave face we’re trying to engage into. This particularly helps on steeper or faster waves where we might need some speed and grip whilst nose riding.

Level: Beginner - Intermediate nose rider
Example: Bing Levitator

WIDE POINT BACK

A wide point back longboard is the culturally purest outline. A narrower nose won’t provide as much lift, but it will allow the board to fit in a much steeper and tighter wave. The wide point through the tail creates an almost teardrop shape providing a bulbous wider tail that is often rounded. With less weight up front and a rounded rear outline lets the rider pivot the board with a faster and smoother response, helping a more critical setup for nose riding.

Level: Intermediate to Expert nose rider
Example: Thomas Surfboards Harrison

 

Thanks for reading, the rest is up to you! 

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