Surfboard Construction and Classification

Surfboards are usually constructed using polyurethane foam. They are made stronger with one or more small pieces of wood going down the middle of the board called a stringer. The foam is molded into the rough shape of a surfboard called a blank. Note: Recently, the largest producer of these blanks, Clark Foam announced its closure. This move drastically affected surfboard production and has become known to surfers as Black Monday. Once the blanks have been made they are given to shapers. Shapers then cut, plane, and sand the board to its specifications. Finally, the board is glassed. Glassing is basically when the fiberglass is put on. It is during the glassing that the fins, or boxes for removeable fins are put on and the leash plug is installed. Another method of making boards is using epoxy resin and polystyrene foam, instead of polyester resin and urethane foam. Although boards are usually shaped by hand, the use of machines to shape them has become more and more popular over the years.

Modern Classifications

Egg - Modern hybrid board (6ft to 8' 6") using a more rounded longboard profile and round tail shape. Surfed in smaller waves with any fin set up. Also known as a 'funboard' as they are more about having fun then high performance or tricks. They can be easier to ride for beginning surfers and generally perform well in surfing conditions where the more traditional long and short boards might not.

Fish - Radically short stubby board (under 6ft) created in the 1970's by Skip Frye and popular in smaller waves. Primarily Twin Fin set up with a swallow tail shape. Re-grew in popularity in early 2000's, a trend which was kicked off by legendary surfer Tom Curren. Note, any type of board (such as shortboard or mini-longboard) can have a fish tail, and these are commonly referred to as a "fish", but they lack the other properties of a fish as listed here.

Gun - Big Wave Board (7ft to 12ft). Thin, needle-like template with Single or Thruster Set up. It usually looks like shortboard but at a longboard size. Used at such big waves spots as Waimea Bay and Mavericks.

Longboard - Primarily single finned with large rounded nose (c. 9 to 12ft) Also called a 'Mal', which is a shortened version of Malibu, one of, if not the most popular longboard wave.

Mini Mal (or Fun Board) - Based on the longboard's rounded template, but reduced in size (7 to 9ft) to provide more maneuverability. Either Single Finned or a three fin 'Thruster' set up can be used.

Shortboard - The most popular and versatile of the smaller boards. Characterised by a slender pointy nose and generally smaller dimensions. Surfed with three or five fins in a thruster or Bonzer style set up, but other set ups can be used.

Tow-In - Very small profiled specialist board with foot loops (c. 5ft) Allows the surfer to be towed behind a jet ski at greater speeds and catch waves not accessible to 'paddle-in' surfers. Generally used by the elite in huge surf.

Note the sizes given above are approximate overall lengths and are intended for guideline purposes only. Similar to the approach of surfing waves, there are no hard and fast rules for the board that you use to do so.