Your Quick Guide to Surfboard Shapes: Find out which type matches your surf level and that will take your surfing to the next level

As soon as you reach the intermediate level, you naturally dive much deeper into the world of surfing. Suddenly, it’s no longer just about balancing on your board in front of whitewater or catching your first small green waves. Now, wave reading, understanding surf forecasts, choosing the right surf spot, and learning your first maneuvers and turns become part of the journey. And one topic increasingly comes into focus: the different surfboard shapes.

At the beginning of your surf journey, this is especially exciting: Many dream of one day riding a shortboard. But getting there takes time, and it’s crucial to understand which surfboard shapes match your skill level and different wave conditions.

Only when you know the differences can you choose the right board to progress. Surfboard shapes are constantly evolving, and it can be hard to keep up with all the new variations. Here, you’ll learn about the most common and well-known shapes.

In this article, you’ll learn what defines different surfboard shapes and why they are so essential for your surfing development.

Surfboard Shapes

Longboard

Before performance surfing became so popular, the longboard was one of the most beloved surfboard shapes—and it has continuously evolved over the decades. A classic longboard ranges from 8ft to 12ft in length, features a rounded nose, and has a large surface area. Thanks to its significant volume, even the smallest waves can be ridden with minimal effort.

However, longboards are primarily designed for small waves. Once the waves reach chest-high or bigger, handling becomes more challenging and is best left to experienced surfers.

The surfing style on a longboard differs greatly from riding a shortboard. While shortboarding is all about fast, radical maneuvers, longboarding is about flow and elegance. The famous “noseriding” or gracefully walking up and down the board almost looks like dancing on water.

Unfortunately, some surf schools tend to give beginners a longboard at first. Personally, I’m not a fan of this approach—in fact, I strongly advise against it. Longboards are heavy, unwieldy, and, most importantly, dangerous if you don’t know how to control them in the water. If an unexpected bigger wave comes, many beginners struggle to get their board over the waves. The risk of injury—to yourself and others—is huge when you consider the massive radius of a 9ft board plus a 9ft leash.

Mini Malibu

The name Mini Malibu (also called “Mini-Mal”) originates from the legendary longboard surf spot in Malibu, Los Angeles. To this day, “Malibu surfing” is synonymous with smooth, flowing longboard riding. A Mini Malibu is essentially a smaller version of a longboard.

It combines the advantages of a longboard with a more manageable size—a versatile surfboard designed for both fun and progression. Mini Malibus typically range from 7’0 to 8’2 feet in length. They feature a wide, voluminous nose with plenty of surface area and a low rocker, much like a classic longboard. This provides great buoyancy and stability, making it more forgiving when it comes to take-offs and foot placement. Additionally, the extra float helps with paddling, making it easier to catch smaller waves.

The tail is often more tapered (usually a pin tail) and, combined with a thruster (tri-fin) or setup, allows for better maneuverability and control despite the board’s larger size. It can also have a single fin, in which case the surfing style is less focused on maneuvers.

Mini Malibus perform exceptionally well in small to medium-sized waves, but they have limitations in very steep or large waves.

A Mini Malibu is an all-rounder surfboard that suits both beginners and more experienced surfers.

Mini Malibus are considered some of the best surfboards for advanced beginners looking to learn their first maneuvers, such as trimming and riding down the line. They are the perfect entry point into the intermediate level, as they offer stability, forgiveness, and ease of use, while still being far more manageable than a long, heavy log.

Intermediates will appreciate how effortlessly a Mini Malibu paddles and turns, while advanced surfers will still enjoy the board—especially on smaller days.

Foam Surfboard

A foam surfboard is essentially a Mini Malibu with a soft foam top layer, including the rails—sometimes even the entire board is made of foam. Thanks to this material, foam surfboards offer extra buoyancy and exceptional stability, making them the go-to choice for surfing beginners.

Foam Surfboards are not only easy to ride but also extremely durable. They can withstand small bumps, falls, and rough landings—perfect for those first surf sessions. At the same time, the soft foam significantly reduces the risk of injury, both for you and those around you. That’s why nearly all surf schools rely on softboards.

Performance Foam Surfboard

A special type of foam surfboard is the performance softboard, which comes in different shapes, such as small shortboards or fish designs. These boards are designed to combine the benefits of a softboard—high buoyancy and safety—with the performance and agility of a classic shortboard.

Performance Foamies are mainly aimed at intermediate and advanced surfers who already have solid surfing skills but still appreciate the comfort and safety of a softboard.

To enhance speed and control, these boards often use denser foam or a wooden core, making them stiffer and more responsive. Many performance foam surfboards feature a twin-fin or thruster setup, providing better maneuverability and control in the waves.

Mid-Length

A mid-length surfboard typically ranges from 6’4” to 7’6”. The longer the board, the more stability it offers—but at the cost of maneuverability and quick turns. However, a mid-length isn’t just for intermediate surfers. Many shortboarders have a mid-length in their quiver, and for good reason! On days with smaller waves, tired paddle power, or crowded line-ups, a mid-length provides a crucial advantage: more waves, less effort, more fun!

Mid-lengths come in various shapes and styles, depending on your surf style and progression level. Some of the most popular mid-length surfboard shapes include the “Egg” and “Hybrid”. The right mid-length for you depends on how it can best support your surfing—whether it’s speed, stability, or maneuverability.

Everyday Mid-Length

These mid-lengths are not entirely performance-driven, but they are still maneuverable while focusing on paddle speed support. They are similar to Mini-Malibus, featuring low rocker and a balanced shape for extra stability on the water. However, while Mini-Malibus typically have a wide nose with more surface area (like a longboard), a mid-length can also have a pointier nose.

These types of mid-lengths are ideal for intermediates who can already catch waves on a softboard or Mini-Malibu and now want to improve their turns.

Mini / Performance Mid-Length

A Mini Mid-Length is about 6’4″–6’8″ and is a great compromise for surfers who are not quite ready for a shortboard or for experienced surfers looking for more paddle power.

These boards allow for better performance and maneuverability than a Mini-Malibu—thanks to a sharper, more shortboard-like shape or increased rocker. At the same time, they still offer extra volume compared to a shortboard, making paddling easier and helping to catch more waves.

Mid Twin

A mid-length can also be ridden as a Twin Fin, known as a Mid Twin. Twin fins generate more speed, offer a playful feel, and create a fluid surf style. However, Mid Twins differ in design from traditional twin fins, making them more user-friendly and optimizing their wave performance.

Why Choosing a Mid-Length?

Whether you’re looking for more flexibility in wave conditions, easier paddling, or even the ability to duck dive without needing a shortboard, a mid-length is always fun. It offers a huge range of surf possibilities for different skill levels and wave conditions

It’s the perfect board for surfers who want to catch more waves with less effort—while still enjoying a good dose of performance.

Funboard

A funboard is an umbrella term for various surfboard shapes, including Mini-Malibus, Mid-Lengths, and Softboards. The idea behind this surfboard style is to provide a well-balanced ride—offering plenty of volume for easy wave-catching, good maneuverability, and solid stability in the water.

Funboards are versatile and work well in a variety of wave conditions. The main goal? Fun! You can still perform turns and maneuvers without sacrificing wave count on smaller days.

Both intermediate and advanced surfers love this board shape. While shortboards are high-performance surfboards designed for experienced surfers with strong paddling skills, wave selection, and positioning, funboards cater to those who want a mix of stability and playfulness.

Shortboard

A shortboard is the ultimate performance board, designed for advanced surfers.

Shortboards feature a sharper shape with a narrow, pointed nose and tail, allowing for precise, tight turns in the wave’s pocket. The thin rails enable radical maneuvers, but they also make the board less forgiving—requiring perfect execution in take-offs, positioning, and movements. A more pronounced rocker increases maneuverability, especially in steeper waves.

Since shortboards have low volume, they demand strong paddling technique and active speed generation. This means a shortboard only works efficiently if you already have good speed control and paddling strength.

Fish

A Fish surfboard combines the agility of a shortboard with the buoyancy and speed of a more voluminous board. With its wide nose and signature swallowtail, the Fish is perfect for small to medium-sized, weaker waves—the kind you might struggle with on a traditional shortboard.

The wider nose and tail provide extra volume, increasing buoyancy and glide. Its flatter rocker offers a larger planing surface, generating effortless speed even in mushy conditions. The swallowtail improves control and stability while maintaining maneuverability.

A twin-fin setup further enhances speed by reducing water resistance compared to a thruster. However, the downside is less stability and control at high speeds and in steeper waves. Since Fish boards lack a center fin, they feel looser, allowing for playful turns but offering less hold in critical wave sections. This makes controlling the board more challenging in powerful or bigger waves, as the tail tends to slide out more easily.

A Fish shape is best suited for experienced intermediates to advanced surfers looking for extra speed in small, weak waves—where a shortboard wouldn’t perform well. However, it’s not ideal for large, steep waves, mainly due to its wide tail.

Retro Fish vs. Performance Fish

The Retro Fish is typically shorter and wider, always featuring a twin-fin setup. Its design is inspired by 1970s surfboards, with an extra-wide and flat shape that maximizes speed and creates a smooth, flowing ride.

The Performance Fish is a more modern variation, often equipped with a quad-fin setup. It is slightly narrower and has more rocker, improving maneuverability and enabling tighter turns, making it more suitable for steeper waves.

Gun

The Gun is designed for one purpose: helping surfers conquer massive big waves. These boards are at least 8 to 10+ feet long, featuring a narrow, streamlined shape built for maximum control and speed in extreme conditions.

Thanks to its length and volume, a Gun allows for an early take-off, which is essential because big waves break at high speeds. A shortboard would be far too slow to catch these waves in time. At the same time, the narrow tail provides grip and stability, ensuring that the surfer doesn’t slip on the steep, powerful wave face.

A Gun is a board for advanced surfers who are ready to take on some of the biggest waves on the planet, such as those at Nazaré.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your surf skills, choosing the right board makes all the difference in your progression. If in doubt, try out different surfboard shapes and find the one that suits your style best!

Need help? Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

This article covered the different surfboard shapes and provided tips for beginners and intermediates.