Should I buy a Shortboard?

What is a shortboard??

Shorter – Traditionally under 7ft, though these days anything longer than 6’3 would probably be considered a step-up semi gun or gun.

Skinner -  but this all depends on you personal requirements i.e. weight, height or just preference. I prefer mine a little wider than most a little extra foam never really hurt and gets you into the wave sooner. Only over the last few years has there been a movement towards wider boards, in the 90’s you would have struggled to find one wider than 19 inches, now it’s fairly common.

The traditional shortboard comes as a thruster (3 fin) set up but again it’s become common for them to have a 5 fin set-up. Not that you should ride with 5 fins in as they are intended to be a little more versatile and can be ridden as a quad (bit more drive and hold of down the line surfing) or as a thruster, more release for turns. I could go on here but fins are a whole other story. So essentially if you like make tight turns and surf nearer the pocket a shortboard shape is a good option.

Here is a quick, quite eloquent explanation of what a shortboard is, what it incorporated and what the options are.

There are so many shortboard designs out there, depending on the waves you surf the rocker and outline are generally adapted. If you are looking for your first shortboard then it’s best to go and talk to a shaper or your local surf shop to figure out what will suit you best. As appealing as the pro model shortboards are I can guarantee buying won’t make you surf like Dane Reynolds or Kelly Slater but you may find something in the design the suits your surfing.

It might be worth getting something secondhand and figuring it out and taking it from there. I’ve had a few shortboards that just didn’t work for me the or that I just couldn’t figure out, that’s fine it happens sometimes just sell it on, it might work perfectly for someone else therefore passing on the stoke.

Is a shortboard for you? Only you can tell, it’s all about getting the right board for you and I think choosing the right board for the conditions, I generally ride a shortboard or at least a version of it, but when the conditions call for it I’ll ride a log (longboard) too.

Let me leave you with a taste of what is possible in a shortboard. It's over to Mr Slater and Mr Irons to wet your whistle.