Transitioning to a Shortboard

After you’ve mastered your longboard, it’s time to move on to a more agile shortboard. Here you’ll discover all the information you need for that transition.

When to Transition to a Shortboard

Many surfers ride shortboards before they are ready, leading to frustration and a longer learning curve.

A shortboard is a small, nippy boat with a prominent rocker. Advanced moves are well-suited to them, but learning the fundamentals, such as paddling, might be considerably more difficult for someone who is still learning.

Did you know that your foamie actually helps you paddle and stay balanced? Well, it does! The shortboard, on the other hand, has less volume and a concave shape that creates drag. Instead of helping you glide across the top of the water like your longboard does, it will sink a bit under your weight.

You’ll need to paddle faster and harder on a shortboard to catch waves, so make sure your fitness level, surf skills, and wave reading capabilities are up to par before you invest in one.

Skill

Make sure you can pop up and catch unbroken waves on a regular basis. Because of the shortboard’s drag, you’ll be relying on your rails a lot, so make sure you know how to ride a wave down the line. If you’re only catching waves and returning to shore, you aren’t prepared yet.

Fitness

You’ll also need a reasonable level of surfing skill. Surfing on a shortboard demands more popping up and paddling power. To increase your paddle strength, you’ll need strong biceps and shoulders; to pop up quickly, you’ll need a solid core.

Regularly surfing for six months or longer will give you the muscles you require, but land-based workouts can always help boost your fitness.

Reading the Waves

Being able to read waves is crucial for longboarding success. You can take off on any part of the wave – the shoulder, peak, or anywhere else – and have an equal chance at riding it well.

When riding a shortboard, it is more crucial to catch the wave at its crest. This means you must be skilled in both spotting where the wave will peak and paddling towards it expeditiously.

If you’re confident in your abilities and your fitness is where it should be, it’s probably time to move on from a longboard.

Adjusting to a Shortboard

Even if your abilities are where they need to be, there will always be an adjustment period when you acquire a new board. Paddling, launching up, surfing the wave, and so on will all feel distinct.

Paddling

A smaller-volume board will be less stable at first. It’s considerably more difficult to stay balanced on a 25L shortboard than a 75L longboard because they’re less buoyant. Not only are they intended to be less sturdy by design, but you’ll also need to accommodate for a new body position on the board.

With a shortboard, you need to be extra cautious of how your body moves. They aren’t as forgiving as other types of boards if you lose balance or shift your weight improperly.

Popping Up

The way you pop up will look different on a shortboard than it does on a longboard because your feethang off the board’s tail while you paddle. Rather than pushing up with your toes like on a longboard, you’ll need to employ another method. There are quite a few options, but the chicken wing technique is most popular.

Chicken Wing Pop-Up

The chicken-wing pop-up is one of the best ways to quickly get up on your board without losing balance.

• When you feel the wave beneath you, place your hands just below your pectorals.
• Raise your chest and slide your back foot onto the tail of your board.
• Before you start, put your foot on the board and then push up from there. Next, slide your leg so it’s between your hands; they should be wider than shoulder-width apart. Afterward, stand up slowly and be sure to keep bent at the knees and hips.

Riding a Wave on a Shortboard

The two main things you need to focus on while riding a shortboard are timing and how your weight is distributed. Since the boards have less surface area and aren’t as fast, try to catch the wave just before it becomes too powerful.

You’ll have to get used to popping up on the steepest area of the wave rather than in front of it.

After you’ve caught the wave and stand up on your board, you’ll notice that it’s easier to make quick movements. Generally, more experienced surfers prefer shortboards because they are faster and more maneuverable.

However, for those who aren’t as confident in their surfing skills, the responsiveness of a shortboard can be challenging. To get used to riding a shortboard, start with small movements and gradually increase the range of your motions.

It takes some practice to master balance on a shortboard, but it’s considerably simpler to carve and trim than it is on a longboard. On a small board, turning and cutting are much easier. Large, high-volume boards are essential for optimal form and balance because they’re more difficult to control.

Because they don’t respond as much to weight distribution, longboards are great for beginners who want to learn proper mechanics like body positioning and speed control.

selling your old board is a rookie mistake! If you’re thinking of transitioning to a shortboard, do it in stages by moving from a foamie to a slightly smaller hybrid.

That way, you’ll have bigger boards for mushy waves and save the shortboard for more dramatic days. Shortboards aren’t appropriate for all conditions so don’t get rid of all your other boards!

Buying Your First Shortboard

If you can paddle into waves, sit up, ride the wave until it fades away, and know how to follow surfing etiquette and ocean safety guidelines, you’re ready for a shorter, faster, and more responsive board.

It’s critical that you’re honest with yourself about your skills and that you surf in conditions that are appropriate for your skill level at all times.

Surfboard Dimensions

To select the best shortboard for your surfing style, it is crucial to comprehend basic surfboard construction and design language, as well as how each element impacts performance.

The Nose – The nose is the front tip of the board, which mainly affects how well you paddle and enter a wave. A wider, flatter nose usually does better in small waves because that shape glides more smoothly over flat sections of a wave.

The Rocker – this is the curvature of the board. It has a major impact on speed and turning. A flatter rocker will assist you in generating and maintaining momentum down the line of a smaller wave, whereas a more extreme rocker curve will aid with turns and steeper waves.

The Rails, or sides/edges of the board, greatly affect tube-riding, holding a line, speed and turning. Hard rails are designed for boards meant for high performance because they dig in more; however soft rails allow for more leeway when it comes to smaller waves and turns.

The tail of the board is located at the back end, and it plays a role in speed, how easy it is to maneuver, and stability. There are multiple types of tails that work well in different waves- for smaller waves with less texture or chop on them, focus on squash and swallow tail boards.

Squash tails are more common shorter boards used for sharp or loose turns; while swallow tails excel in allowing easy pivoting- perfect for those small but treacherous waves.

The Fins – these are on the bottom of the board and provide the bulk of support. Fin choice is dependent on the surfer’s weight, wave type, and riding style. Futures holds a market share, while FCS is number two. When purchasing fins, consider your weight and material type. Carbon fiber is ideal for big, powerful waves, but fiberglass or plastic are better for smaller surf because you’ll be learning turns and finding your flow.

In general, more experienced surfers choose boards with higher rocker curves, stronger rails, and more complex tail shapes. Beginner to intermediate surfers should opt for longer boards with a less distinct rocker curvature, softer rails, and ensure that their fins are suited to their weight.

Shortboard Sizing

Board size is vital, especially for beginners. Your board’s size should be dependent on your weight. The chart below will assist you with choosing the correct sized board.

We’ve chosen some of the best shortboards for surfing smaller waves below

Haydenshapes Holy Grail

The Haydenshapes Holy Grail has a medium-high rocker, which aids in glide on the water and quick paddling. This board’s high buoyancy makes it simpler to maintain paddle speed and get up in smaller waves, but it won’t hold you back as you advance to bigger surf.

Lost Puddle Jumper

The Puddle Jumper is wider and thicker than most boards, making it easier to paddle into smaller waves. The distribution of foam also provides speed in smaller waves while the thinner tail offers responsive maneuvering.

Mick Fanning Little Marley

The Little Marley, a soft-top board bearing the name of Mick Fanning–a three-time world surfing champion, gifted athlete, andinfamous shark attack survivor–is well suited to beginners.

The surfboard has a stiff body but with a soft curve, allowing it to move quickly through small waves. The rail line is short, making this board ideal for tight spaces. The subtle diamond tail helps with turning and can help you navigate each section of even the smallest surf.

Chili Surfboards Volume II

Chili Surfboards Volume II is a good choice for surfers who are slightly more advanced. The concave design allows for speed, while the concentrated volume under the chest contributes to paddle power. The medium/slight rails are a bit more aggressive and designed for performance.

With a squash tail, this board is designed to perform well in many different types of waves, as one would expect from a board made by Mitch Coleborn. Coleborn is a rider who often encounters average or below-average waves during his travels around the world.

However, it is still a good choice for surfers eager to move from intermediate to expert surfing. It can handle waves up to five feet tall, making this wave one of the best options for those wanting to advance their surfing skills.

ChanneI Islands Rocket Wide

The Rocket Wide surfboard from Channel Islands is based on the world-famous Rocket 9, but with a wider tail and nose.

The wider tail and nose give this board a more “skate” feel in smaller waves, allowing for faster paddling and greater off-the-top performance. This board is ideal for the surfer attempting to improve their tricks.

The Rocket Wide is a accommodating board; it can be set up with different fin settings, making it an excellent choice for the surfer who often encounter diverse ocean conditions. With this design, the user will find the board easy to use and responsive.