Glossary
The 20 terms you will run into when buying a board, one sentence each. If you came from the calculator, the ones that weigh most on the result are volume, fill factor and outline.
- Volume
- The space the board occupies, in litres. One litre floats roughly one kilo, so it is the number that decides whether you paddle comfortably.
- Litres
- The unit volume is measured in. Printed on the deck of almost every new board, next to the dimensions.
- Fill factor
- How close the real shape gets to the length × width × thickness box. It runs from 0.52 on a gun to 0.61 on a longboard, and it explains why two boards that look the same carry different litres.
- Outline
- The board's silhouette seen from above. A wide outline paddles and stabilises; a narrow one turns tighter and holds more speed.
- Rocker
- The curve from nose to tail seen side on. Plenty of rocker fits hollow waves and paddles worse; little rocker paddles like a boat and catches on a steep face.
- Foil
- How thickness is distributed along the board. A centred foil gives a clear pivot point; forward helps paddling and back helps tight turns.
- Rail
- The edge where the deck meets the bottom. Thin rails bite and hold on the wall; thick rails float and forgive.
- Deck
- The top surface, where you stand. A domed deck adds litres; a flat one puts you closer to the water and gives more control.
- Nose
- The front tip. Wide helps paddling and catching waves early; narrow drops into steeper faces better.
- Tail
- The back end. Its shape decides how the board releases water: squash is all-round, swallow releases fast and pin holds in big waves.
- Swallow
- A V-shaped notch in the tail, typical of fish. It behaves like two points and makes the board loose in weak waves.
- Stringer
- The timber strip running down the board's centre line. It adds stiffness and controls flex.
- Shortboard
- A high-performance board, short and narrow, for walled waves and for surfers already linking turns.
- Fish
- Short, wide and with a swallow tail. It turns small days into surfable ones.
- Hybrid
- The middle ground between shortboard and fish: paddle power without giving up turning.
- Mid-length
- Between 6'6" and 8'. Paddles easily, forgives mistakes and is the natural board while progressing.
- Longboard
- Nine feet or more. Classic style, endless paddling and walks to the nose.
- Gun
- Long, narrow and with a pointed nose. It exists to get you into big waves early and hold speed.
- Softboard
- A foam board. The only sensible option for the first sessions: it floats a lot and it does not hurt.
- Groveler
- A high-performance board with extra litres for bad days. Shortboard response with the flotation of something bigger.