Speedos in the Surf and Surfboards for Beginners

I really don’t know what my fascination is with speedo’s and surfing waves-except that I really want to see a pro surfer walking with his surfboard to the ocean wearing a speedo, then see him wear that speedo while surfing. Which would prove a point--wearing speedos is not lame, and it will show others that someone who wears speedos can still rip better than you and me. I guess you could say it’s my sick surfers fantasy-one of them. Stay tuned for more.

The actual topic for this post is surfboards and the ‘what ya gotta know’ about them. Surfboards come in all shapes and sizes, you’ve got the longboard, the shortboard, the ‘gun’, the ‘egg’, the ‘fish,’ and the ‘fun board,’ to name a few. Now they may sound like dangerous weapons of war or something you might eat for breakfast but these are really the names of the different types of surfboards out there. Although you can categorize a few of these boards into the longboard or shortboard list, I thought I would just explain each type of board individually. Let’s check them out.

The Longboard- the first recorded citing of a longboard was in 1779, written by James King, the commander of a ship that had stopped in the Hawaiian Islands. He says that the Hawaiians were riding oval wooden planks, about the size of the riders, and that they were able to catch waves with ease. This is a pretty accurate description of longboards, as we know them now. Although the ‘longboard’ has evolved somewhat from its predecessors, they still continue to allow riders to catch waves with ease. Longboards usually range in length from 9-11 feet, and sometimes 12’. The tip or top of the board is rounded and the general width of the board can range anywhere from 1 ½ ‘ to 2 ½’ ft wide. You will notice also that some longboards are thicker then others, this allows for better flotation. Back in the days long boards where made out of wood, and though some are still made out of wood the popular materials being used now are foam (polyurethane) and fiberglass, or epoxy and foam. The size and shape of the longboard allows riders to catch waves that would be difficult for shortboarders to catch. Smaller waves can also be caught and ridden farther with less effort. The width, length, and thickness of a board will determine the ease of catching waves. You should definitely learn to surf on a longboard, they are easier to ride, and you should have no problems picking a board that is right for you.


The Shortboard- shortboards didn’t become popular until the late 1960’s, the father of the shortboard is said to be George Freeth. He cut is longboard in half and started riding waves with it. He is said to be one of the first persons to surf on the Califonia coast. Shortboards are shorter than a long board and usually range anywhere from 5-7 ft. They have a pointed tip and a rounded or squared bottom. Due to their shape and size surfing on a shortboard takes more effort in paddling, and catching, waves; but riding a shortboard is so rewarding, the things that you can do on a shortboard once you can stand and maneuver is exhilarating.
The Gun-the gun is shaped like a shortboard but is a lot longer than a shortboard. The length of a gun can range anywhere from 7 ft to 12’ depending on the size of the waves or the need of the surfer. These boards are used for big wave riding to allow the surfers to paddle on to bigger waves.

The Egg- this board is said to be a mini version of a long board. They are shaped wider than a normal shortboard and have a rounded tip. This board allows you to maneuver like a shortboard in smaller conditions, and ride the wave farther.

The Fish- fish boards are mainly known for the end or bottom of the board being shaped like a fish tail or a ‘swallow’ tail. This shortboard is generally known for being short about 5-6ft and wide, making it easy to ride in smaller surf, but also allowing riders to gain good speeds.


The Fun board- this board is a beginners board, or for longboarders who are transitioning to a shortboard. This board is about 7-8 ft. and will generally have the width of a ‘fish’ or a shortboard depending on your preference. You can get the best of both worlds on a ‘fun board,’ being that you can either ride it smooth like a longboard or maneuver with it-do cut backs and other tricks like a shortboard. I started on a ‘fun board,’ this is a great board to learn on, especially if your thinking about converting to a shortboard.


Hopefully with my brief descriptions of the five types of surfboards you will have a better idea, of what kind of board will be best for you. If you have a chance to try each of these out you will also be able to consider how you like to ride a wave-kind of like how you like to eat your eggs and what type of surfer you are. The ‘How to of Surfing Waves for beginners,’ is happy to give beginner surfers more info on being choosing the best beginner boards.