Ever stood at the edge of the ocean, watching surfers carve through waves with seemingly supernatural grace, and wondered which surfing path might be yours? The journey to finding your perfect surfing style begins with understanding the rich tapestry of options available in this ancient yet ever-evolving sport.
Surfing’s roots stretch back over 4,000 years to ancient Polynesia, where wave riding was both spiritual practice and practical transportation. What began as standing on wooden planks has transformed into a kaleidoscope of disciplines that cater to every personality, body type, and thrill threshold imaginable.
The surfing family tree
Traditional surfing—what most people envision when they hear the word—involves standing on a board and riding unbroken waves. But that’s just the beginning. Today’s surfing landscape includes:
- Shortboarding: Fast, radical maneuvers for the athletically inclined
- Longboarding: Graceful, flowing style emphasizing cross-stepping and nose riding
- Big wave surfing: For the adrenaline seekers tackling mountains of water
- Bodyboarding: Riding prone on a smaller board, making it accessible to beginners
- SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding): Using a paddle while standing, offering stability and versatility
Across all these styles, certain fundamental skills remain constant: balance, timing, ocean awareness, and paddling strength. However, the way these skills manifest varies dramatically between disciplines.
Finding your surfing soulmate isn’t just about what looks coolest—it’s about honest self-assessment. Your physical condition, local wave types, available practice time, and personal temperament all play crucial roles in determining which style will bring you the most joy and progress. Remember: the best surfing style is the one that keeps you coming back to the water, smile intact, day after day.
Riding the Wave: Your Guide to Surfing Styles
Surfing isn’t just a sport—it’s a spectrum of experiences that changes dramatically depending on your board choice and the waves you chase. The surfing world offers distinct disciplines that cater to different skill levels, physical abilities, and personal preferences. Understanding what types of surfing exist and how to choose the right style based on your experience level can transform your relationship with the ocean from intimidating to exhilarating.
Shortboard Surfing: The Athletic Performer
Shortboards—typically ranging from 5’6″ to 6’8″ in length—represent surfing’s most dynamic and athletic expression. These boards feature pointed noses, narrow widths, and pronounced rocker (curve), creating a responsive platform for radical maneuvers.
Ideal conditions: Punchy, steep waves with power. Shortboards thrive in hollow beach breaks and reef setups where quick reactions and sharp turns are essential.
Rider profile: Athletic surfers with solid paddling strength and developed balance. While not impossible for beginners, shortboarding demands a foundation of wave knowledge and physical conditioning that typically comes after at least 6-12 months of consistent surfing.
Performance metrics that matter:
- Wave height sweet spot: 2-8 feet
- Paddle efficiency: Lower than longboards (requires more effort)
- Maneuverability: Exceptional (allows for snaps, cutbacks, aerials)
Longboard Surfing: The Graceful Glider
Longboards (9’0″ and above) represent surfing’s classical roots with their graceful lines and flowing style. These boards offer tremendous paddle power and early wave-catching ability.
Techniques and advantages: The longboard’s volume and length create a stable platform that forgives balance mistakes, making it the ultimate beginner-friendly craft. Techniques like nose riding (walking to the front of the board) and cross-stepping create a distinctive style that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Stylistic elements: Longboarding emphasizes flow over radical maneuvers. The “hang ten” (placing all ten toes over the nose) represents the pinnacle of longboard mastery, requiring perfect weight distribution and timing.
“Longboarding isn’t just easier—it’s a different philosophy. It’s about working with the wave rather than trying to dominate it.”
Big Wave Surfing: The Ultimate Challenge
When waves reach heights of 20+ feet, we enter the realm of big wave surfing—a specialized discipline requiring specific equipment, extensive training, and calculated risk management.
Requirements:
- Physical: Exceptional paddle strength, breath-holding capacity (2+ minutes), and cardiovascular fitness
- Equipment: Specialized guns (longer, narrower boards designed for holding lines on massive faces) and safety gear including inflation vests and communication systems
- Mental: Risk assessment skills and the ability to perform under extreme pressure
Safety considerations: Big wave surfing demands a comprehensive safety approach including:
- Trained spotters and jet ski assistance
- Detailed knowledge of specific break characteristics
- Emergency response protocols
- Inflation vests that can bring a surfer to the surface after a wipeout
Progression path: The journey to big wave surfing typically spans years, not months. Most elite big wave surfers build experience incrementally, gradually testing themselves in progressively larger conditions while developing specific fitness protocols focused on breath-holding and recovery.
Each surfing discipline offers its own rewards and challenges. Your choice should align with your physical abilities, local wave conditions, and—most importantly—what brings you joy in the water. The beauty of surfing lies in its versatility: many surfers maintain a quiver of different boards, allowing them to match their equipment to both conditions and mood.
Sealing the Deal: Your Surfing Style Decision Matrix
The Personal-to-Wave Matching Framework
Finding your surfing soulmate isn’t just about what looks coolest on Instagram—it’s about honest self-assessment. The most successful surfers align their physical attributes, goals, and local conditions with their chosen style. Here’s your decision framework:
Physical Considerations:
- Fitness level (cardiovascular endurance and upper body strength)
- Balance and coordination (previous board sport experience is gold)
- Swimming proficiency (non-negotiable for any surfing discipline)
Environmental Factors:
- Local wave types (beach breaks vs. point breaks vs. reef breaks)
- Seasonal conditions (summer mushburgers or winter bombs?)
- Crowd factors (competitive lineups require different approaches)
Personal Goals:
- Recreation vs. competition aspirations
- Learning curve comfort (shortboarding has a steeper curve than longboarding)
- Time commitment (weekend warrior or daily dawn patrol?)
Match your honest assessment to the appropriate style—shortboarding demands peak fitness and quick reflexes, while SUP surfing offers accessibility with less wave-catching frustration.
Gear Decisions That Make or Break Your Experience
Equipment selection dramatically impacts your surfing journey. Each discipline demands specific gear considerations:
| Surfing Style | Board Characteristics | Key Equipment Needs | Investment Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortboarding | 5’6″-6’6″, pointed nose, 3-fin setup | High-performance wetsuits, traction pads | |
| Longboarding | 9’0″+, rounded nose, single fin option | Nose riders, rail-to-rail wax coverage | $$$ |
| SUP Surfing | 9’0″-11’0″, extra volume, wide tail | Quality paddle, leash, PFD | $ |
| Bodyboarding | 38″-45″, crescent tail, channels | Swim fins, bicep leash | $$ |
| Bodysurfing | N/A | Hand planes, swim fins, specialized wetsuit | $ |
Material considerations matter enormously. Beginners benefit from soft-top technology from brands like Wavestorm for safety and durability, while intermediate surfers might explore epoxy construction for lightness and responsiveness.
Fin setups transform performance. Single fins provide stability and classic trim, while thruster (three-fin) configurations deliver maneuverability and drive. Quad setups offer speed and hold in hollow waves.
Don’t underestimate the importance of appropriate wetsuit thickness for your local conditions—a 4/3mm suit from O’Neill might be perfect for Northern California, while Florida might only require a 2mm springsuit or rashguard.
Plugging Into the Tribe
The surfing journey extends far beyond equipment and technique—it’s about community integration and continuous learning:
Digital Resources:
- Style-specific YouTube channels (Surf Simply for technical breakdowns)
- Wave forecasting tools like Surfline and MagicSeaweed
- Surf-tracking apps to monitor progress and conditions
In-Person Development:
- Local surf schools offering style-specific coaching
- Surf clubs organized around disciplines (longboard clubs often welcome beginners)
- Competitions categorized by board type and skill level
Cultural Immersion:
- Surf film festivals showcasing different approaches
- Shaper demonstrations to understand equipment nuances
- Beach cleanups connecting you with the environmental side of surf culture
The beauty of surfing lies in its lifelong learning curve. Your initial style choice isn’t permanent—many surfers evolve through multiple disciplines as they progress, often maintaining a quiver that allows them to match their equipment to daily conditions.
Remember that the best surfer isn’t the one with the most advanced style, but the one having the most fun—choose a discipline that speaks to your soul, not just your athletic ambitions.