Surfing is an exciting sport, and its popularity is increasing day by day. As newer people are joining this sport, they have plenty of questions in their heads, like which board should they use (longboard or shortboard)?
If you are among those types of people, then this blog is just the right place for you to get all your answers regarding this specific question.
The real question is not about the board you want to use, but about the way you want to surf. Both boards are different from one another and give you different types of experience.
So for the sake of your ease, we have explained in detail about boards and their differences below.
Contents
Surfboard Vs Longboard
Shortboard
Shortboards are newer to surfing than longboards. But we have a lot of community. Because it gives you pace and agility like a Formula 1 car. But it is more technical than longboarding. As with great speed and progression, so comes the higher difficulty. You will like shortboard surfing if the fast-paced sport is your choice.
Or if you want to make your surfing more challenging. But the thing is, shortboard surfing is quite hard and requires a lot of patience and practice to master. If short boarding is for you, you’ll need to be tenacious and up for the challenge. Below are some pros and cons of short boarding.
Pros
- It gives you more maneuverability than longboards.
- Its transportation is much easier than longboards.
- It gives a much higher pace than its counterpart.
- Small in size and length.
- The ideal wave height for short boarding is 2 feet plus.
- You can do amazing tricks.
Cons
- It is more difficult to use than a longboard.
- Hard to master.
Longboard
Longboarding was one of the earliest forms of surfing. As the name suggests, the longboards are much longer than the shortboards and have a much higher volume. A longboard is classic and is like a roll Royce, which provides you with grace and style. It does not have much speed and agility but is easy to learn.
A longboard is a better choice for you if you want to surf peacefully and just want to flow with life. Surfing a longboard is very forgiving and also bigger size volume and length make it easier for you to progress faster from beginner to master level. Here are some pros and cons discussed for longboarding.
Pros
- It is easier to use and master than a shortboard.
- Provides you with grace and style.
- Paddling on a longboard is much easier than its counterpart.
- The ideal wave height is only one to three feet.
Cons
- It is much pricier than a shortboard.
- Longboard does not provide you with much maneuverability.
- As they have a bigger size, transportation is quite difficult.
- Not much responsiveness.
Difference between a longboard and a shortboard
There are three key differences between a longboard and a shortboard shape that are presented below.
Length
The length distinction between longboards and shortboards is the most obvious one. Shortboards typically range in size from 5 to 7 feet, and longboards often start at 9 feet or beyond.
Size
Because longboards are designed for cruising and stability, they have a broad, curved body and thick rails for added volume. On the other hand, shortboards are designed more for speed and maneuverability and often have a pointier form and less thickness.
Fins
The majority of longboards are either ridden with a single large central fin or a single large central fin with two small trailer fins on either side.
Your preferred fin configuration will depend on the longboarding style that appeals to you; nose-riders choose a single fin layout, while performance longboarders prefer a three fin configuration.
In contrast, shortboards have significantly smaller fins and may be configured with two to five fins depending on the circumstances.
Popularity difference
Shortboarding’s appeal to elite surfers is logical. A longboard appears fluid and simple, whereas a shortboard looks remarkable and challenging. Shortboarding is, in fact, more profitable. Shortboarding offers greater chances for contests, sponsorships, and audience participation. Longboarders don’t mind being mostly kept out of the mainstream corporate marketing of surfing.
Which board should you use?
The choice of the board has a lot to do with your personality as well. A variety of things determine whether you ride a shortboard or a longboard.
The kind of surfing that appeals to you the most will determine a lot: Are you attracted to the longboarding style and flow? Or do you favor the shortboard’s features of speed and progression?
Longboards have high stability but are less agile. Shortboards will be swift and maneuverable. The best thing you can do if you’re new to surfing is to try each style. So you may decide, based on experience, which one you like most.
Is longboarding and surfing the same thing?
The board-body technique required for longboarding and surfing is quite similar. Simply said, this is how your body attaches to the board to carry out certain moves. They are just different ways to connect with water.
Why should someone choose a longboard over a shortboard?
A longboard gives beginning surfers plenty of surface area so they can catch waves and remain stable during takeoff. Those who attempt to leap down in board length too rapidly or learn to surf on shortboards can acquire negative behaviors, such as springing up with a lowered knee.
Which water sport is the most difficult and hardest to learn?
Without a doubt, mastering surfing requires months of consistent practice; it’s frequently regarded as the most difficult board sport to learn. The fact that every wave is different than the other prevents you from benefiting from repetition and is the major cause of surfing’s difficulty.
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Conclusion
Now you should be able to distinguish between longboarding and short boarding, weigh their advantages and disadvantages, and decide which is best for you. The best equipment to utilize depends on the sport. As is the case, there is no right equipment for you. Instead, it concerns the surfer’s comfortability, choice, talent, and ability, as well as the kind of waves.
The urge to divide surfers into longboarders and shortboards just breeds conflict and prevents us from experimenting with other boards. In the end, surfing’s dynamic nature and the limitless options for boards to ride and the variety of waves it encounters is what makes it so profoundly transformative.
