Shortboards

High-performance shortboards and thrusters shine in steep, powerful surf, roughly 2ft to overhead, where you can perform airs, snaps, and tight cutbacks. Models like the Lost Rocket are tuned for those faces and often come in 5'6" to 6'6" lengths with lower volumes around 23–28L.

If you want a performance feel, match volume to your weight and skill: a 70kg rider might choose about 28L while an 85kg rider would be closer to 32L for enough buoyancy. Also consider length and width—boards between 5'6" and 6'10" and widths of 16"–20" will change paddle power and stability.

Foam type changes weight, buoyancy, and flex: PU offers a more traditional flex, EPS is lighter and more buoyant, and XPS stays stiffer and more waterproof. Most boards pair those cores with fiberglass and polyester or epoxy resin, and durability hinges on core density, rail strength, and lamination quality.

Tail shape and fin configuration dictate release and hold: squash tails provide versatility while swallow tails help with quick, drawn-out turns in smaller surf. A thruster 3‑fin setup improves control on steep faces, and narrower profiles will enhance turning at the cost of some paddling ease—widths around 16" to 20" affect that balance.

Step-ups and hybrids are the better pick when waves get larger or more powerful and you need extra hold and paddle power rather than pure agility. For bigger surf look to step-up designs like the Pyzel Ghost, whereas fish or grovelers such as the Channel Islands Happy Everyday excel in small, sloppy 1/2ft to 4ft conditions with wider outlines and swallow tails.