![]() If you have ever walked into a surf shop, or browsed online, you’ll know that there is more than a couple to choose from. Matching your abilities to the perfect board.What waves are you going to be catching?.Small wave performance boards - 1ft to 5ft.The importance of accurate volume calculations.If you’re an advanced rider and not a beginner, you can jump down the list a little further using our index: So as a surfer, you know what to look out for when buying your first, or next board. We’re going to take a look at the various board designs, sizes, and models in this article. It all comes into play when buying a board, not to mention paraphernalia like choosing the right surfboard fins, leg ropes, and traction pads. You’ll never truly know what a board suited for you really feels like.Ĭhoosing the right board comes down to your surfing skill, surf conditions, types of waves, and believe it or not, your fitness level. The engineering that goes behind board design is invaluable information. Understanding the fundamentals behind board design, sizing, shape is important. Whether you’re a complete beginner learning to surf, beginner intermediate or ready to break out in the pro scene. It's just a handy guideline or starting point.įor more in-depth information, take a look at our surfboard size chart, and learn the effects of surfboard design on wave performance.Choosing the right surfboard is one of the most, if not the most important purchasing decision you’ll make when it comes to an enjoyable wave ride. Volume does not tell everything about a surfboard and how it will improve the wave riding experience. Remember that the surf industry is continuing to revise how the most appropriate volume range for a surfer is calculated. If you're still getting into surfing, ask your local shaper or surf shop about which size you best. It's a recommendation, suggestion, or guideline that should be adopted cautiously. These remarks are important to underline that surfboard volume is not a one-formula-fits-all concept. The "Guild Factor" formula is generally accurate for polyurethane (PU) blank-based shortboards and funboards.Įpoxy and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam-based surfboards have considerably more buoyancy, which means that the ideal volume in liters should be dropped by around two or three liters.Īlso, as a surfboard gets longer and becomes a high-performance shape, the volume should also drop. Surfer's Weight in Kilograms (Kg) X Guild Factor (GF) Skill Level = Surfboard Volume (Liters) Weekend Warriors/Casual Surfers: 0.43-0.49+ (GF)įor a more precise surfboard volume, enter your exact weight and skill level and the recommended liters. Intermediate/Older Surfers: 0.38-0.42 (GF) Intermediate/Advanced Surfers: 0.36-0.38 (GF) It can also be used for selecting longboards and stand-up paddleboards.Īnd what are the most common "Guild Factor" ratios? This surfing scale allows surfers to pick the right surfboard for their skill level and accounts for wave conditions. One liter floats one kilogram of weight, and based on this knowledge, Whitney Guild has created a volumetric table system named the "Guild Factor." This means that the most suitable surfboards for learning to surf generally have more volume in liters and will be longer in length.ĭiscover the ideal surfboard volume (in liters) for your weight (kg/lb) and experience level.Įxplore the following surfboard volume chart: ![]() On the other hand, the intermediate/advanced surfer on a shortboard will require between 30-40 percent of his body weight in board volume.Ī novice surfer weighing 154 pounds (70 kilograms) should start with a 70-liter board, while an advanced rider with the same weight could get a 24-liter surfboard.īeginners in the art of surfing will quickly learn how to pop up on surfboards with higher flotation ratios. Knowing that two surfers with the same weight but differing experience levels will paddle for a wave differently, it follows that the floatation needs for each situation should be adapted accordingly.Ī beginner surfer should ride the equivalent of 100 percent of their body weight (in kilograms) in volume. Recently, former pro surfer John Whitney Guild proposed the inclusion of the volume ratio to rider weight in our surfboard spec list so that surfers could better choose the best surfboards for themselves. Volume - in liters - was never considered a variable. ![]() The concept of surfboard volume is increasingly popular, even though it has been used in windsurfing for a long time.īuoyancy is, in fact, a critical factor when it comes to paddling and gliding.įor several decades, shapers wrote three main specs on the back of their surfboards - length, width, and thickness.
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