Picking the right surfboard bottom is like backing the right horse at the racetrack; what horse will run well on one course won’t necessarily run as well on another. Adding the jockey and the condition of the track complicates the equation further.
The same is true with surfboard design. It might look impressive to rock a high-performance sled under the arm as you stroll towards your home break, but once on the waves, will it respond how you need it to? Nuance is the name of the game when it comes to choosing the right contour, and there’s a solution for all abilities, body types and waves. But how can you best figure out what’s right for you and get the maximum enjoyment out of your surfing?
Over 40 years, Ian Byrne has seen many trends come and go, some returning full circle, but one thing remains constant. “Foam is your friend,” he says. “It’s just got to be in the right places.”
Mauricio Gil, from MG Surfboards, shaped his first board at 14 and hasn’t stopped since. “What works for one board won’t necessarily work for another. A longboard, a fish and a high-performance shortboard all require specific measurements and contours.”
With over five decades in the shaping game, Murray Bourton has learned a thing or two about unlocking that magic combination of a great board. “As a custom shaper, what I pride myself in doing is interpreting what a surfer’s problem is and working to create a board that will ride better than their last one.”
Though shapers have experimented on all manner of bottom contours across the decades, a few basic shapes have remained constant in the modern era. “The bottom contours seen today are predominantly concaves, double concaves, flat bottoms and vees,” says Mauricio. “Shapers are also still experimenting with channels of all sizes and widths as well as creating their own unique bottom contours in the pursuit of speed and manoeuvrability.”
“THESE TYPES OF BOTTOM SHAPES
