RealSurf Surfers' Forum

Please forgive my ignorance (long-time shortboarder, short-time longboarder).

I notice that some longboards have a relatively wide nose & front half, but a pulled-in tail while other (older?) boards have the wide point behind half way and others still (true malibus ?) have more parallel rails.

Now I'm sure many of you could write a book on this. But briefly, how do these differences in planshape affect performance? Are different planshapes better suited to particular styles of surfing?

Hope this ain't a silly question. Appreciate your thoughts.

I'm no expert but I believe the wide point further back (a la 'pig' board in the 60s) are best for noseriding. Most new traditional-style boards and noseriders have that planshape.

Wider point forward is probably better for down the line surfing, like those lighting bolt single fins form the 70s.

Thanks for the reply RickyG. That pretty much tallies with what I was thinking.
I'm assuming a narrow tail on the modern longboards allows you to hop onto the back foot and pivot turn pretty tight?