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Longboard or shortboard ? Everything over nine-foot ( around 2.4m ) and a wide nose is classified as a longboard . Most of the allround-SUPs are pretty big longboards . A few companies still build ‘ real ’ logs designed only for surfing . These are thinner in the edges , have more curves in the underwater hull and its possible for advanced or light surfers to do turns in big waves as well . These shapes clearly react with more sensitivity with foot control than the more comfortable allround boards . However , all these boards have in common is that you can paddle quite early in the waves . Early means when the waves have not formed that steeply .
Basically the rule of thumb counts : The shorter the board and less the volume , the closer you have to get to the breaking
part to get the wave . The benefit of a small board is the manoeuvrability and the ability to ride the wave close to the breaking part . Professionals use shortboards usually with tiny excess volume ( weight to volume ) of five litres .
So-called wide body boards , shorter boards , mostly over 32-inch wide , helps untrained rides . Excess volume here is around 40 litres . The short , wide boards are more manoeuvrable than longboards , but still quite stable . When you are serious SUPing waves you definitely should take a hardboard . There is not an iSUP on the market as yet where you can really compare them to a hardboard . The reasons mostly are the thick edges of an iSUP because the leadership on the slope of the wave is not enough .