Understanding The Various Types of Paddle Boards
Standup paddle boarding (SUPing) has rapidly grown in popularity and with this growth has come an evolution in the types of paddle boards that are being made. The sport of paddle boarding has been around since the early 1800’s when Hawaiians paddled large wood paddle boards. However, it wasn’t until big wave surfing ledged Laird Hamilton surfed massive waves on a standup board that the World took notice. Today, there are types of paddle boards for just about any activity you are looking for.
Paddle Board Vocabulary
There are a lot of advanced terms to learn in the standup paddle boarding world, but to start we will outline a couple basic ones to help you better understand the types of paddle boards.
Nose Rocker
The continuous arc that curves up from the center of the board. The shape represents the curve that rocking chair floor rails have. When surfing fast, steep waves, you want to have more rocker on your board since it allows for a smoother drop down the face of a step wave.
Rocker comes with it’s disadvantages however. Having a board with a lot of rocker is harder to paddle into waves so you typically only ride a high nose rocker board in very fast and steep surf. Having less rocker, or an overall flatter board, makes it much easier to get into waves because of the extra surface area which promotes glide.
Deck
As the name suggests, this is the top of the board where you stand. Some boards have a concave deck which is dug out to create a lower center of gravity.
Types of Paddle Boards
The various types of paddle boards currently available on the market are all built slightly differently to better accommodate a different water sports goal.
Surfing Paddle Boards
If you are looking to try a new way of catching waves, then a surfing paddle board is the way to go. Beginner boards are typically 10’6 and a wide oval shape which promotes stability. These boards will have very little nose rocker which allows for an easy glide into mellow surf. Beginner paddle boards also have a planing hull which gives the rider more stability.
Advanced surfing paddle boards look like high performance shortboards that have been enlarged. These boards will have a higher nose rocker and are shaped to execute maneuvers in more critical, fast surf. Paddling these boards is much harder since they typically have less volume (buoyancy) making them difficult to keep balance on. However, those who are experienced on a SUP will love the quick maneuverability that these boards have both paddling into waves and riding waves.
Even if you are a seasoned paddler on flat water, catching waves on a SUP is much more challenging. The best paddle board for surfing is the one that fits your ability level. You will have much more fun on a board you are comfortable on.
Feel free to reach out to us for paddle board info on choosing the right board. Choosing an epoxy paddle board as a beginner is a great choice as they are much more durable than fiberglass boards.
Jump in to the world of paddle board surfing with our guide to learning how to SUP surf!
Inflatable Paddle Boards
The possibilities are endless on inflatable paddle boards! From racing down white water rapids to hiking into secret lakes, the benefits of inflatable SUPs have made them one of the most popular standup paddle boards to purchase. Inflatable paddle boards can easily be packed into a [oversized] backpack when deflated for easy transportation.
Those that live in a small space will love how convenient inflatable paddle boards are for packing away after use. Not only do the boards transport easily, they also come in different shapes and sizes to fit the occasion.
One of the fast growing trends is touring down rivers or around lakes on a SUP. Touring paddle boards come in both inflatable and carbon fiber but because of the weight and resistance to dings from rocks in rivers, the inflatable has become the adventurer’s choice.
There are a variety of shapes when it comes to the touring paddle board but most will have grommets and/or built in bungies to secure packs and supplies.
Foam Paddle Boards
If you are looking for the most affordable option that won’t leave a massive bruise if you fall on the board, a foam paddle board could be the right choice for you. These boards are easy to ride, require little maintenance, and can get beat up day in day out. For a fun board that you and your friends can paddle without fear of expensive repairs, a foam SUP is the right board for you.
Surfing a foam paddle board is tough because they are not responsive at all. They feel sort of like riding a noodle. Since they are made with foam, the boards have a soggy feel that makes them not the best for surfing. If the waves are tiny and you are looking just to catch a few then it isn’t too big of a deal.
When first learning how to standup paddle board – as you might have already realized – there is a lot of falling. Having a soft foam board under you makes the falls less painful. And while there isn’t much performance to be had from a foam board on the surf, it is a great choice when you are first learning.
Racing Paddle Boards
Race paddle boards come in four length categories; 12’6, 14’ fixed, 14’ rudder, and unlimited (typically 17’+ with rudder). Racing boards are also designed for either open water or flat water and are typically made from lightweight carbon fiber. These boards look dramatically different than other SUP’s – especially when it comes to the race paddle board hull types. Race paddle boards are designed with a displacement hull which enables the board to slice more effectively through the water. Making it much easier to maintain momentum over the water.
On the race boards that are made for big open water conditions, the displacement hull SUP has much more volume in the front of the board. This extra volume keeps the nose from digging into the open water waves when catching “bumps” (slang for open water swell). So while the displacement hull is critical for racing, the addition of extra volume can make the board easier to ride in bigger open water swells. These “big water” race boards typically have a concave deck that is much lower than the rails – this gives the paddlers center a much lower center of gravity and improves stability and balance.
Race paddle boards that are designed for flat water racing have a much flatter profile with less volume in the nose of the board. The volume is typically spread out more evenly across the entire board. Flat water boards can also be much narrower since there is less water movement where these boards are used – mainly lakes.
Choosing a Paddle Board
It is very exciting how quickly the standup paddle board industry has grown and the variety of boards that are available today. When it comes to choosing a paddle board you should consider not only your storage/transportation capabilities but also what kind of water you have around you.
If you are living in Hawaii where you have access to big water open ocean, a downwind race board would be a great choice on windy days and a performance surfing SUP for days when the surf is up.
Living in a mountain town the inflatable touring or inflatable SUP board is the best choice due to rocks around lakes and rivers. Not only does the board perform the best in the local conditions, it also packs away nicely for when winter comes and you’re ready to bust out the ski gear.
See more: Learn how to pack away your SUP for winter
The most common paddle board is the 10’6 all around epoxy SUP. The reason for this is that it is very stable and versatile. It is the kind of board that even when you outgrow the board you don’t want to sell it because it is just too fun in most conditions.
Questions on what board is right for you? Send us an email, we love to talk through all shapes and sizes of standup paddle boards. Ready to start looking for the right board for you? Take a look at our guide for the top 10 best paddle boards.
About the Author Stephen H
Stephen is a a UCSB Alumni and holds a B.S. in Economics. He has been included in Honolulu Magazine's list of 50 Top Executives and was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Association (SBA). In Hawaii, Stephen competed in various SUP and Outrigger Canoe racing events. He won the State Championship OC1 race and the prestigious Molokai2Oahu outrigger race (koa division). He is currently training for the Molokai2Oahu Solo race on a standup paddle board.