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Surfboards
The most frequently asked questions.
Our Surfing 101 guide: A beginner's guideThe main families of surfboards:
When we talk about board shapes, we refer to them as "shapes".
- Longboards: Long, wide boards, ideal for beginners and small-to-medium waves. They offer great stability and easy paddling.
- Shortboards: short, narrow boards designed for powerful waves and radical maneuvers. They require a good level of technique and fitness.
- Malibus and Mini Malibu : intermediate boards between longboards and shortboards. They offer a good compromise between stability and maneuverability.
- Guns: Very long, narrow boards designed for big waves. They offer great speed and control in extreme conditions.
There are also sub-families to categorize boards according to fin configuration (Single Fin, Quad, Twins, Thruster) or the shape of the back of the board: Round Tail, Fish, Squash Tails, etc .
To put it simply, a surfboard is like a sandwich with several layers.
Surfboards are built around a core. This core is then covered with different materials to provide strength.
Among the materials most common in the surf industry are :
- Resin (Epoxy or Polyester)
- PU foam for the foam pad
- EPS for foam pads
- Fiberglass
- EVA foam
Some boards are also made from carbon or flax fiber.
The weight of a surfboard depends above all on its construction and materials. The weight range goes from 3 kilos for the boards used by the pros to 8 kilos for a longboard.
Most surfboard manufacturers don't communicate the weight of their boards.
If you have a polyester resin board with a PU foam core and leave it in the sun. Over time, a chemical reaction will take place between the bread and the resin. UV rays are a real enemy for boards, so protect them from the sun as soon as possible with a cover.
Board types
The different Shapes
The shape is the shape of the board, and there are several main families of shapes. The most common are :
Mini Malibu
Ideal conditions:
The funboard, also known as the mini malibu, is the ideal board for small to medium wave conditions, perfectly suited to beginner to intermediate surfers.
It can be considered an in-between board, halfway between a longboard and a fish. Its dimensions of between 7'0 and 8'0 feet, and its wide, rounded shape, make it a stable, easy-to-handle board, ideal for serene progress.
Longboard
Ideal conditions:
The longboard is the ideal board for surfing with style in gentle waves less than 2 meters long.
Its elongated, stable shape makes it a perfect board for beginners, allowing them to familiarize themselves with surfing while maintaining good balance.
Easy to paddle and offering great glide, the longboard is an excellent choice for serene progress.
Shortboard
Ideal conditions:
The shortboard is the ideal board for medium to large, powerful and hollow wave conditions, suitable for experienced surfers. These boards are designed to deliver maximum performance in good, even epic wave conditions.
Only experienced surfers should attempt a shortboard, as its narrow, tapered shape requires a high level of technique to take full advantage.
Fish
Ideal conditions:
The fish is the ideal board for small-to-medium wave conditions, perfect for weak and " soft " waves, but also great fun to ride in good conditions with a little more power.
Recognizable by its wide, voluminous nose and gradually tapering shape towards the tail, the fish offers more volume and less rocker than conventional shortboards. It's an excellent option for having fun on less powerful waves, while remaining easy to handle.
Understanding shape
Tail types
The shape of your board's tail plays an essential role in the response of your equipment. It's the last place where the water flows under the board, and where the fins are placed.
A wide, voluminous tail offers stability, flotation and speed. A narrower tail digs deeper into the water, providing more bite, better control in big waves, and easier transfers from rail to rail, for a more agile ride.
The Shaper
Johnny Cabianca
Based in the heart of the Basque Country, the cradle of European surfing, Brazilian shaper Johnny Cabianca has been putting his unique expertise at the service of top pro surfers since 1981. This genius of made-to-measure boards is quite simply THE shaper to have if you want to ride like a god!
Read moreUnderstanding shape
Aileron configurations
Fins play a fundamental role in the stability, control and direction of your surfboard.
They enable you to maintain your speed and "slice" through the water, which would be impossible with a finless board.
Twins
Twin fins became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when Mark Richards began using twin-fin "fishs" to win four consecutive World Championship titles.
At that time, the world discovered how twin fins offered extra maneuverability and speed, giving Mark Richards a competitive edge to beat other competitors mounted on single fins.
Quad
The four-fin setup combines some of the characteristics of the slim twin and the thruster. Quads can be excellent in small waves, especially if the rear fins are positioned higher on the board and closer to the rails.
This helps surfers generate speed, even in weak waves, and facilitates fast turns, much like with a slim twin, but with added control.
Thruster
The thruster setup, with three fins of equal size, is currently the most popular configuration for most surfers, from beginners to experts. Frustrated by the fact that thin twin fins didn't "hold" enough in big waves, Australian Simon Anderson came up with the idea of this three-fin setup in 1980.
The thruster offers an excellent compromise between the stability and control of single fins, and the maneuverability of twin fins. It's the most versatile configuration, suitable for a wide variety of conditions andriding levels.
Single
Single fins are most often found on longboards. This original fin setup is considered outdated by some, but is still appreciated by others for the different feel it gives to the board. Single fins are generally long and wide, large enough to offer autonomous control of the board.
Single fins provide good stability and excellent"drive" in waves, perfectly suited to the longboard's fluid, elegant style. Although more limited in terms of maneuverability than other setups, the single fin is still a great configuration.
Understanding the Shape
Bottom Shape
Shapers design different hull shapes for surfboards, from nose to tail, depending on the level and surf conditions.
For example, a "simple concave" at the front, a "flat" bottom in the middle, and a "Vee" at the back. This mix of shapes affects the way water flows under the board.
Flat Bottom
The flat parts of the bottom of a surfboard are ideal for gliding along the surface. This is a good choice for beginners, as they can surf further out onto the shoulder of the wave without losing too much speed.
Advanced surfers will find that too much flat surface makes the board difficult to control in powerful waves.
Concave Bottom
Concaves are optimal for surfers looking for speed and performance in good surf conditions. Most shortboards will have some type of concave bottom, as this is the best shape for channelling water between the rails.
Convex bottom
Convex bottoms, like the "vee" or "belly", are designed to facilitate rail-to-rail transitions.
They act as a pivot point in the middle of the board, offering greater responsiveness when initiating turns. The downside is that this shape slows down the board, as the flow of water is directed towards the outside of the rails.
The magic curve
The Rocker
Rocker refers to the longitudinal curvature of the surfboard, from nose to tail, which is an essential design element and has a major impact on the board's handling and performance.
Flat Rocker
Firstly, the flat rocker provides greater stability on the water. With a larger glide surface, the board is easier to balance, which is crucial for less experienced surfers.
In addition, the flat rocker translates into greater paddling and gliding speed. With less curvature, there's less drag in the water, allowing you to catch waves sooner and maintain speed longer. This is a significant advantage for those still struggling to get up to speed.
In short, flat rocker surfboards offer reassuring stability and interesting speed, ideal for novice surfers wishing to master the fundamentals.
Moderate Rocker
Are you a seasoned surfer looking for a thrill? Don't wait any longer for a board with a pronounced rocker! This highly curved design guarantees insane maneuverability to push your surfing to the limit.
Thanks to this accentuated rocker, your board will respond to the slightest impulse with incredible agility. You'll be able to trace fluid lines and perform high-flying maneuvers in the wave's most powerful zones.
Epoxy EVA
Ranges: Classic, Dolce, Bold, Gaia, Cabianca
Classic, Burrger,
Epoxy IXPE
Classic, Burrger, School
100% Soft
The best value for money on the market, available with our Burgers & Progress
Progress boardsWith or without Wax?
Discover our two types of foam coverings for the deck of your Zeus board.
Our EVA version requires no wax. With its Crokskin texture .
With its smooth coating, our IXPE version is particularly popular with surf schools.
EVA Crokskin
IXPE
A complete range for all levels and budgets
Our surfboards
Whether you're looking for your first surfboard. Or a board to complete your quiver.
Surf without breaking the bank.
For all budgets
At Zeus we offer new, used and reconditioned surf equipment.
Opportunities
Discover our selection of used boards, fully overhauled and ready to give you new sensations on the water.
New
Our new surfboards offer you the most advanced technology and performance for an optimal riding experience.
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Our reconditioned boards let you enjoy like-new equipment at great prices.
Surf ranges
Progress range
Our first-price board range, specially designed for beginners.
Available from 5'6 to 8'6
Classic range
Surf school-proven shapes. The perfect combo for intermediate riders.
Available from 6'0 to 9'0
Sport range
A range of shortboards designed for advanced riders looking for a board without compromising performance.
Available from 5'4 to 6'6
Dolce range
Designed in collaboration with shaper Johnny Cabianca. The Dolce range is aimed at all levels of riders in search of performance and sensation.
Available from 6'6 to 9'4
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