What Is Surfboard Volume? Key Things To Know
Understanding surfboard volume is extremely important for surfers of all skill levels. Boards with the correct volume will enable you to get the ride you’re seeking in the water, considering your size, ability level and wave conditions.
Regardless of whether you're new to surfing or an experienced surfer seeking to enhance performance, navigating this topic effectively can make a significant difference in your performance and enjoyment of surfing. This blog will explain everything you need to know about surfboard volume and how it influences your time in the water.
What Is Surfboard Volume?
Surfboard volume refers to the amount of space a surfboard occupies, measured in liters. It accounts for the entire area of the board, including its length, width, and thickness. A surfboard's volume plays a pivotal role in determining its buoyancy, which is the ability to float on water. For every liter in a surfboard’s size, the same amount of water is displaced in the ocean. The more water that gets displaced, the more buoyancy a board will have, as the buoyant force of water exerts upward pressure on the board (surfboards are designed to be less dense than the surrounding water, this is why a surfboard does not sink to the bottom when you wipeout or step off at the end of a ride). Boards with a higher volume float better and are more stable, making them ideal for beginners. Lower-volume boards are less buoyant, but offer greater control and maneuverability, which is ideal for advanced surfers.
How To Determine the Correct Volume for You
For beginning surfers, a surfboard with ideal volume will provide complete flotation or close to it, meaning that when you’re lying facedown on the board in calm, pool-like waters, the board keeps you completely floated and above the water (or close to it, for example: if your feet and ankles dip slightly into the water, it’s perfectly ok).
How can you know if a board will provide complete flotation? Here's a simple way to calculate this: take your weight, add 15 (the average weight of a foam surfboard) and divide by 2.2 (the approximate buoyant force in pounds for every liter of volume). For example, a 180 lb. surfer would add 15 to get 195 lbs. of required buoyant force, then after dividing by 2.2, the result is 88.6 liters. A surfboard with this volume would be ideal for a beginner of this weight. But sometimes, the exact volume in the specific model you’re looking for might not be available. As a result, a range between +/- 10% of ideal is acceptable.
Are you a beginner and want to skip the math and just pick out a great starter board? You’ve come to the right place; here's a list of tools we’ve developed for you:
Over time, as a surfer’s ability increases, complete flotation is no longer needed and in fact, it hinders intermediate and advanced surfers from achieving the maneuvers they’re looking to pull off. As a surfer progresses, the volume decisions get harder, but there are still some rules of thumb to arrive at a baseline recommendation. Generally speaking, an intermediate surfer can take their weight in pounds and divide by 4 or 5 to get a good starting point volume. So in the case of an intermediate surfer (our simplified definition: someone with at least 3 years of experience who can perform both top and bottom turns on head-high waves) weighing 180 lbs., the baseline volume recommendation would be 36 to 45 liters. For advanced surfers (we’re talking about people who hear the words "double overhead" and rush to grab their gear), the board liters get very low and there are no rules. For those who have surfed that long, volume decisions can be extremely hard and often require experimenting with different demo boards and talking directly to shapers and other experienced surfer friends.
Types of Surfboards and Volumes
Various types of surfboards come with different volumes suited to different surfing styles and conditions. Longboards typically have higher volumes, providing maximum stability and ease for beginners. Shortboards are designed for performance, so they generally have lower volumes that allow for better control and sharp turns. Fish boards, funboards, and hybrids fall somewhere in between, each offering a unique balance of volume and performance characteristics. Foam longboards offer the highest volume, making them excellent for those just starting out or those surfing smaller waves.
Choosing the Right Volume for You
When choosing the best surfboard volume, consider your weight, ability level and the expected wave conditions. For example, you might be an intermediate surfer who rides a 40-liter shortboard when the waves are pumping, but you’re about to head out on a beach day with the family and Surfline is calling for ankle-high waves. In that case, pulling out an 81-liter foam longboard might be the better choice.
Understanding surfboard volume is fundamental to selecting the right board and improving your surfing experience. Surfboard volume affects how the board floats, paddles, and performs on the waves. By considering factors like your weight, skill level, and wave conditions, you can better choose a surfboard volume that matches your needs, leading to a more stoke-filled experience in the water.