The modern shortboard has evolved to a point where it can only be ridden well by a small percentage of the surfing population, due to its lack of volume. The large void between shortboards and longboards has been slowly filling up with all types of hybrid designs from the transition era, as larger, ageing or beginner surfers search for a comfortable amount of volume to alleviate frustration and continue enjoying their surfing.
The most obvious example of a hybrid is a mini-mal with a longboard nose and a shortboard tail. The fish is a unique and classic shape that’s had a recent resurgence in popularity, becoming the go-to board for summer slop desperados world-wide.
Here are a few classic versions of timeless surfboard shapes.