If you ask any surfer with years on the water which board really helped them understand surfing, many don't say their first softboard or their first shortboard. They say their longboard. There's something about gliding on a long board, walking on it, and catching waves that others pass up that changes how you read the ocean. And yet, it remains largely unknown to most beginner and intermediate surfers in Spain.
In this article, we explain exactly what a longboard is, why it accelerates learning much more than it seems at first glance, who it's for (spoiler: it's not just for classic style surfers), and how to choose yours. If you already know you want one, our longboard collection has the options currently available.
What exactly is a longboard?
A longboard is a long surfboard, typically between 8.6 and 10 feet, with more volume, wider, and a much flatter rocker (curvature) than a shortboard or a funboard. This combination gives it two things that no other board offers at the same level: flotation and gliding speed.
The difference isn't just in size. A longboard is designed to catch the wave earlier, maintain speed in sections where other boards stall, and allow you to move across the entire surface: from tail to nose. This ability to walk on the board while surfing (known as noseriding) is exclusive to this type of board and, for many surfers, is the purest sensation in the sport.
A bit of history: the origin of the longboard
The longboard is not a modern variation of surfing. It's its origin. The first boards surfed in Hawaii, centuries before a surf industry existed, were long, heavy boards carved from solid wood (koa, wiliwili, or ‘ulu), without fins and with shapes very similar to what we now call a longboard. Surfing wasn't a sport; it was part of the culture and, in some cases, had an almost ceremonial component.
When surfing arrived in California and Australia in the early to mid-20th century, boards were still long out of necessity: lightweight material technology didn't yet exist, so volume was the only way to float and catch waves. The 1950s and 60s were the golden age of classic longboarding, with 9 to 10-foot boards, single fins, and a surfing style based on long lines, elegance, and noseriding.
Everything changed in the late 60s with the so-called "shortboard revolution": shapers began to cut down boards to seek more maneuverability, and within a few years, the longboard went from being the only way to surf to being almost forgotten for two decades. It wasn't until the late 80s and 90s that the longboard experienced its resurgence, led by surfers who rescued that classic style and demonstrated that long lines and modern maneuvers could coexist on the same board.
Today, the longboard is having a particularly good moment: it combines the best of two worlds, the purest essence of original surfing with materials and shapes that make it much more accessible than sixty years ago. That's why a board like the Moon Walk recaptures that retro identity without sacrificing the safety and lightness provided by current soft-top construction.
What it feels like to surf a longboard
If you've never ridden one, the best way to describe it is this: everything moves slower, but it feels more complete. On a shortboard, surfing is explosive: you paddle, you pop up, you do one or two quick maneuvers, and the wave is over. On a longboard, the wave stretches out. You gain speed early, get into "trim" (that point where the board glides on its own with minimal effort), and suddenly you have several seconds, sometimes minutes on long waves, to just be there, feeling the board under your feet.
That feeling of trim is probably the most addictive thing about longboarding. There's no rush. You can adjust your position with small weight shifts, move your feet towards the nose to test your balance, move back to generate speed in a flatter section, or simply let the board do the work while you enjoy the view. It's a type of surfing much more connected to reading the water than to executing maneuvers.
And then there's walking the board. The first time you take a step towards the nose without falling, knowing the board is still supporting you, is one of the most satisfying feelings in surfing. You don't need to achieve a perfect hang five or hang ten (placing five or ten toes over the front edge) to enjoy it: the simple act of moving across the board while gliding on a wave completely changes your relationship with surfing.
Many surfers who start on a short softboard or funboard and then try a longboard describe the same feeling: suddenly the ocean is no longer an obstacle that has to be "conquered" on every wave and becomes something to flow with. It's a change in mindset, not just a change in board.
Why the longboard accelerates learning (even if it doesn't seem like it)
It's easy to think of the longboard as "the board for those who already surf well and want to do something more elegant." It's quite the opposite. Here are the reasons why a longboard can be one of the best decisions for a beginner or intermediate surfer:
- You catch many more waves per session. The volume and length mean the longboard catches the wave with much less paddling and much earlier than a shortboard. More waves caught in the same session means more repetitions, and in surfing, repetitions are what teach.
- It forces you to learn to read the wave in advance. By catching the wave earlier and maintaining speed in sections where other boards slow down, a longboard teaches you to position yourself with more reaction time. This is a skill that then translates directly to any board you use later.
- Stability to work on balance without fear of constantly falling. The pop-up is more accessible, and once you're standing, the margin of error is much greater. This reduces the frustration of the first few months, which is the number one reason many people give up surfing before they truly start to enjoy it.
- It introduces a different type of surfing: walking the board. Moving around the board while surfing trains dynamic balance in a way that no other surfing discipline does. It's fun from day one, even without mastering the technique.
If you also want to accelerate your learning curve by understanding what your body does on each wave, we recommend reading our article on how to record yourself surfing to improve twice as fast. The technical checklist we share there works just as well on a longboard as on any other board.
Who is a longboard really for?
Contrary to what many people think, a longboard is not just for classic style surfers or for those who have been in the water for years. Here are the profiles for whom it makes the most sense:
- Beginners starting from scratch. Flotation and stability reduce the initial frustration curve. You'll catch waves standing up much sooner than with a shortboard.
- Intermediate surfers who want to catch more waves and paddle less. If you feel like you spend more energy paddling than surfing in each session, a longboard changes that proportion.
- Surfers who want to expand their quiver with a different style. If you already have an evolutionary board or a shortboard, a longboard adds a completely different surfing style: more fluid, longer lines, with the option of noseriding.
- Those who surf infrequently. If you can only go in the water once every two weeks, a board that is more forgiving and allows you to catch waves with less accumulated technique makes each session count more.
Longboard vs. funboard/evolutionary: when to choose each one
This is a common question, so let's get straight to the practical difference:
| If you are looking for... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Catching the maximum number of waves possible and surfing with a classic style, long lines and the option to walk the board | Longboard |
| An intermediate board between volume and maneuverability, to start turning and performing short maneuvers | Funboard / evolutionary |
| Progressing towards high-performance maneuvers and more technical surfing in powerful waves | Shortboard or performance softboard |
They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many intermediate and advanced surfers keep a longboard in their quiver precisely for small, messy wave days where a shortboard barely works, but a longboard still provides fun waves. If you want to compare the rest of the range, check out our complete collection of surfboards.
How to choose your longboard: size, volume and foam vs. fiberglass
Three decisions make a difference when choosing well:
1. Size according to your weight and level. As a general rule, the less experience and more body weight, the more length and volume are advisable. 9-foot longboards with good volume are the benchmark for most beginners and intermediates, regardless of weight.
2. Foam (softboard) or fiberglass. A foam longboard offers more safety, is more forgiving of impacts, and is the recommended option if you are still learning or share the peak with other surfers. A fiberglass longboard responds with more precision and speed but requires more handling technique. The natural transition is to start with foam and move to fiberglass when foam no longer teaches you anything new.
3. Fin and configuration. Most longboards work very well with a single central fin (single fin), which is the classic configuration and the simplest to understand. It provides directional stability without complicating learning with side fin adjustments.
The Moon Walk longboard by Flysurf
Our Moon Walk 9.0 is designed exactly for what we've described in this article: maximum flotation to catch waves from day one, the safety of soft-top construction, and a rocker calibrated to glide in the most common conditions of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. It's an epoxy soft-top hybrid with a single fin and high volume, with a retro visual identity that recaptures the most classic spirit of the longboard.
Available in two finishes: Fade Gold and Soft Pink. Free shipping across Europe.
If you're looking for something more manageable but with the same philosophy of flotation and ease, our Mini-Long 8.0 Cold Hawaii is the perfect entry point: all the stability and volume you need for your first sessions, in a slightly shorter and easier-to-transport format than a 9-foot longboard.
And when to make the leap to a fiberglass longboard?
The same logic that we apply in our guide to foam boards applies here. When you are consistently catching waves, mastering the pop-up without thinking, and feel that your foam longboard isn't responding quickly enough in turns, it's time to consider fiberglass.
Our Fiberglass Core Series 9.1 Longboard is our epoxy fiberglass longboard and maintains the volume and stability that foam taught you, but with a much more direct response in each turn.
Frequently asked questions about longboards
Is a longboard a good board to start surfing with?
Yes, and in many cases it's a better option than a shortboard. The flotation and stability reduce initial frustration and allow you to catch waves standing up much sooner. It's one of the fastest ways to learn to read the ocean from the very first sessions.
What is the difference between a longboard and an evolutionary or funboard?
The longboard prioritizes flotation, gliding speed, and long lines, with the possibility of walking on the board. The funboard or evolutionary board is an intermediate point, designed to start turning and performing short maneuvers while maintaining some volume. The choice depends on the type of surfing you want to practice.
What size longboard do I need?
As a general reference, a 9-foot longboard with good volume is suitable for most beginners and intermediates, regardless of body weight. If you have doubts about which size best suits you, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you directly.
Foam or fiberglass longboard to start with?
Foam. The soft-top construction is more forgiving of impacts and provides much more safety while you are in the learning phase. The leap to fiberglass makes sense when you are consistently catching waves and are looking for more precision in each turn.
Can you noseride with any longboard?
Technically, yes, you can try, but longboards with more volume in the nose and a flat rocker make it much easier. It's a skill that builds over time on the board: the more confidence you have walking on it in calm waters, the sooner you'll be able to try it on a wave.
Ready to experience longboard surfing? Discover the Moon Walk, the Mini-Long, and the rest of our longboard range, with free shipping across Europe. And if you want to see the rest of our catalog, visit flysurfbrand.com or write to us on WhatsApp if you have questions about which one best suits your level.
