NEW 2026

Surf Imperatrice EPS

Name: GONG - Surf Imperatrice EPS
Brand: GONG
SKU: GON26BOASURIMPEPSWHI-52
Price: 416.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Ride a legendary shape, both authentic and modernised.

See Description

$416

Type EPS

EPS

Taille 5'2

5'2
5'4
5'8
5'6

Couleur White

Dry Keel Fins Set - ST Box

L

Surf Socks

Hybrid 5'3 / BLACK / WHITE

Surf / SUP Perf Ankle Leash - 7mm

6' / Green

Please contact us to order this product in your area

ref : GON26BOASURIMPEPSWHI-52

Direct sale from shaper to surfer

Pay in multiple installments

Quality boards conceived in France

Please contact us to order this product in your area

techno-eps EPS
single-tab-box Single tab box
tail-fish Fish tail
fins-twin Twin
outline-surf-retro Retro

Specifications

5'2 | 157.5cm
20" | 50.8cm
2 7/16" | 6.2cm

Rider

Intermediate

Expert

30kg

38kg

53kg

60kg

Conditions

Wave size

Knee

Waist

Overhead

Wave speed

Slow

Moderate

Fast

Wave shape

Soft

Steep

Hollow

Aptitudes

Paddling comfort

Verticality

Carving

Cruising

Drive

Natural speed

Program

Description

Programme

Surfing as short as possible with style, speed and comfort: the board that saves summer sessions, small waves and all the days when you need to get back that easy glide.

Overview

Surfing as short as possible, generating crazy speed and turning in the tightest space, without losing paddling comfort: that’s the whole idea behind the Impératrice.

With its retro fish shape, thin and relatively wide, it lets you keep a compact board under your feet while still maintaining lift, easy paddling and early take-off. You get the feel of a short board, but with the margin you need to catch more waves and get going without forcing it.

The Impératrice is a board that planes naturally. In small waves that lack power, it accelerates quickly, carries through soft sections and keeps its energy where a more classic board would need constant speed build-up.

Under your feet, the feel is fluid, fast and seriously stylish. You get that fish spirit back: clean lines, full curves, loads of glide and that sensation of surfing with flow rather than force.

The twin keel setup reinforces that character. It brings hold, drive and impressive control precision, with a free-flowing but well-controlled glide that lets you push hard through your turns and carve tight.

The Impératrice is the fun board for small to medium conditions: knee-high to shoulder-high, especially when the waves are clean and lacking power. A short, comfortable and fast board that saves summer sessions and quickly earns an essential place in the quiver.

OUTLINE

The retro fish outline of the Impératrice combines plenty of width under the front foot with more pinched-in tips. This surface area delivers paddling comfort, stability and very early wave entry, while still keeping the ride precise.

The forward wide point brings lift exactly where it really matters: while paddling, on take-off and through the first bursts of acceleration. You can ride a very short board without losing comfort, with a compact shape that planes early and keeps things genuinely easy.

ROCKER

The very flat rocker maximises glide and early take-off. It allows the Impératrice to pick up speed quickly, even in weak waves where a more classic board would take a lot of effort to get going.

This fast curve delivers an instant planing feel. The board carries through soft sections, keeps its momentum and lets you build speed again with very little energy, making it a formidable weapon in small conditions.

BOTTOM SHAPE

The bottom shape combines a slight belly in the nose, a light V with double concave through the middle, then a pronounced V in the tail. The belly smooths out the water contact, reduces mistakes and delivers fluid glide through fast or slightly imperfect sections.

The V work makes rail-to-rail transitions easier and helps the board turn tight despite its width. The double concave adds speed and control, for a smooth, fast and precise ride.

TAIL

The wide, deep fish tail provides the lift needed to get planing early, accelerate hard and keep speed build-up in small waves. It gives plenty of support under the back foot without making the board feel heavy to ride.

Its depth preserves manoeuvrability and drive. You keep the planing of a wide tail, but with a real ability to link carves, make sections and maintain grip.

RAILS

The Impératrice packs plenty of surface area into a short length, yet its rails stay thin and precise through the tail. That refined rail gives you grip, drive and real hold through carves despite the shape's natural speed.

The slightly domed deck keeps useful volume through the centre while thinning out the rails. You gain comfort underfoot, paddling efficiency and precision in your foot pressure.

Single Tab connection: simple, direct and solid

The Single Tab system features a single, extended base on each fin. This design creates a solid connection with the fin box, making installation simple, fin changes quick, and power transfer exceptionally direct.

On the water, the benefits are immediate. The board responds instantly, the fins work without unwanted play, and every input translates into drive, grip and control. This is especially valuable on high performance boards, where precise feedback is essential at high speeds and through committed turns.

The Single Tab system also makes it easy to fine tune your setup for different conditions. Changing fin size, template or flex lets you refine the board's feel in just a few moments. It provides a clean, durable and efficient connection, allowing you to unlock the full potential of the shape.

Good to know: Single Tab fin boxes are only compatible with Single Tab fins.

Key benefits:

Simple installation and quick fin changes.
Direct connection for immediate response underfoot.
Excellent drive, grip and control through powerful turns.

EPS Surf Technology

Key features:

Premium materials: EPS foam blanks, epoxy resin and fiberglass, all selected to meet our exact design requirements.
100% epoxy resin construction over a 28 kg/m³ EPS foam blank with a 3 mm wooden stringer.
Deck layup: 2 layers of 6 oz fiberglass and 1 layer of 4 oz fiberglass.
Bottom layup: 1 layer of 6 oz fiberglass, 1 layer of 4 oz fiberglass, plus an additional 4 oz fiberglass reinforcement patch covering the tail and fin box area.
CNC pre-shaped, checked against traditional templates, then finished entirely by hand.
Matte finish for better glide, improved scratch resistance and a competition-inspired look.
Easy to restore to like-new condition after dings.
Outstanding strength to flex to weight ratio, allowing the shape to perform at its full potential.
This is the modern benchmark construction, available in fiberglass or carbon, and the preferred choice of highly technical surfers seeking maximum performance.
Every board is 100% shaped and glassed in our factory in Asia, using the exact methods developed and tested in our workshop in France.

Technical sheet

Surf Imperatrice EPS EPS / 5'2 / White

Download the user guide

Buying guide

Who is it for?

For surfers who want to ride as short as possible without losing paddling comfort, easy take-off and natural speed. The Impératrice lets you reduce the length under your feet while keeping a board that floats, planes and builds speed easily.

For intermediate to advanced surfers looking for a fun, fast and stylish board for small waves. It’s aimed at those who want to bring back flow, glide and drive when the conditions lack power.

For surfers who love the retro fish feel: fluid lines, a less locked-in ride than a thruster, plenty of speed and a real sense of freedom underfoot, with enough hold to push through carves.

What for?

To save your summer sessions, but not only that. The Impératrice is made for small to medium waves, smooth, soft or lacking power, when you need a board that can get going early, plane fast and keep its energy.

To generate speed without forcing it. Its low rocker, buoyant fish tail and twin keel setup let you glide through weak sections, build speed naturally and maintain continuous glide.

To ride short without sacrificing comfort. You get a compact, lively and stylish board, but with enough usable volume to paddle easily, get in early and keep some margin on take-off.

What board size?

The Impératrice should be chosen shorter than a classic board, because its fish outline, well-distributed volume and buoyant tail already provide plenty of paddling power, stability and planing.

Don’t choose it too long: its whole point comes from its compact format, its ability to turn tight and its fast feel underfoot. Too much length would reduce that playful, direct side.

If you’re between two sizes, choose the bigger one to maximise paddling, comfort and early take-off in very weak waves. Choose the smaller one for more manoeuvrability, liveliness and more precise rail-to-rail control.

What are the ideal waves?

Size: from knee-high to shoulder-high, depending on your level, your build and the power of the spot.

Power: it really comes alive in waves that lack power, when you need to create your own speed, get on the plane early and keep momentum between sections.

Shape: it works everywhere in small conditions, but prefers smooth, clean and low-power waves. That’s where its fish glide, low rocker and twin keel deliver the best feel.

What construction?

The Impératrice really comes into its own in a light and responsive construction, able to enhance its natural speed and speed build-up in small waves.

A construction like EPS suits its programme perfectly: easy take-off, quick planing, lively speed build-up and the feeling of a board that keeps its energy with very little power in the wave.

The goal is simple: a short, fast and comfortable board that keeps plenty of responsiveness, glide and fun in conditions where a more classic board would demand much more effort.

What fin setup?

The Impératrice comes with a twin keel Single Tab setup. It’s the classic retro fish setup: loads of speed, drive, hold and smooth glide underfoot.

Keel fins bring more surface area and more hold than a more upright, looser twin. They let you keep control through carves, support the wide tail and turn the board’s natural speed into full, powerful lines.

This setup asks you to surf with rail and flow. You’re not trying to snap the board like a thruster, but to draw lines, wrap turns, build speed and enjoy a fast, fluid and stylish ride.

Which shape should you choose?

Choose the Impératrice if you want a short, fast and comfortable retro fish, capable of delivering fun when the waves are small, soft or lacking power.

Its wide outline brings paddling power and planing. Its low rocker delivers speed. Its wide, deep fish tail brings speed build-up and drive. Its thin rails in the tail keep hold. Its twin keel delivers the flow and hold typical of a classic fish.

The Impératrice is therefore the right choice for surfers who want to ride short with style, get in early, keep their speed and turn small sessions into real glide sessions.

Which bag?

Equipments

These boards come equipped with a leash plug and 2 Single Tab fin boxes for a twin setup.

Depending on what you want, your build, the conditions and your surfing style, you can fine-tune the board’s feel with different sets of GONG fibreglass fins compatible with Single Tab.

The twin setup uses two side fins.

GONG Single Tab plastic twin set included.
2 Single Tab boxes for a twin setup.
Leash plug at the tail so you never lose your board.
Fin key included.

Delivery

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Surf Hybrid Day Bag

Keep your surf board protected, day after day.

$54

GONG | Surf / SUP Perf Ankle Leash - 7mm

6' 7' 8' 9' 10'

Surf / SUP Perf Ankle Leash - 7mm

Strong and high-performance all-around leash for small to medium waves.

$24

Key Lock Box

The essential portable key box for storing your vehicle keys during your sess...

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68L

Change Bucket Comfort 68L

The must have accessory in the trunk of your car!

$30

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The hanger for hanging all your neoprene equipment.

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A durable bottle designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hou...

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Neoprene Seat Cover

Seat Cover in neoprene

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What exactly is the Impératrice?

The Impératrice is a short, fast and comfortable retro fish, designed to surf small waves with maximum glide, speed and style.

Who is the Impératrice for?

It’s aimed at intermediate to advanced surfers looking for a fun board for small conditions, one that gets going early, planes fast and keeps its flow without demanding too much effort.

What kind of waves does it work best in?

It performs best from knee-high to shoulder-high surf, especially in smooth, soft or low-powered waves. It’s the ideal board when you need to generate speed and enjoy smooth glide.

Why is the Impératrice ridden so short?

Its fish outline, well-distributed volume, forward wide point and high-lift tail deliver plenty of paddling speed, stability and planing. You can therefore go shorter without losing comfort on take-off.

Is it an easy board?

Yes, it’s easy to paddle, gets going early and has natural glide. But to get the best out of it, you need to surf it with rail engagement, flow and progressive pressure through your turns, like a true fish.

What are the benefits of a twin keel?

The twin keel Single Tab setup delivers speed, drive and hold. The keel fins support the wide tail, provide hold through carves and enhance the retro fish feel: smooth, fast and stylish.

What’s the difference compared with a classic shortboard?

A classic shortboard will be more vertical and more precise in powerful waves. The Impératrice offers a more planing, free-flowing and fluid glide, with much more ease in generating speed in small waves.

Should it be in your quiver?

Yes, if you want a board that gets going as soon as the waves lack power. The Impératrice is a true fun board, capable of saving your summer sessions and turning small conditions into real glide sessions.

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