Name: GONG - Surf Karamba EPS
Brand: GONG
SKU: GON26BOASURKAREPSWHI-56
Price: 416.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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techno-eps EPS
fins-trifin Thruster
fins-quad Quad
single-tab-box Single tab box
tail-square Square Tail
outline-surf-short Shortboard

Specifications

5'6 | 167.6cm
19 7/16" | 49.3cm
2 3/8" | 6.0cm

Rider

Beginner

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

Drive

Natural speed

Air

Program

Description

Programme

A versatile egg shortboard, the Karamba makes paddling easier, catches more waves and keeps a true shortboard feel, with a thruster or quad setup to tune the ride between radical surfing and more powerful lines.

Overview

Surfing more often starts with catching more waves. It means getting into position easily, paddling without burning out, taking off early and keeping enough speed to make the most of conditions that are not always perfect.

That is exactly what the Karamba is built for. This everyday egg shortboard brings more surface area, more stability and more comfort than a classic shortboard, without losing the dynamic feel you expect under your feet.

You gain in paddling, take-off margin and confidence in average, inconsistent or underpowered waves. The Karamba makes every session easier, while still keeping enough responsiveness to pump, build speed and push through your turns.

Its biggest asset is its thruster / quad setup. As a thruster, it becomes more manoeuvrable, precise and radical. As a quad, it gains speed, drive and projection to draw fuller lines and keep speed through softer sections.

One board, two personalities. You can surf it in a cool, smooth and easy way, or ask more of it depending on the fin setup, the conditions and how you feel that day.

The Karamba is made for surfers who want to make their surfing easier without dumbing it down. More waves, more paddling, more stability, but still a true egg shortboard that can accelerate, turn and adapt.

OUTLINE

A shortboard egg outline that adds useful surface area to make paddling, take-off and stability easier, without tipping into a board that feels too bulky or too tame. You still get a true shortboard feel, but with more comfort and more room to play in everyday waves.

This surface area under your feet helps you catch more waves, accelerate more easily and stay in control through imperfect sections. A shape designed for surfing often, with solid performance and instant fun.

ROCKER

The rocker is designed to offer a good balance of paddling, speed and manoeuvrability. It stays fast enough to get through soft sections, maintain speed and make the board efficient from your very first waves.

The curve keeps enough mobility for tight turns and a dynamic feel through the ride. You get a board that is easy to get going, yet still lively when you push through your turns.

BOTTOM SHAPE

The bottom shape supports the board’s versatile programme: speed, acceleration, control and easy rail-to-rail engagement. It helps the board get up to speed quickly and maintain good drive in average or less powerful waves.

It also keeps the ride balanced despite the shape’s extra surface area. The board stays easy to read underfoot, with enough hold to push through turns and enough glide to build speed again.

TAIL

The square tail provides drive, stability and speed build-up under the back foot. It gives you the surface area needed to generate speed, accelerate quickly and maintain support in waves that lack power.

It is also a tail shape that works perfectly with a thruster / quad setup. As a thruster, it stays manoeuvrable and precise. As a quad, it becomes more drivey, faster and more powerful through the lines.

RAILS

The modern rails keep hold through the tail to transfer pressure and support a shortboard-style ride. They let you push through turns without losing precision, even with a more forgiving outline.

Further forward, the rails become rounder to keep carve entry smooth and maintain real forgiveness in imperfect waves. The result is a balanced, accessible board that can still be surfed with rhythm.

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 Karamba EPS EPS / 5'6 / White

Download the user guide

Buying guide

Who is it for?

For surfers who want to catch more waves without leaving the shortboard world behind. The Karamba is made for riders who want more paddling power, more stability, more comfort on take-off, while keeping a board that can still turn, accelerate and build speed with a genuinely modern feel.

For intermediate surfers looking to move onto a more accessible first shortboard. Its shortboard egg outline gives you more margin for error, is more forgiving of approximate positioning, and makes it easier to get into the wave than a highly refined shortboard.

For experienced surfers who want a fast, practical and versatile board for everyday sessions. A board that paddles well, gets going early, holds speed and can change character depending on the fin setup.

For surfers who want a tunable board. As a thruster, the Karamba will feel more manoeuvrable, more precise and more radical. As a quad, it gains speed, drive and projection to draw more powerful lines.

What for?

To surf more often, with more ease and better efficiency. The Karamba is an excellent everyday board: it helps you get into position, take off early, make it through soft sections and keep speed in average, imperfect or underpowered waves.

To keep your surfing dynamic without having to deal with the demands of a pure shortboard. It gives you support underfoot, more comfortable paddling and a more balanced ride, while still letting you pump, build speed, push through your turns and aim for real progression.

To adapt your surfing to the conditions. As a thruster, it rides shorter, with more pivot and control. As a quad, it becomes faster, has better glide and feels more powerful through the lines. That is the whole point of the Karamba: one board, two temperaments.

What board size?

The Karamba should be chosen with a simple approach: keep enough volume to make the most of its programme, without oversizing it too much so you retain its shortboard feel. Its appeal comes precisely from this balance between ease, speed and manoeuvrability.

If you are coming from a classic shortboard and want more comfort, you can add a bit of volume. You will gain paddling power, stability and easier starts, without turning the Karamba into a dull board. Its shape is still designed to be surfed with rhythm.

If you are an intermediate surfer looking for a more accessible first shortboard, do not make the classic mistake of choosing too small. Pick a size that will let you paddle efficiently, get into waves with some margin, and multiply your wave count. The more waves you catch, the more you will progress.

If you are advanced or expert, choose a size close to your usual comfortable shortboard reference. You will keep a lively, precise board that is easy to turn, while benefiting from the extra surface area to surf more often and in a wider range of conditions.

If you are between two sizes, choose the smaller one to maximise manoeuvrability and shortboard feel. Choose the larger one for more paddling power, comfort and forgiveness in weaker waves or longer sessions.

What are the ideal waves?

Size: from knee-high to well overhead depending on your level, the spot and the chosen setup.

Power: it works very well in weak to medium waves, but can also come alive in punchier surf thanks to the thruster / quad option.

Shape: it likes everyday waves, whether imperfect or clean, with sections to get through, soft spots where you need to build speed, and enough face to make the most of its shortboard feel.

Which construction?

We offer different constructions on certain shapes to match the programme, the conditions, and sometimes simply each rider’s preferences.

On a board like the Karamba, the choice of construction should support its programme: ease, paddling, stability and shortboard handling. A more responsive construction will give more speed build-up, more feedback underfoot and a livelier feel in smaller conditions.

A construction with more inertia will give a calmer, smoother ride that feels more connected to the face. That can be interesting if you are looking for a board that is more fluid, more stable and more comfortable in imperfect waves.

The right choice will therefore depend on your style. If you want to maximise the Karamba’s dynamic and reactive side, go for a construction that enhances liveliness. If you want a rounder, more accessible ride, choose a construction that brings more smoothness through the turns.

The key is to preserve the logic of the shape: a board that is easy to paddle, capable of catching more waves, yet still performance-oriented enough to deliver genuine shortboard surfing.

Which fin setup?

The Karamba comes with 5 Single Tab boxes so it can be ridden as either a thruster or a quad. This dual configuration is one of the board’s major strengths, because it allows you to significantly tune its behaviour.

The thruster setup brings more pivot, manoeuvrability and precision. This is the setup to choose if you want to surf shorter, more vertically, place the board quickly in the pocket and keep a very readable feel through the turns.

The quad setup brings more drive, projection and line speed. It is the ideal setup if you want to keep speed through the sections, draw longer carves and push harder with a fuller style of surfing.

In weak waves, the quad will often help maintain speed and get through sections. In punchier waves, or if you want to surf more radically, the thruster will give more control and pivot.

The choice therefore depends on your style: thruster for a more shortboard-oriented and radical Karamba, quad for a faster Karamba with better glide and more commitment through the lines.

Rake

Rake refers to the rearward sweep of the fin. The more rake there is, the further back the fin tip sits towards the tail.

With more rake, the Karamba will gain hold and draw longer carves. This is interesting if you want to increase drive, surf with more pressure or slightly calm the board’s responsiveness.

With less rake, the board will turn tighter and free up the tail more. That makes sense if you want to emphasise the Karamba’s manoeuvrable side, especially as a thruster.

On this board, rake clearly lets you tune the feel: more rake for fuller lines, less rake for more pivot and quicker placement.

Base

The base is the lower part of the fin, the part that is in contact with the board.

A long base will bring more drive, more control and more speed through the carves. It will be interesting in quad if you want to get the most out of the Karamba in longer, more powerful lines.

A short base will bring more pivot and free up the board more under the back foot. It works very well in thruster to keep the surfing shorter, more vertical and more manoeuvrable.

As the Karamba already has a supportive square tail, the choice of base lets you fine-tune the behaviour: more base to push hard, less base to turn tighter.

Depth

Depth is the height between the base and the tip of the fin.

A deeper fin will give more hold, more stability and more control. This is useful if you are powerful, if you are on the heavier side, or if you surf faster waves.

A shallower fin will reduce drag and make the board feel freer. It will keep more pivot, more glide and make it easier to release the tail.

On the Karamba, you need enough depth to hold your rail through the turns, especially in quad, but avoid going too deep if you want to keep the board playful and easy to turn.

Surface area

A fin with more surface area will bring more grip and more control. This is interesting for powerful surfers, heavier builds or faster conditions.

A fin with less surface area will make the Karamba more mobile, freer and easier to pivot. It is a good choice if you are after a more playful feel or if the waves are small and lack power.

As a thruster, more surface area will give a calmer, more precise ride. As a quad, too much surface area can make the board feel very locked in. So you need to adapt the surface area to the chosen setup, your build and the type of wave.

Flex

Flex refers to the fin’s ability to deform under pressure and then return to its original shape.

A fin with more flex will give a smoother, more forgiving and more progressive feel. That can suit you if you use the Karamba as an easy everyday board or if the conditions are inconsistent.

A stiffer fin will give more response, more precision and more speed build-up. This is interesting if you want to push the Karamba towards more performance-oriented surfing, especially as a thruster or as a quad in faster waves.

If you want to maximise performance, go for fins with good stiffness and solid construction. The more precisely the fins transmit pressure, the more the Karamba retains its shortboard feel.

Karamba or Devil’s Tongue?

The Karamba is an everyday shortboard egg, closer to a shortboard in feel, with good paddling ease and a highly adaptable thruster / quad setup.

The Devil’s Tongue brings more surface area, more comfort and an even more progressive approach. It makes paddling, take-off and progression easier, while still keeping a performance-oriented feel.

Choose the Karamba if you want a more shortboard-oriented, tunable everyday board. Choose the Devil’s Tongue if you want a board that is more accessible, more buoyant and more geared towards enjoyable progression.

Which bag?

Equipments

These boards come equipped with a leash plug and 5 Single Tab fin boxes for a thruster or quad 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 thruster setup uses three fins. The quad setup uses four fins.

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

Delivery

NEW 2026

5'6 5'7 5'8 5'9 5'10 5'11 6'0 6'1 6'2 6'3 6'4 6'5 6'6

Surf Devil'S Tongue EPS

The easy shortboard to progress on.

$428

NEW 2026

5'3 5'4 5'5 5'6 5'7 5'8 5'9 5'10 5'11 6'0 6'1 6'2 6'3 6'4 6'5 6'6

Surf Alu EPS

The modern shortboard to accelerate, pop and send it in everyday waves.

$357

NEW

XXS XS S M L XL

Round Thruster Fins Set - ST Box

The ROUND thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.

$83

NEW

XXS XS S M L XL

Leap Thruster Fins Set - ST Box

The LEAP thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.

$83

NEW

S M L XL

Power Thruster Fins Set - ST Box

The POWER thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.

$83

5'3 5'6 5'9 6'0 6'3 6'6 7'0 7'3

Shortboard Day bag

Keep your surf board protected, day after day.

$59

5' 6'

Surf Comp Ankle Leash - 6mm

Thin and lightweight shortboard leash for reduced drag.

$24

Key Lock Box

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

$36

68L

Change Bucket Comfort 68L

The must have accessory in the trunk of your car!

$30

NEW

Wetsuit Hanger

The hanger for hanging all your neoprene equipment.

$24

GONG | Stainless Steel Isothermal Bottle

500 ml 750 ml

Stainless Steel Isothermal Bottle

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

$16

Neoprene Seat Cover

Seat Cover in neoprene

$30

Who is the Karamba for?

The Karamba is aimed at surfers looking for an everyday board that’s easier than a classic shortboard, but with a true shortboard feel. It’s an ideal board for catching more waves, getting into them more easily and keeping a dynamic ride in everyday conditions.

What kind of waves does the Karamba perform best in?

It performs best in everyday waves, from knee-high to well overhead. It works really well in weak to medium waves, whether messy or clean, with enough surface area to paddle easily, make it through the sections and keep your speed up.

Is the Karamba an easy board?

Yes, the Karamba is more accessible than a pure performance shortboard thanks to its egg shortboard outline, extra surface area and stability on take-off. But it’s not a soft board: it stays lively, precise and capable of surfing with a real shortboard feel.

What is the difference between the Karamba as a thruster and as a quad?

As a thruster, the Karamba gains pivot, manoeuvrability and precision. It’s the ideal setup for surfing shorter, more vertically and more radically. As a quad, it gains drive, projection and down-the-line speed, with a more powerful, committed feel through carves.

Why choose the Karamba over a classic shortboard?

The Karamba gives you more paddle power, more stability and more forgiveness than a classic shortboard. It lets you catch more waves and make the most of everyday sessions, while keeping a modern enough feel to turn, build speed and push through your turns.

What is the role of the square tail on the Karamba?

The high-lift square tail brings speed, stability and efficient speed build-up under the back foot. As a thruster, it stays easy to place through turns. As a quad, it becomes more driven, with more projection and drive through the lines.

Is the Karamba suitable for progression?

Yes, it’s a very interesting option for progressing towards a more shortboard-style surf. Its easier paddling and more stable take-off give you some leeway, while its modern rails and two fin setups let you progress towards a more precise, faster or more radical ride depending on your level.

What’s the difference between the Karamba and the Alu?

The Alu is more modern, more aerial and more pop-oriented in soft or imperfect waves. The Karamba is more versatile, more stable and more accessible, with an egg shortboard approach that makes paddling easier and lets you choose between a radical thruster feel or more drive in quad.

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