INFO: WHY SURFING A LONGBOARD!!!

If the Longboard is an ideal shape to start surfing it is also the absolute weapon in many conditions. A large number of enthusiasts continue with him his quest for aesthetics and retro style.

There is no denying the fact that the majority of surfers started out on a Longboard. These large boards with generous dimensions make learning much easier. A Longboard makes it possible to row faster and take a maximum of waves with a lot of stability.

A proven preconceived idea, certainly, but which shows only one facet of the usefulness of a Longboard.

There are a lot of Longboards that allow you to have fun in the conditions you want. Today, there are two main categories of Longboards:

• The classic Longboard, known as the “log.”
• The performance Longboard.

These two types of shapes are different, especially at the outline level. They differ mainly in the way you want to surf and the type of waves you want to ride.

The traditional Longboard

The approach is totally different from a performance Longboard. The main goal is to ride the same wave tempo while taking into account the board’s inertia. This type of retro shape, rather wide and thick, is often heavier than a modern Longboard. The absence of rocker makes rowing easier, and the 50/50 rails promote stability and control once at the nose. The tail is also wide to get the most water, and therefore weight to promote noseride lift. This type of board requires a certain level because you have to be perfectly positioned and a good dose of balance to set up nice noserides.

The performance Longboard

This type of Longboard, compared to a log, allows you to ride in much wider conditions. The shape is sharper to perform in a more modern style. The board is narrower, lighter and has a rocker and rails that are closer to a shortboard. The tail is also narrower, making the board more maneuverable. The Fin set-up can vary from one shape to another but the most common are the 2+1 set-up. This type of Longboard allows you to ride both in hollow waves, with the possibility to tighten the curves and keep a maximum of control to link the whole catalogue of modern moves, but also the noserides.

If these two types of Longboards are quite different, there is one thing they have in common: the will to put style and fun before performance.

Sitting in the middle of the board to look for speed, laying down a drop knee cut back, or wedging yourself at the nose with your toes up in a loose style, surfing a Longboard can be a real aesthetic quest.

Moreover, the notion of pleasure is multiplied tenfold. We appreciate the fact that we can catch the waves before everyone else, and therefore surf more, or share a wave with a buddy after watching “endless summer”. In short, nothing but positive things.

Surfers: Malo, Team rider GONG, and l’Ours on GONG Surf 9’8 Incredible EPS and GONG Surf 9’0 Moodrive EPS.