Going Too Small Too Soon: The Surfboard Mistake We See Every Week

By Chris O'Shea and Anna Nikstad, Welcome Board Store, Mornington

Someone walks into the shop with a sleek, thin shortboard they bought online, and they're frustrated. They're paddling for everything and catching nothing. We hear it nearly every week, and the fix is usually a couple of litres. Volume decides how easily a board paddles and catches waves, and going too small too soon is the most common way surfers slow their own progress.

Do the quick maths

Volume is measured in litres, and one litre of foam floats roughly one kilogram. That's why we start with your weight. Then multiply by an ability factor. Casual surfers use 0.43 to 0.49, intermediates 0.38 to 0.42 and advanced surfers 0.34 to 0.38. So a 75 kg intermediate surfer starts around 28.5 to 31.5 litres on a shortboard. If you're still learning, think about your body weight in litres or more, which usually means a softboard. Be honest about which group you're in.

Add a little for Victorian conditions

The formula is a starting point, not the final word. Soft waves around Western Port and small days at the back beaches call for the top of your range or above. Winter matters too. Thick winter rubber, booties and a hood make every paddle heavier, so plenty of local surfers ride a bit more foam from June to August. Construction counts as well. Epoxy and EPS boards are more buoyant than PU at the same litres, so you can usually drop a litre or two.

Shorter doesn't have to mean less foam

Grovellers and small-wave boards are designed to be ridden shorter than your shortboard, but wider and thicker, with more volume. That's how you get easy paddling and speed on an average Peninsula day without losing the short-board feel.

Work out your litres

Our full surfboard volume guide has the volume chart by weight and ability, how volume works across board types, worked examples and how the Channel Islands models we stock compare.

Want to feel the difference? Come down to the shop at 207 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington, hold a few boards and talk it through with us.