Surfboard Tail Shapes

At Sideways, we design our boards closely with a variety of renowned shapers, and our five main tail shapes are square, squash, round, swallow and pin. Each shape gives the board a different performance in the water.

SQUARE

Helps you plane easily over flat or weaker sections. This is due to the extra surface area and volume in the tail of the board. It also increases stability on a wave. An example of this shape is the Dahlberg RDS2.

 

SQUASH

Allows a perfect balance of manoeuvrability, whilst enhancing stability. This is because it is a combination of a square and a round. It assist a rider with tighter turns, and fitting into the pocket of the wave. An example of this shape is the Deathless Standoid.

ROUND

Also allows a rider to plane over weaker sections, and offers a ‘performance’ feel. A round tail is designed to give you more hold, compared to a square, especially when surfing in big waves or steep barrels. An example of this shape is the Webber Sonic.

SWALLOW

The main feature of a swallow tail is that it offers stability from the two points at the end of the rails. These points are also helpful in making turns, when transitioning from rail to rail. Mostly found in fun boards for small waves. An example of this shape is the Diverse Astral Tracer.

PIN

This shape is ideal for barrel riding, as it holds up well in the steep face of a wave. The pin is a drawn in version of a round tail, which assists in surfing more extreme conditions. An example of this shape is the Free Flight Col Smith.

Don't worry, there are plenty more tails out there. But these are the main ones to know.
Have any questions? Ask us via the contact us page at sales@sideways.com.au