WHAT TAIL SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
A frequent question that we get here at Native is ‘what type of tail should I be surfing?’. The tail of the board is often overlooked when purchasing a board, however it is one of the most crucial factors to the boards performance. In this blog, we’ll break down the basic shapes and how they perform in the surf.
SQUASH TAIL
The most common tail on a surfboard that you will find 85% of the time. The reason being that a squash tail allows you to surf in most conditions, whether it’s mellow waves or when the waves are punchy and hollow. The wider tail area from the squash gives you extra surface area and volume to skip through flat sections. You’ll have the leverage to push off the tail without sinking the tail, yet it’s narrow enough to keep you stable in the barrel.
EXAMPLE OF DIFFERENT SQUASH TAILS IN OUR RANGE
ROUND TAIL
This shape has been increasingly popular in the last 10-15 years especially after more and more pro surfers on tour have been opting for the round tail. Round tails give you smoothness through your turns whilst providing you with the bite you need as a powerful surfer. Hence, surfers who are heavily backfooted benefit from this. The small surface area on the tail gives you a connected feel to the wave especially when you are in the barrel. The round tail really sinks into the wave when in the barrel to create bite and control.
EXAMPLE OF DIFFERENT ROUND TAILS IN OUR RANGE
SWALLOW TAIL
This shape has the best of both worlds. The swallow tips act as a claw on the board to provide you with the grip you needed when turning on a steep, more powerful wave without sliding out. The wider surface area allows you to surf the board in mellower waves like a beach break. It also gives you release when you want off the top with ease due to the wider hip area.
EXAMPLE OF DIFFERENT SWALLOW TAILS IN OUR RANGE
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there’s not one perfect tail that will suit everybody. Some surfers are sworn to round tails, others squash or swallows. Best thing is to try out different tails at the same conditions before deciding on one. One tip for sure is to trust the shaper’s models and not customize the tail shape as they are made for that particular model for a reason, unless of course you know what you really want for your boards.
With Native Surfboards, we hire out all models at Boardriders Echo Beach so you can try before you buy.
Happy surfing!