Shortboard vs Longboard: When to Ride What in Bali
Two completely different ways to ride a wave. A practical guide to which board to grab from your quiver on a given Bali morning.
Bali is one of the few places where you can shortboard at dawn and longboard at sunset on the same day. But not every wave fits both. Here's how to choose.
Pick the longboard when
- Wave is small (under 3 ft)
- Wave is mellow (Old Man's, Lovina)
- You want to cross-step and trim
- You want to surf 2 hours instead of 45 minutes
- The crowd is heavy and you need paddle power
Pick the shortboard when
- Wave is overhead and powerful (Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Keramas)
- Wave is hollow
- You want to do turns, not glide
- Wave has a steep takeoff
The mid-length cheat code
Bali rewards mid-lengths (6'8" - 7'6") more than almost any wave on Earth. They paddle like a longboard, turn like a shortboard, and let you surf every spot in your trip on one board. If you can only own one, own this.
Frequently Asked Questions
→Can I ride a shortboard at Old Man's?
On a chest-high+ glassy day with a wave-period above 11 seconds, yes. On the typical 0.6-1m mush that defines Old Man's most days, your shortboard will feel like a sinking pile of fibreglass. Bring a longboard or 7'0 mid-length for those days.
→Is a longboard practical for Uluwatu?
On a 1.5-2m clean SW swell with offshore winds, an experienced longboarder can have an incredible session at Uluwatu — but you must sit on the inside, give priority on every wave, and accept you'll be paddling for the leftovers. Beginners on longboards at Ulu are dangerous to themselves and the lineup.
→What's the one-board quiver for a 2-week Bali trip?
A 7'0-7'2 mid-length funboard. It paddles like a longboard, turns enough for clean reef waves, doesn't break the bank to ship, and resells in 30 minutes on PASARA when you leave. Best single-board choice for 95% of intermediate visitors.
Where to Surf
