Longboarding: The Classic Art of Surfing

Honolua Blomfield, three-time WSL longboard champion from Hawaii, before competing in the third round of the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championship - Thiago Diz / WSL

Unlike shortboarding, where fast and radical maneuvers dominate, longboarding invites surfers to ride with calm, read the wave with patience, and enjoy every second on the water.

This surfing discipline, practiced with longer boards—generally 9 feet or more—has its roots in traditional Hawaiian surfing, where the first surfers used long wooden boards to glide across waves with fluid and elegant movements.

Today, that classic essence remains alive in modern longboarding, and thanks to the stability of its boards, it is an excellent option for those who are just starting in surfing, as it makes it easier to learn paddling, positioning on the board, and reading waves.

Kai Ellice-Flint, WSL longboard champion, surfs at the WSL50 Expression Session of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on April 3, 2026 - Cait Miers / WSL

But longboarding is not only for beginners; many experienced surfers choose this style for its relaxed approach and its ability to surf smaller waves that are not always ideal for shortboards.

The Growth of Competitive Longboarding

Longboarding has also gained ground in the competitive scene. Today, there are professional circuits that bring together the best longboarders in the world, where style, technique, and flow are the most valued elements by judges.

Competitions stand out for their relaxed atmosphere, while maintaining a high technical level among surfers. Each heat becomes a display of creativity and elegance on the waves.

Among the most characteristic maneuvers are noseriding, which involves walking toward the nose of the board while maintaining balance; cross-stepping, which allows surfers to move with crossed steps along the board; smooth cutbacks, which involve wide and controlled turns; and the more challenging hang five and hang ten, where the surfer places five or ten toes on the nose of the board.

Taylor Jensen, four-time WSL longboard champion from the United States, after competing in the third round of the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championship - Thiago Diz / WSL

These movements require technique, balance, and sensitivity, transforming longboarding into a true artistic expression within surfing, demonstrating control and precision.

Regarding the growth of women’s longboarding, it has been remarkable in recent years, with athletes raising the level and inspiring new generations to practice this discipline.

Longboarding and Lifestyle

This discipline invites surfers to enjoy each session without rush, maintaining its classic essence and inspiring surfers of all ages from around the world.

Kaede Inoue of Japan surfs in the first heat of the second round of the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic on October 24, 2025 - Manel Geada / WSL

Whether to learn, compete, or simply enjoy the ocean, longboarding offers a unique experience on the waves, marked by a calmer connection with the ocean and the natural environment.