Small Wave Surfing: 6 Boards That Turn Average Waves Into Great Sessions

Summer often means smaller waves, weaker swell, and softer, mushier conditions. While these waves may lack power and steep sections, the right surfboard can completely change the experience.

This season, we've added a range of new models specifically designed to generate speed, maintain flow, and maximize fun when the waves aren't at their best. Because even on the smallest days, there's always a board that can make the most of what's on offer.

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What Makes Small-Wave Surfing Different?

When the ocean loses some of its energy, generating speed becomes the biggest challenge. Summer surf is often characterized by flatter faces, slower sections, and waves that offer less natural drive than a solid swell. In these conditions, surfboards with extra volume, wider outlines, and speed-friendly designs can make all the difference—helping you catch more waves, maintain momentum, and get the most out of every session.

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Pukas Surfboards - Balloon

Born and refined in the everyday waves of Zarautz, the Pukas Balloon is the kind of board that reminds you just how much fun small-wave surfing can be. Designed to unlock speed, flow, and creativity in weaker conditions, it has quickly become a favorite among the Pukas team.

Team manager Hodei Collazo describes it simply as "an incredible board" — high praise for a shape built to turn average days into memorable sessions. Blending a fuller, rounded outline with a surprisingly performance-oriented feel, the Balloon delivers the best of both worlds. It paddles effortlessly, generates speed with ease, and maintains momentum through sections where traditional shortboards often struggle.

Its relaxed rocker profile and carefully balanced bottom contours create instant acceleration, helping surfers make the most of every wave, no matter how little power it offers. Designed for knee- to chest-high surf, the Balloon thrives in small beach breaks, playful reef setups, and softer point breaks — a versatile option for intermediate and advanced surfers looking for a board that catches waves easily, carries speed naturally, and turns average summer sessions into memorable ones.

For best performance, ride it 3–4 inches shorter than your everyday shortboard. Larger sizes also make an excellent choice for surfers looking for additional paddle power, stability, and wave-catching ability without losing responsiveness. Available from 4'11" (24.6L) to 6'6" (50.0L) in PU construction.

“An incredible board.”

Hodei Collazo — Pukas Team MANAGER

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Channel Islands Surfboards — The Solution

The name says it all. Designed by Britt Merrick for those frustrating days when the waves are small, soft, and lacking energy, The Solution is Channel Islands’ answer to everyday surf that still deserves a high-performance approach. Rather than simply adding volume and width, this board has been engineered to preserve the responsiveness and feel of a shortboard while delivering the speed and glide needed to make the most of weak conditions.

What makes The Solution stand out is its ability to bridge the gap between a traditional performance shortboard and a dedicated small-wave board. A fuller outline and rounded tail provide extra planing area, helping the board carry speed across flat sections and maintain momentum when the wave offers very little push. Underneath, a single-to-double concave bottom generates lift and acceleration, creating a lively feel that encourages surfers to stay active and draw performance lines even in less-than-perfect surf.

One of the most distinctive features of The Solution is its completely new rocker profile, developed specifically to keep speed through slower sections without sacrificing maneuverability. The board feels fast and free underfoot, yet still responds when pushed through turns. Its versatile five-fin setup allows surfers to fine-tune the ride depending on conditions and personal preference, whether prioritizing speed, control, or a looser, more playful feel.

Designed as a true step-down board, The Solution performs best when ridden around two inches shorter than your standard shortboard. It excels in small, mushy surf where maintaining flow is often the biggest challenge, making it an ideal addition to any quiver for summer conditions and everyday sessions.

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...Lost Surfboards — Speed Demon

Some surfboards are designed to turn. Others are designed to fly. The Lost Speed Demon unapologetically belongs to the second category. Inspired by one of Lost’s iconic ’90s models and reimagined for modern surfing, this board was built with a single objective in mind: generating effortless speed in everyday waves.

Developed by Matt Biolos with input from Kolohe Andino, the Speed Demon takes decades of small-wave design knowledge and packages it into a board that feels fast from the moment you stand up. In fact, one of the early prototypes impressed Kolohe so much that he joked it made him want to compete again. That’s the kind of reaction a board gets when speed becomes its defining feature.

While many small-wave boards rely heavily on volume and width alone, the Speed Demon combines several proven design elements to create a board that accelerates naturally and maintains momentum through weak sections. A low rocker profile, generous foam distribution, a wider outline, and a deep double concave work together to create lift, drive, and instant projection. The wider tail adds stability and speed, while subtle refinements in the tail design keep the board surprisingly responsive when it’s time to turn.

The result is a shape that feels incredibly fast without becoming difficult to surf. Whether you’re linking sections at your local beach break or looking to create speed where there seems to be none, the Speed Demon encourages a more aggressive approach to everyday waves. As Matt Biolos himself describes it, this is a board built for “crazy bursts of speed” — for surfers who believe that once they have speed, everything else becomes possible.

With its vintage Mayhem logo and unmistakable ’90s-inspired attitude, the Speed Demon carries as much personality above the water as it does below it. It’s a modern small-wave weapon designed for surfers who want to attack average conditions rather than simply survive them. Most surfers can ride it at a similar length to their daily driver or slightly shorter, adding 1–3 liters of extra volume for improved paddling, speed generation, and overall forgiveness. Available from 5'4" (23.5L) to 6'6" (42.75L) in PU construction.

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...Lost Surfboards — RNF Twinzer 96er

Few surfboards have earned legendary status quite like the Lost RNF ‘96. More than three decades after its original creation, the Round Nose Fish remains one of the most influential and best-selling fish designs ever made. The RNF Twinzer 96er takes that proven platform and pushes it into new territory, combining the speed and glide of the iconic RNF with the added control, drive, and precision of a modern Twinzer+ setup.

At its heart, this is still everything surfers love about the RNF. It paddles effortlessly, generates speed with minimal effort, and carries momentum through flat sections where traditional shortboards tend to slow down. The familiar fish DNA remains intact, but the addition of the Twinzer+ fin configuration gives the board a noticeably different character underfoot.

For surfers unfamiliar with the concept, a Twinzer setup places smaller “canard” fins ahead of the main fins, improving water flow and increasing efficiency through turns. The sensation is unique: all the speed and freedom of a twin fin, but with significantly more control and confidence when pushing harder through sections. Lost has taken the concept a step further by introducing its Twinzer+ system, adding a rear mini-trailer option that allows surfers to fine-tune the balance between looseness, drive, and hold depending on the conditions.

Rather than reinventing the RNF, Lost made subtle refinements to optimize the design around the new fin setup. A slightly wider nose and tail, deeper double concave through the tail, and carefully updated foil work together to enhance speed, flow, and responsiveness. The result is a board that feels fast and lively in weak surf, yet remains composed and reliable when the waves become steeper or more powerful.

The RNF Twinzer 96er is ideal for surfers looking to explore alternative performance designs without sacrificing familiarity. It delivers the playful speed of a fish, the projection of a Twinzer, and the versatility to perform across a remarkably wide range of conditions — from knee-high summer peelers to overhead point-break walls. Available from 5'0" (22.5L) to 6'6" (45.0L) in PU construction.

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Christenson Surfboards — Easy Wind

If there’s one board in this lineup that deserves the title of “quiver killer”, it’s the Christenson Easy Wind. Designed as an all-round performance shape capable of handling a huge variety of conditions, the Easy Wind combines the speed and wave-catching ability of a groveler with the responsiveness and control of a modern performance board.

Unlike many small-wave boards that focus solely on generating speed, the Easy Wind was designed to be ridden far beyond knee-high summer surf. From weak beach breaks and soft reef waves to cleaner, more lined-up conditions, it offers an impressive balance of glide, drive, and maneuverability that makes it one of the most versatile designs in the Christenson range.

A key ingredient in the board’s performance is Christenson’s signature low “fighter jet wing” rails. These refined rails help the board sit higher on the water, reducing drag and creating a noticeably faster, more responsive feel. Combined with a low entry rocker and extremely low tail rocker, the Easy Wind accelerates effortlessly and maintains speed through flat sections while still offering enough control to push harder when the waves improve.

Drawing inspiration from other successful Christenson models such as the Nautilus, Wolverine, and Lane Splitter, the Easy Wind blends familiar design elements into a more user-friendly and adaptable package. The fuller tail outline provides additional lift and projection, making the board feel lively underfoot while remaining forgiving enough for surfers looking to progress into shorter, higher-performance shapes.

One of the Easy Wind’s greatest strengths is its versatility in sizing. Advanced surfers often ride it as a performance groveler, several inches shorter than their height, while larger surfers and those seeking additional paddle power can comfortably size up into the mid-length range without sacrificing maneuverability. Whether you’re looking for a daily driver, a travel companion, or simply a board that handles almost everything, the Easy Wind lives up to its name.

The Easy Wind stands out because it doesn’t force you into a specific style of surfing. It has the speed and forgiveness needed for weak summer waves, but enough performance DNA to remain relevant when conditions improve.

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Hayden Shapes — Nova

Some surfboards are built for specific conditions. Others are designed to work almost everywhere. The HaydenShapes Nova firmly belongs in the second category. Created as a fast, forgiving, and highly versatile everyday board, the Nova has become one of HaydenShapes’ most popular models thanks to its ability to make average waves feel significantly more enjoyable.

At first glance, the Nova’s wider outline and generous volume distribution immediately suggest what this board is all about: easy paddling, effortless wave-catching, and instant speed generation. But unlike many boards in the hybrid or groveler category, the Nova retains a surprisingly responsive feel that allows surfers to push turns and maintain a performance-oriented approach even when conditions improve.

The secret lies in its carefully balanced design. A medium rocker profile keeps the board fast and efficient in weaker surf while still providing enough responsiveness for steeper sections and tighter pockets. Combined with generous surface area through the nose and tail, the Nova carries speed naturally across flatter sections and maintains momentum where traditional shortboards often struggle.

One of the Nova’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. While experienced surfers appreciate its speed, flow, and versatility, the board is equally suited to progressing surfers looking to build confidence and improve their performance. Easy paddling, smooth rail-to-rail transitions, and a predictable feel make it one of the most user-friendly boards in this lineup.

Whether you’re surfing small beach breaks, playful point waves, clean reef setups, or even wave pools, the Nova adapts effortlessly to the conditions. It’s the kind of board that quickly becomes a favorite because it removes many of the frustrations that come with average surf, allowing you to focus on catching more waves and having more fun. Available from 5'3" (25.7L) to 6'8" (47.4L), typically ridden 2–4 inches shorter than your standard shortboard.

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