We are surfing in the North Sea about 150 days a year.
Compared to the oceans, the conditions in the North Sea are smaller, slower and weaker.
These conditions must be taken into account when choosing a surfboard to catch many waves and having a boards which performs in low power surf.
We are showing you here what to look for in the design and which boards meet this requirements.
Still in doubt? You are welcome to write us a mail to info@surf-garage.dk
Surfboard design for the north sea
When choosing a surfboard for surfing in the North Sea, you should pay attention to the following design elements.
A flat rocker (especially in the front half of the board) brings the following advantages on most surfing days at the North Sea:
- You catch more waves
- You will generate speed easier
Only the best days require more nose rocker.
Surfboard outline wider:
- Easier planing / more paddle power
- More speed in flater waves
Short Surfboard length:
The waves of the north sea are relatively small. A shorter surfboard with a shorter rail fits better to the pocket of the wave.
The surfboard tail often follows individual preferences.
However, a wider and thicker tail will glide easier and gets more speed from the weaker waves.
A tail that is too wide and too thick makes a surfboard harder to turn.
Surfboards for the north sea compared to the ocean:
- shorter
- wider
- more volume + about 0,5 to 1,0L (a winter wetsuit weighs about 3kg)
Surfboard recommendations for the North Sea depending on conditions
Note: surfboards which are ideal for the specific conditions, each design is also suitable for the category above and below.
Small
Conditions:
- Observation: waves are just breaking, often only in the upper half, knee to waist high, flat and very slow.
- Wind: light onshore, crossshore, no wind, offshore.
- Wave: Forecast about less than 0.7m swell with less than 8s period.
- Conclusion: Many take their longboard, but you will also enjoy the surf with the following shorter surfboards and have a more agile craft than a longboard.
Average
Conditions:
- Observation: waves are about waist to head high, have shallow, slow passages and steeper, faster passages.
- Wind: light onshore, crossshore, no wind, offshore.
- Wave: Forecast about more than 0.8m swell at 7s to 10s period.
- Conclusion: Because of the variance the shape is very important – you need an allrounder for 80% of all days.
- Out of Stock
Golden days
Conditions
- Observation: Waves are chest high or bigger and peeling; only a few flat, slow parts, most waves are faster and steeper.
- Wind: The wave surface is relatively clean – cross-off, offshore, no wind.
- Wave: Forecast about more than 1,2m swell with 7s to 13s period.
- Conclusion: Here you can surf a similar board to the ocean, we recommend to check out the boards in the category “daily driver” or “small wave performance shortboard”.
Custom Shape according your requirements from Local Shaper Marcos Mota
If you haven’t found your surfboard for surfing yet, you can request a custom surfboard from North Sea Local and Shaper Marcos Mota in the form below. Marcos makes his surfboards in Klitmøller (Denmark), has a lot of experience with the waves of the North Sea and has been building high quality surfboards since 2005, among others once for the surf world champion of 2022, Filipe Toledo…
Interview /w Shaper Marcos Mota
Conversation between shaper legend Marcos Mota and Reinhard from surf-garage.dk about surfboards for the North Sea.