From Left:
FISH
Fish boards are typically stubby, sub-six-footers with twin fins and split tails that turn on a dime—an attribute that lets riders make the most of slight, sloppy surf. But its smaller size does make a fish hard to ride. For performance benefits without the frustration, hop on the larger six-foot-six-inch Lost Round Nose Fish. This foam-and-glass beauty paddles like a much bigger fun shape but will let you pull off whiplash-inducing turns. $560; 5'4"–6'8"; www.lostenterprises.com

HYBRID
The next step up from a funboard is a hybrid like the WRV FunFish. Nearly three inches of foam inside this seven-foot foam-and-glass stick make for a better float, while the relatively flat bottom provides more stability in waist-high crumblers. The WRV's sharply upturned nose lets you make steeper, and therefore faster, drops into the wave—and a swallowtail on the back end produces quicker turns. All of which translates into superior handling. $490; 6'6"–8'6"; www.waveridingvehicles.com

ALL-AROUNDER
If you had to pick just one board to ride every day and in all conditions, the Channel Islands M-13 would be it. This eight-foot-long hybrid paddles and catches waves as easily as a longboard, but the shortboard-style nose and the concave shape stick steeper drops, while the pintail smooths turns and holds a tight line in large surf. The M-13 is made of lightweight SurfTech TufLite, molded layers of foam surrounded by an epoxy-and-fiberglass laminate that protects the shape from dings that can damage less durable foam-and-fiberglass boards. $685; 7'–8'; www.cisurfboards.com