Surf Guide • Famara since 2010 Every curve on a board buys you one thing and costs you another. More rocker turns tighter and paddles slower. A wider tail gives lift in weak waves and slides out in strong ones. Nothing on a surfboard is free, and that is the whole subject of this page. Once you know your volume — and if you do not, start with choosing your surfboard — the shape is what decides how the board behaves under your feet. Here is what each element does, in plain language, with the shapes drawn out. Lessons every day of the year in Famara since 2010 · usually up to 5 students per instructor · video analysis on 4-hour courses · lessons in English and Spanish · 4.8 Google · 4.9 Tripadvisor Surf lesson 2 h from €50 · 4 h from €70 · Surf Camp with accommodation from €229 / 3 nights For centuries boards were solid wood: up to five metres long and fifty kilos heavy, ridden straight towards the beach because nothing that heavy turns. The 1930s changed two things at once. Boards got lighter and hollow, and Tom Blake screwed a fin to the tail — the single change that made it possible to ride across the face of a wave instead of in front of it. The 1950s brought foam and fibreglass, which took the weight down to something a teenager could carry and put surfing within reach of anyone who lived near a beach. From there the shapes came fast: the shortboard revolution of the late sixties, Mark Richards winning four world titles on his twin-fin fish, and in 1982 Simon Anderson adding a third fin to solve the twin-fin's habit of sliding out in powerful waves. That thruster is still the default setup on most boards in our racks, four decades later. Everything since has been refinement: better foams, lighter glassing, computer-shaped blanks, and a return of old ideas — fish, mid-lengths, single fins — for people who want a different feel rather than more performance. The tail is the last thing the water touches. A pointed tail lets water off gradually and holds in steep, powerful faces; a wide, square-cornered tail releases water abruptly and gives lift and snap in weak waves. Everything else is somewhere between those two. Fins do three jobs: they stop the tail sliding sideways, they convert your turn into drive, and they decide how loose the board feels. The number and placement matter far more than the brand on the sticker. None of this replaces riding the shapes. Rent two different boards in Famara on the same swell and the difference between a squash and a round pin stops being theory in about twenty minutes. Our shop Famara Power keeps fins, boxes and boards shaped on the island by JFB, and will happily talk shapes for longer than you intended. Most of what is described above is sitting on the racks in our shop in Caleta de Famara, a couple of minutes from the water. The boards worth singling out are the ones shaped here on the island by JFB — the shaper we send people to when they want something built for these waves rather than for a catalogue photo. Not sure which of them is yours? Ride a few first — board rental in Famara costs a fraction of a wrong purchase. Famara is a sand-bottom beach break with long, rolling waves and wind that builds through the afternoon. That rewards flatter rocker, fuller outlines and forgiving tails: a squash or a round tail on a thruster covers almost every day of the year here, and a swallow-tail fish is a genuinely good idea from June to September when the swell goes small and soft. Pin tails and narrow, curvy shapes only make sense on the reefs around the island on a clean, solid swell — which the Lanzarote spot guide covers spot by spot. If you are still working out which board is yours in the first place, that decision lives in choosing your surfboard. Want the short version, in the water? An instructor will tell you in one session why your board does what it does — book a surf lesson, or start from the beginning with the beginner course. I spent about a week taking surf lessons! I have nothing but positive things to say about this experience! The instructors are very patient and knowledgeable, they're right there with you in the water, they give you real-time feedback, and they support you every step of the way to give you the best advice! The instructors are very kind and always have a smile on their faces. I highly recommend them; you'll leave with a smile! 3rd visit here, this time for the kids. Great lessons again from people who teach well. Sent my son on the intermediate lessons, had him taking off in some big swell, huge boost to confidence Excellent service from the lady who works there! We rented boards and the experience was fantastic!! Definitely recommend to anyone who is visiting! What an amazing and unforgettable experience\! 🌊🏄♂️ My 9\-year\-old son took just two surfing lessons, and we were absolutely thrilled with the results\! The instructor was incredibly friendly, patient, encouraging, and supportive\. He really helped my son build his confidence, and after only two lessons, he managed to surf on his own\! Absolutely amazing\! I highly recommend booking a lesson here, especially for children\. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience and the beautiful memories\. We will definitely be back\! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely perfect experience for my 10 year old son and 14 year old nephew. They learned a lot and had a wonderful time. Everyone at Red Star is great to interact with, and the instructors are great with kids. We will definitely be back for more lessons in the future. Highly recommend! The guys at RSS gave us a great week of surfing and fun in Famara. We were a group of 8 people, staying in their accomodation and taking the half day and full day surf lessons in their school. They divide everyone into groups based on their level and give so much attention to everyone. The progression can really be felt each day. Amazing team !!!! Thank you so much for the amazing surf lesson! It was my very first time surfing, and I had such a great experience. You made us feel welcome and helped us enjoy every moment. We’ll definitely remember it! 🌊🏄 We had such a great experience today! My sister and I took a surf lesson and absolutely loved it. The instructors were super friendly, patient and really good at explaining everything. We felt very comfortable and had so much fun during the lesson. We would definitely recommend this surf school to anyone looking for a fun and enjoyable surf experience! "The teachers are very nice, there is good teaching methodology that respects everyone's pace and there's no pressure. Thank you very much to Mariano for his good mood and for allowing me to finish the courses on a success. I can't wait to come back." We booked on to a two day course and could not fault the quality of the instructors across the days we were there. You cannot fault the scenary when out surfing with Famara cliffs in the background! We really appreciated the community vibes this surf school had created which made our trip highly memorable. We had a 2-hour lesson with the Red Star Surf guys on Friday and it was fantastic! We were surfing for the first time and the guys did a great job of getting us up on the boards and going on our first day. They were also very safety conscious. Would definitely go to them again. Rocker is the curve from nose to tail when you look at the board side on. Flat rocker paddles faster and glides through weak sections; more rocker turns tighter and keeps the nose from burying on a steep drop. A squash or a round tail. Both hold predictably, neither slides out when your weight lands in the wrong place, and they work in the kind of waves you will be riding for your first year. Thruster if you want one setup that works everywhere. Quad when you want more speed in hollow waves, twin when the surf is small and you want the board to feel loose and playful. Far less than the setup and the size. Fin area and placement change the board's behaviour dramatically; the logo on the side changes almost nothing. Because dimensions do not describe rocker, rail shape, tail outline or where the foam sits. Two 6'4" boards with the same litres can be a gentle all-rounder and a demanding performance shape. For the beach breaks: flatter rocker, a fuller outline and a squash or round tail on a thruster. The reef waves reward narrower shapes and pin tails, but only on clean, solid days. Choosing Your Surfboard · Fitness for Surfing · Surfing Etiquette · Surfing Lanzarote
Surfboard DesignRocker · Outline · Tails · Fins
What every curve on your board is actually doing
A surfboard is a set of compromises
Ready to try it in the water?
A short history of the shape
The seven things that shape a board
Element
What it does
What to look for
Length
Sets paddle speed and stability. Longer boards get into waves earlier and hold a line; shorter boards fit into steeper, tighter parts of the wave.
Longer for learning and for small waves, shorter only when you are already making late take-offs.
Outline (width and plan shape)
Decides how the board carries volume. Wide through the middle means stability; wide through the tail means lift in weak surf.
A wide point in front of centre for easy waves, closer to centre for performance turns.
Rocker
The curve from nose to tail. Flat rocker paddles and glides fast; more rocker turns tighter and stops the nose catching on steep drops.
Flat for Famara on a small day, more curve for hollow, powerful waves.
Rails
The edges. Soft, rounded rails forgive and hold; hard, thin rails bite and release quickly.
Softer rails while you are learning, harder rails once you are surfing the face.
Tail
Controls how water leaves the board, which is what release and hold are made of.
See the tail shapes below — this is where most of the character lives.
Fins
Grip, drive and how loose the board feels. Setup matters more than brand.
Thruster if you want one answer for everything; see the comparison below.
Volume distribution
Where the foam sits. Thickness under the chest is paddle power; thickness in the tail is lift.
Even foam through the chest for easier paddling, thinner tail for control in bigger surf.
Tail shapes
Tail
Character
Best in
Pin
Maximum hold, minimum release. Drawn-out turns, no skip.
Big, hollow, powerful waves — the classic gun tail.
Round pin
The versatile version of the pin: smooth, predictable, still holds.
Medium to solid waves with a clean face.
Round
More area than a pin, so faster and easier to turn while still following the curve of the wave.
Hollow and fast waves where you want control without stiffness.
Squash
The default. Square corners bite in a bottom turn, round corners keep it from sliding.
Almost everything — the safe choice for one board.
Swallow
Two tips acting as two tails: extra width for speed, with the notch keeping traction.
Small to medium waves with less power, fish and retro shapes.
Bat
A wider variant of the swallow with an extra point of contact.
Weak, flat surf where you need lift and speed.
Diamond
Cuts the corners off a square tail: less area at the very end, so it turns more readily.
Average waves, for surfers who want the turn to come easier.
Square
Sharp corners and full area. Plans early, pivots tightly.
Slow sections and small beach-break waves, ridden aggressively.
Fin setups
Setup
Feel
Drive and hold
Who rides it
Single
Smooth and stately. Long arcs, no snap.
Excellent hold in a straight line, slow to change direction.
Longboarders and anyone chasing a classic glide.
Twin
Loose and fast, skates through flat sections.
Plenty of speed, will slide out when the wave has real power.
Fish and retro boards in small to medium surf.
Thruster
Balanced — the setup everything else is measured against.
Good drive, reliable hold, predictable release.
Most surfers, most days. The default in our rental racks.
Quad
Fast down the line, very direct out of a turn.
More hold near the rail than a twin, more speed than a thruster.
Intermediates in hollow waves, and anywhere you want speed.
Bonzer 5
Distinct, drawn-out and locked in.
Huge hold, channels water through the tail.
A small, loyal minority — and bigger, more powerful waves.
Shapes you can actually put your hands on
What this means at Famara
Relaxed atmosphere, good waves and a really good time. Thanks to the entire team, we'll be coming back soon!🤙☀️🌊
Unbelievable spot !!!
Wonderful housing in the beach house !
A treasure !
Want to come back asap to learn more from Gerry, Umberto et Mariano !
Best classes ever !
Will never forget : Stance ! Balance!
Positioning ! Timing ! Looking where I wanna go !
Gerry, I swear I won’t lie to myself
Thanks mates
See you soonFrequently asked questions
What is rocker on a surfboard?
Which tail shape is best for beginners?
Thruster, twin or quad — which should I ride?
Does the brand of fin matter?
Why do two boards with the same dimensions feel different?
What board design works best in Lanzarote?
Continue the guide
Written by local instructorsUpdated September 2026
Pin
Round pin
Round
Squash
Swallow
Bat
Diamond
Square
Single fin
Twin fin
Thruster
Quad
Bonzer 5
JFB SurfboardsBoards shaped on Lanzarote, for Lanzarote wavesAll surfboardsShortboards, fish, mid-lengths and guns in stockSoftboardsFull soft boards and soft-tops for first wavesLongboardsFor the small, clean summer morningsFinsThruster, twin and quad sets, plus single fins
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