Understanding your board is crucial for progressing as a surfer. Here’s a fundamental principle: the bigger, foamier, and straighter the board, the more it naturally wants to go straight and is suited for less powerful waves, riding more mid-face or out on the flats. On the flip side, curvier, shorter boards with more rocker and performance-oriented outlines are designed to be surfed in the pocket, right in the curve of the wave. A common mistake during the transition from bigger to smaller boar