Sep 24, 2025

The Art of Speed: How to Generate Speed on Any Board in Your Quiver

Whether you're trimming on a longboard, flowing on a midlength, or ripping on a shortboard, speed is the foundation of good surfing. Without speed, your turns fall flat, your maneuvers lack power, and linking sections becomes a struggle. But the way you generate speed differs depending on your board. Each shape has its own design features that either assist or require you to work differently with the wave.

In this guide, we’ll dive into how to generate speed across every major board category in your quiver—shortboards, midlengths, and longboards—featuring specific models from the Degree 33 Surfboards lineup to show how each design responds best.

Shortboards: Speed Through Movement and Precision

Recommended Models: ATV, Rocket Fish

Shortboards are built for responsiveness, not glide. To maintain and build speed, you need to stay active and work the wave using your whole body. You’re not just riding the wave; you're partnering with it—pumping, compressing, carving, and constantly adjusting.

1. Drive in the Pocket

The most effective way to generate speed on a shortboard is to drive through the critical part of the wave—close to the pocket. The ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) is built for this. Its outline and rocker are tuned to respond quickly to tight pockets. In order to perform this pumping maneuver, move up and down the wave face by bending your knees slightly about 1/4 up the wave face, then extend to an upright position as you project forward and upward about 3/4 up the wave face.

2. Rail Engagement

Speed comes from good rail surfing. The Rocket Fish, with its wider nose and fish tail, allows you to maintain speed through carving turns. Drive down the face, engage your rail, and let the board push water behind you. Avoid flat, lazy lines—use your turns as accelerators. More specifically, avoid what is called the "Huntington Hop" which is a form of pumping that neglects rail surfing in place of jumping up and down on your board for speed. Such a maneuver lacks style and is not as effective as using your rails to turn.

3. Stay Low and Loose

Speed starts with body mechanics. Keep your knees bent and arms relaxed. Compression (squatting low) before a turn or pump, followed by extension (pushing upward), creates power. Think of yourself like a coiled spring, loading and releasing energy through your legs.

4. Link the Wave

Shortboards aren’t designed for cruising; you must link maneuvers together smoothly. A deep bottom turn into a snap or cutback sets you up for the next move down the line. Stay ahead of the section by reading the wave early and maintaining rhythm.

Midlengths: Blending Flow with Control

Recommended Models: Easy Rider, Poacher, Over Easy, Speed Egg

Midlengths are the unsung heroes of modern quivers. They provide the paddle power and glide of longboards while still offering the maneuverability of a shortboard. But because of their length and volume, speed generation on a midlength is about flow, positioning, and subtle body movements.

1. Trim High, Then Drive Low

The Easy Rider is the classic "glider with gears." Start by trimming high on the face to build initial speed. Then, as the wave walls up, lean into your bottom turn and project outward to generate more down-the-line speed. This combination of trimming and driving keeps you connected to the wave's energy.

2. Step and Shift

The Poacher is ideal for power surfers who want more bite in a midlength. Use subtle footwork—step forward to trim and backward to turn. Unlike shortboards where you’re constantly pumping, midlengths respond better to graceful weight shifts and rail-to-rail flow.

3. Engage the Sweet Spot

The Over Easy and Speed Egg both shine in clean, open-faced waves. The Speed Egg, with its refined tail, gives you more control in steeper sections. Use your hips and shoulders to initiate longer, flowing turns, and let the board’s natural outline do the work. Speed comes when the board is free, not when it's forced.

4. Use the Whole Wave

Midlengths are long enough to handle wide lines but still nimble enough to adjust mid-ride. Don’t surf just one section. Connect the top and bottom of the wave with soft S-turns and carving cutbacks. The better your line, the more speed you’ll retain.

Longboards: Glide, Flow, and Gravity

Recommended Models: Ultimate Longboard, Classic

When it comes to longboarding, speed isn't generated as much by pumping or turning as it is by positioning and trimming. Longboards are designed to harness the wave’s energy, especially on smaller days. Learning to work with—not against—the wave is key.

1. Let the Wave Do the Work

Boards like the Classic and Ultimate Longboard are built for maximum glide. Instead of pumping, position yourself high on the wave face and let gravity do the heavy lifting. Trimming at the top third of the wave builds and maintains speed as you fall with the wave’s energy.

2. Cross-Step for Acceleration

Moving forward on a longboard increases speed. Cross-stepping toward the nose shifts your weight onto the front of the board, reducing drag and encouraging glide. The handles this beautifully—it accelerates naturally as you move forward, especially on clean, peeling waves.

3. Nose Riding as Speed Maintenance

Surprisingly, nose riding can maintain or even increase speed, especially in hollow or pocketed waves. The Classic’s wide nose offers lift and glide when perched properly in the curl. It’s less about trying to accelerate and more about locking in the “cheater five” zone and letting the wave carry you.

4. Pivot and Drop

When speed drops, a sharp pivot turn from the tail can project you down the line. Drop into the next section with the help of gravity, reengage your trim line, and keep flowing. Unlike other board types, longboards reward patience and finesse.

Universal Speed Tips (All Boards)

Regardless of board type, there are a few universal truths about speed generation:

1. Start Fast

Speed begins before you stand up. Strong paddling and catching the wave in a steep part of the face sets you up for a fast drop. Don't paddle for mushy shoulders—commit to critical takeoffs where the wave has energy.

2. Stay in the Power Zone

Every wave has a “power pocket”—usually right near the curl or just below it. The farther you drift away, the more speed you lose. Whether you're on a fish or a 9'6", the fastest line is always near the wave's engine room.

3. Read and React

The best speed surfers don’t force the board—they react to the wave. Look down the line early, identify upcoming sections, and adjust your stance and weight accordingly. Anticipation lets you stay ahead of the wave, which naturally keeps your speed up.

4. Flow Matters More Than Force

Speed isn't about jerky movement or effort—it’s about rhythm, timing, and flow. This is why midlengths and longboards feel so fast in the right conditions. Don’t over-surf your board; instead, let it do what it’s designed to do.

Speed Drills and Practice Tips

If you’re looking to get better at generating speed on all your boards, try these practice techniques next time you paddle out:

Speed Runs: Pick waves where your only goal is to stay high and trim without turning. Practice holding a clean line for as long as possible.
No Pump Challenge: Ride your shortboard without pumping—just use rail-to-rail flow and positioning. This forces you to read the wave and maximize efficiency.
Cross-Step Practice: On a longboard, cross-step forward on every wave. Even if you don’t nose ride, moving your feet forward helps you feel how speed changes with weight distribution.
Wave Reading: Before you paddle for a wave, study its shape. Where is the power? Where will it wall up? Practice catching waves in the steepest section to get a jump start.

Match Your Board to the Wave

Finally, the easiest way to surf fast is to ride the right board for the conditions. Here’s a quick guide based on Degree 33 models:

Small, Weak Waves: Longboards like the Classic or a glider-style midlength like the Over Easy help you fly through flat spots.
Shoulder-High and Clean: The Easy Rider or Speed Egg gives you flow and maneuverability.
Fast, Punchy Waves: The ATV or Rocket Fish helps you pump, carve, and stay tight in the pocket.

For personal assistance on this matter, come on by our shop or give us a call, we are happy to find the right board for you!

Conclusion: Speed is a Skill

Speed isn’t just something your board gives you—it’s something you learn to draw out. From nose-riding trim lines to vertical shortboard pumps, the art of speed is about understanding how your board works with the wave. The more time you spend learning your equipment—especially the versatile quiver from Degree 33 Surfboards—the more fluent you'll become in this language of flow.

Speed doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from surfing smarter. So grab your board, study the line, and feel the glide.