The 2018 Coastalwatch Indo Surfboard Guide presented by The Perfect Wave is your ultimate guide to the newest boards on the market that will make your trip to the tropics much more enjoyable. Tim Hanrahan from Aloha Manly Style walks us through the ins and outs of the newest technology and what to look for in a board and equipment before heading on your surf trip. Tim also matches the features of each board to particular breaks the best resorts and boat trips on offer from The Perfect Wave.

In this guide we also talk specifically about the role of the fins and which fins and setups will do what and how they perform with each board.

CHANNEL ISLANDS: 2018 TACO GRINDER

Price: $925.00
This board is 6’3 / 27.4L

This board is 100% Australian made. The new and improved 2018 Taco Grinder is a traditional style step up board, good in hollow waves where you need a longer rail. A single concave at the nose, running to a double concave with a strong glass job with 6 ounce and 4 ounce on the deck and 4 ounce on the bottom.

The board has a 5 fin set up with rounded pin tail. Most people would opt for the thruster setup for off the bottom, off the top turns. For advanced tube-riding you’ll get more speed from a quad fin set up.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: Mentawai Islands, in particular; Telescopes, Hollow Tree’s in good solid waves with length to get into it.

LOST MAYHEM: SABOTAGE, TAJ BURROW COLLAB

Price: $895
This board is 6’2 / 33L

In 2017 Taj wanted a one-board quiver for beach breaks, slabs, or all the waves in Indo.

This is a brand new model and a modern type of step up. Made to ride at a similar length to your short board, without the extra length of a step up. As it’s wider and thicker, it allows you to paddle faster into some bigger, more powerful waves. The volume runs through the middle of the board, allowing you to get into waves early. Good for manouvering in the tube, taking off early, and getting behind the section and charging.

This board has a rounded pintail with a single concave running through to a double concave in the fin section.

Matt Biolos says that Taj rides this board as a thruster but it has the option for the quad setup as well if you prefer.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: The Bukit or anything in Bali from small beach breaks, big reefs, to slabs (a wide variation of waves)

WARNER: MXN

Price: $850
This board is 5’6 / 25.5L

The 2018 model of the MXN is updated and is slightly shorter and wider than the previous model. It comes in an EPS foam with an epoxy core and resin with carbon for flex. It is an alive and light, high performance board.

This board is great for the days in between swells. It is good for more fun sized 2-5 foot waves. It is still great in the barrel, with the rounded pintail.

Great high performance board with SicFlex, Innegra and Carbo core. Advanced surfers will love the maneuverability of this board in the barrel.

This board has a thruster fin setup. Depending on your weight, get medium for 65-85kg, large for 85kg +. The bigger the fin the more drive you have and the smaller the fin, the more maneuverable you’ll be – they can make a difference to the board’s performance and the way you surf it.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: The Banyak, The Telos or any smaller type waves

FIREWIRE X SLATER DESIGNS: GAMMA

Price: $990.00

This board is 6’0 / 29.7L

This is a high performance shortboard by Kelly Slater – responsive, quick, light, and strong with flex.

There is a generous amount of rocker throughout the board, with medium nose and tail and a continuous curve throughout.

The Helium technology in this board makes it really light and despite not having a conventional stringer, it is extremely structurally strong.

The rails of the board are parabolic,made from paulownia and balsa wood, which provides great flex in the board.

There is shortened stringer (also called a ‘springer’) that covers the middle third of the board. That allows you to ride waves with power and eliminate the vibrating effect.

This board comes with a five-fin setup. Thrusters are the most conventional setup for this board but it will pick up speed with the quad setup.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: Macaronis Resort or any high performance waves around the Mentawai Islands.

PYZEL: THE GHOST

Price: $885.00

This board is 6’0/29.7L

John John Florence and Jon Pyzel have had a very close relationship when building and developing boards and the Ghost is another great collaboration between the two-time world champ and his shaper.

The Ghost is an amazing board that performs very well. There is a lot of the volume of the board under your chest, allowing you to paddle into waves easier, especially for waves in Hawaii and Indo. It provides good paddle power without the length.

It has a narrow, rounded pintail which gives great control when turning tight in the pocket.

With a lot of tail rocker, a flat nose rocker, and medium curve through the middle of the board, this combo is great on a steep wave.

The board has a single concave, through to shallow concave in the tail allows you to take off early and get a lot of hold. A loose board and with a lot of control, it is an amazing choice for Indo. A short board, capable of riding solid waves.

This board comes in a five-fin setup. JJF hardly ever rides a quad but the quad will give you more speed through slower sections.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: The Mentawais

SUPERBRAND: PIGDOG

Price: $820
This board is 5’10 / 29.5L

A new school shortboard capable of handling bigger waves with a 5-fin setup. Instead of getting a stepup length in this board, keep this board at the length of your regular shortboard because the volume is hidden in the nose, width, and thickness of the board. This allows you to paddle into bigger waves and take off early, with a rounded pintail holding on well in powerful waves. The single to double concave allows for smooth rail to rail transition with a lot of speed.

A shorter, lighter board, great for tube riding to maneuver in the barrel. This board comes in both EPS and Polyurethane and a five-fin set up. The thruster back fin gives you the drive and the quad setup gives you the flat-line acceleration. It’s a personal choice as to  what suits you best.

The rails have a slight chime and the wide point is a little forward than centre which gives you good paddle power for heavy waves under the ledge into a barrel.

WHERE IT WILL PERFORM: HT’s (Hollow Trees)