Board type guide

Groveler surfboards

Make the most of small summer waves with grovelers - short, wide, and packed with volume for maximum fun in minimal conditions.

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At a glance

Quick facts

Typical length: 5'2" - 6'0" | Volume: 32-45L | Best for: Small, weak waves

Fit check

Is a groveler right for you?

Honest prompts — not a scored quiz. If several apply, this shape is worth researching.

  • Surf mostly small waves?Waist-high or less
  • Want more waves per session?Catch everything
  • Looking for summer fun?Make the most of gutless days
  • Prefer volume over length?Short and wide

Still unsure? Take the skill assessment or run Match Me.

Shape overview

About groveler boards

Explore the design principles of groveler surfboards. Understand how low entry rocker, generous volume, and deep concaves create a board that planes early and carries momentum through flat sections. Find the right model to turn marginal, everyday surf into a high-performance session.

Groveler surfboards are specifically designed to excel in small, weak surf where traditional shortboards struggle to generate speed.

Works well when

  • Excellent in weak surf
  • Easy to generate speed
  • Fun in poor conditions
  • High wave count sessions

Trade-offs

  • Can be unwieldy in powerful surf
  • Less performance in quality waves

Local marketplace

Custom boards from local shapers

Listings on Sticks today — browse shapers in your region, then contact them directly. Strongest coverage in NZ and Australia.

Custom boards from local shapers

Hand-shaped boards from experienced shapers in your region. Open worldwide — deepest listings in NZ and Australia; growing in Brazil, Spain, and South America.

🏆 TOP RATED

5 custom boards from local shapers

Chubby
🏆 #1 RATED
Chubby
J-dub Surfboards NZ
The Lil Chubby name speaks for itself with its fat full outline, a low rocker and full rails makes it ideal for small waves and can catch a ripple with the full nose area and volume through out the board, a pretty flat rocker allows the Chubby to get around sections and glide over dead parts of a wave, would be a great addition to any quiver.
Best for:
Various conditionsBeginner, Intermediate, Rookie
Key Features:
  • Fin Setup: 5-Fin,2+1,Quad,Thruster,Twin
Contact for pricing
Mutant
🏆 #2 RATED
Mutant
J-dub Surfboards NZ
The Mutant model is our biggest selling board to date, a high performance board for small to mid size waves, a slightly fuller shortboard outline, a low entry rocker and a flattish rocker under the feet, the tail has a late kick in the rocker for a very fast and easy to ride board, mid depth concave from nose into mid depth single concave under the front foot that blends to a deep single concave with doubles inside the single, this makes the board very lively and great in the pocket and on rail.
Best for:
Various conditionsAdvanced, Beginner, Intermediate
Key Features:
  • Fin Setup: 5-Fin,Thruster,Quad,2+1
Contact for pricing
Shove it
🏆 #3 RATED
Shove it
J-dub Surfboards NZ
A small wave destroyer the Shove-it is designed for small up to head high waves and is a high performance shape, wider outline while keeping the lively and fast package, deep single to double concaves, boxy rails, relaxed rocker through out the bottom, if you want a board that catches waves easily but surfs on rail this is one is a fun little package.
Best for:
Various conditionsAdvanced, Beginner, Intermediate
Key Features:
  • Fin Setup: 5-Fin,Thruster,Quad,2+1
Contact for pricing

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Catalog

Groveler boards on Sticks

Search and compare retail models in the catalog — or scroll to custom shapers above.

Search all Groveler boards
GREEDY BEAVER

GREEDY BEAVER

Firewire

The Greedy Beaver has a real shortboard feel with a compressed longboard outline, a true crossover b...

1-4ftIntermediate-Advanced5.0 ★

$600-900

View board
Dumpster Diver

Dumpster Diver

Channel Islands

Our board designs are direct results of team feedback, so when Dane showed up at the factory in earl...

0-8ftExpert4.0 ★

$600-900

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DFR

DFR

Channel Islands

No, not the “Dane Fred Rubble” the DFR is a design from Dane freaking Reynolds. First ridden in 2012...

4-20ftExpert4.0 ★

$600-900

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More in catalog

#4

#4

Channel Islands

A performance based California utility board, the “four” was the fourth board in a series of numbere...

2-8ftAdvanced4.0 ★

$600-900

View board
Bunny Chow

Bunny Chow

Channel Islands

The Bunny Chow has been Jordy Smith’s board of choice for his World Tour campaigns in poor to fair s...

0-8ftExpert4.0 ★

$600-900

View board
Mini Eco-hybrid

Mini Eco-hybrid

Channel Islands

Introducing an eco-minded production surfboard.  In partnership with (the auto maker) MINI’s ne...

0-8ftAdvanced4.0 ★

$600-900

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Video

Learn about groveler boards

Step Up Surfboard Guide - Complete Overview1 of 3

Background

Design history

Groveler designs evolved to help surfers get the most out of small summer waves by sacrificing top-end drive for early planing.

Answers

Common questions

What is a groveler surfboard?

Groveler surfboards are specifically designed to excel in small, weak surf where traditional shortboards struggle to generate speed.

Who should ride a groveler?

Make the most of small summer waves with grovelers - short, wide, and packed with volume for maximum fun in minimal conditions.

What waves suit a groveler best?

Typical length: 5'2" - 6'0" | Volume: 32-45L | Best for: Small, weak waves

Keep exploring

Related guides

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