Step Up Meaning in Surfing

A step up is a surfboard designed for waves slightly larger than normal. This board is usually a few inches longer than a standard shortboard today. It provides extra paddling power and stability for handling a more powerful swell. The narrower tail helps the board grip the water at very high speeds. Surfers use step up boards when the ocean conditions become too heavy for small equipment. This design allows the rider to take off earlier and with more confidence. A surfer grabs a step up board as the new swell hits coast. The extra length helps the rider hold a line on a tall wall. One athlete carves a long turn on a step up during a storm. This board is a bridge between a normal shortboard and a big gun.