Pyzel Red Tiger.

Where the Red Tiger came from

During breaks from competing, John John spent a lot of time on the flat-rockered White Tiger and wanted that same easy speed in a board he could take back on tour. Jon Pyzel rebuilt the idea as a high-performance shape rather than a fun board, and the Red Tiger is the outcome: a design aimed squarely at weaker, average surf that still holds up when a decent swell arrives. It sits alongside the rest of the Pyzel range as the everyday performance option.

The shape explained

The outline is a touch plump for a high-performance board, but the wide point sits a traditional inch behind centre, which keeps the emphasis on surfing off the mid to back half rather than the front foot. The wider squash tail block holds area through the tail for lift and drive, and gives you pop off the lip and into airs. A moderate hip by the front fins breaks the outline and creates a pivot point, so you get tighter radius turns and cleaner release than the fuller outline would suggest.

How to size a Red Tiger

• Around an inch shorter than your normal high-performance shortboard.
• A bit wider than your standard dims.
• Volume close to what you usually ride, or half a litre to a litre up if you want extra zing in weak surf.
• Not sure? Run it past our board advisor or call the shop and talk to someone who surfs.

Red Tiger, White Tiger or Ghost?

The White Tiger is the stubby Funformance version: shorter, looser, built purely for small days. The Red Tiger keeps that speed but puts it in a performance package you can surf properly. At the other end, the Ghost is the specialist for solid, powerful waves, and the Phantom covers head-high and under with a more traditional high-performance feel. For the really small days, look at the Gremlin. Compare the lot in the shortboard collection.

Fins and set-up

A standard thruster set suits the Red Tiger and is where most riders leave it. Going up a template size adds hold through carves when the surf has some push, while a quad option loosens it off and adds drive down the line on weaker days. Browse Futures fins, then finish with a tail pad, leash and board bag.

Made in the UK

Ocean Magic is the UK licensed manufacturer for Pyzel, so these boards are shaped and glassed in our Newquay factory. If the size you want is not on the shelf, we can build a custom Red Tiger to your own dimensions in four to six weeks, and there are often Pyzel boards in the sale worth a look first.

Is the Red Tiger good for intermediates?

Yes. It is one of the easier high-performance boards to get on with, because the extra width and flatter rocker do a lot of the work for you. Size it sensibly and it rewards you.

Is the Red Tiger a small wave board?

It is built for average and below-average surf, but it is not a groveller. It still functions as a genuine performance shortboard when the waves are good, which is the point of the design.

What size Red Tiger should I ride?

Start about an inch shorter than your usual shortboard, add a little width, and keep volume similar or slightly up.

Do you ship Pyzel boards across the UK?

Yes, dispatched within 48 hours, 30-day returns, Klarna available.