Pyzel White Tiger.

Why the White Tiger goes so fast

The rocker is the whole story. It is very flat, especially through the tail, which is what lets the board hold speed across sections that would stall a normal shortboard. Underneath, a single concave runs into a deep double through the back third with vee out the tail, so despite that flat rocker it still tips onto rail and turns rather than tracking. The outline is clean and stubby with no hip, the wide point sits about an inch and a half forward of centre, and the tail measures fractionally wider than the nose. A flat deck and tapered rails keep the volume under your chest for paddle power without the board feeling corky underfoot. See how it sits against the rest of the Pyzel range.

The conditions it was built for

Knee-high to shoulder-high, soft, onshore, textured: the surf most of us actually get. Summer beach breaks in Cornwall and North Devon are exactly this board's brief, and it turns a session you would otherwise sit out into a good one. It has more range than a typical groveller too, holding together when a clean swell shows up, but if you are chasing size and power the Pyzel Ghost is the board for that end of the scale.

How to size a White Tiger

• Two to five inches shorter than your everyday shortboard, depending on how well you surf.
• Half an inch to an inch wider, with a few litres more volume than you normally ride.
• For reference, JJF and Ivan both ride 5'6" White Tigers off a 6'0" standard board.
• Stuck between two sizes? Our board advisor or a quick call will sort it faster than guessing.

White Tiger, Gremlin or Red Tiger?

The Gremlin carries more rocker and a squash tail, so it surfs tighter and more vertically but gives up some down-the-line speed. The Red Tiger came directly out of the White Tiger: Jon Pyzel took the flat-rocker feel and rebuilt it as a proper high-performance shape for weaker days on tour. The Astro Pop is the looser, skatier alternative, and a twin fin or fish takes it further again. Everything else lives in the shortboard collection.

Fin set-up

Most riders run the White Tiger as a quad for straight-line speed in weak surf, then switch to a thruster when it gets to shoulder-high and needs holding. Twin plus trailer works well if you want it looser. Browse surfboard fins, and pick up a tail pad, leash and board bag while you are here.

Built in the UK

Ocean Magic is the UK licensed manufacturer for Pyzel, so the boards on this page are shaped and glassed in our Newquay factory rather than freighted halfway round the world. That also means we can build you a custom White Tiger to your own dimensions in four to six weeks.

Is the White Tiger a beginner board?

Not quite. It is easy to ride and very forgiving for its size, but you want to be standing up and turning confidently first. It suits improvers through to advanced surfers who want speed on ordinary days.

Can you surf the White Tiger in bigger waves?

Up to a point. Shoulder-high and a bit over is fine on a thruster set-up. Beyond that the flat rocker starts to work against you and you want something with more curve.

What size White Tiger should I ride?

Take your usual shortboard length, drop two to five inches, then add width and a little volume back. Ask us if you want a second opinion before ordering.

Do you deliver Pyzel boards across the UK?

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