What’S Your Guild Factor? Surfboard Volumes Explained

Here’s a nifty little gadget from the crew at …Lost surfboards to help you dial in your next board.

USE OUR SURFBOARD VOLUME CALCULATOR TO DIAL IN THE PERFECT FLOTATION FOR YOUR NEXT SURFBOARD Our interactive surfboard volume calculator will help determine the best volume (in liters) by factoring your ability, age, fitness level and weight. 1. Choose your body weight by sliding the lefthand bar. 2. Next, slide the right-hand bar to the perfect volume for your new board by placing the red dot on your desired GF Ratio. Recommended GF Shortboard Ratios: – Advanced, extremely fit, high performance surfers: RANGE FROM .34gf to.36gf – Typical fitness with average, to above average skills: RANGE FROM .36gf to .38gf – Domesticated, lower fitness, desk jobs, and Weekend Warrior surfers: RANGE FROM .38gf to .42gf – Novice surfers, or surfers with extremely small surf, thick wetsuits or adverse conditions: RANGE FROM .40gf TO .50gf (depending on age, ability and motivation) *If you’re surfing in warm water and good waves, the lower end of the scale is recommended. If you’re surfing in poor conditions, looking for help in crowded situations, or wearing thick wetsuits, lean towards the higher end of the range that you fall into. surfboard volume calculator More about GF (Guild Factor)

GF measures the ratio between the surfers body weight and the volume (in Cubic Liters) of a surfboard. The GF number is the percentage of volume (floatation) to body weight. If a surfer knows his weight, he can scroll up and down the scale to find his recommended volume (keeping in mind skill and fitness). If a surfer knows the volume of his favorite board, or a board that feels too floaty or not floaty enough, he can use the chart to guide him in a better direction. As anything, this is simply another tool to make things easier when choosing a surfboard. Its not a means to an end, and nothing is set in stone. Ultimately, the surfer needs to use what feels best for himself. Mayhem and Lost Surfboard riders’ GF% Kolohe Andino: 165lbs / 26.6cl – .35gf Taj Burrow: 152lbs / 24.25cl – .35gf Brett Simpson: 175lbs / 28.00cl – .35gf Mason Ho: 150lbs / 25.00cl – .37gf Additional example of GF% Matt Biolos: 205lbs / 39cl GF- .42

*If you’re surfing in warm water and good waves, the lower end of the scale is recommended. If you’re surfing in poor conditions, looking for help in crowded situations, or wearing thick wetsuits, lean towards the higher end of the range that you fall into.