How to Order a Custom Surfboard (And Why It's Worth It)
There's a moment every surfer reaches when an off-the-shelf board just doesn't feel right. Maybe you've outgrown your beginner board. Maybe you're progressing faster than your current stick can handle. Or maybe you simply want something built for your body, your ability, and the waves you actually surf — not the waves someone else does.
That's the moment to order a custom surfboard.
At Indorider, we handcraft every board in Bali — one at a time, to order. If you've never gone custom before, the process might seem daunting. This guide walks you through everything, from the first decision to the day your board arrives at your door.
Why Go Custom in the First Place?
Off-the-shelf surfboards are built to a general spec. They're designed around average height, average weight, average skill level — which means they rarely suit any individual surfer perfectly.
A custom board is different. It's shaped around you: your weight, your stance, the breaks you surf most, the style you're chasing. When the fit is right, everything changes — paddling feels easier, pop-ups are faster, and the board responds in ways a generic shape simply can't match.
There's also the craftsmanship angle. A handmade board, shaped by a skilled craftsperson and finished with care, is a different object entirely from a factory blank. You can see it, feel it, and surf it.
Step 1: Know Your Surfer Profile
Before you order anything, get honest about where you're at as a surfer. The shaper needs to know:
Your height and weight — these directly affect volume, length, and thickness. A board with the right volume makes paddling effortless; too little and you'll sink, too much and you'll lose sensitivity.
Your experience level — beginner, intermediate, or advanced? Each stage calls for different rocker profiles, fin setups, and outline shapes.
Your dominant surf style — do you surf long, flowing lines? Tight snappy turns? Tube hunting? Each style suits different tail shapes and concaves.
Where you surf most — beach breaks with punchy little waves demand very different shapes from reef breaks or point breaks with longer walls.
Write this down before you reach out. The clearer you are, the better the board.
Step 2: Choose Your Board Shape
This is where most beginners get stuck, so here's a simple breakdown of the shapes available through Indorider:
Shortboard — the workhorse of performance surfing. Narrow, low volume, high rocker. For intermediate to advanced surfers who want to surf fast and radical. Best in overhead-plus waves.
Fish — wider, flatter, twin or quad fin. A brilliant all-rounder for surfers who want speed and flow in smaller, mushier surf. Forgiving enough for intermediate surfers, fun enough for advanced ones.
Mid-length / funboard — the bridge between a longboard and a shortboard. Great for surfers transitioning out of beginner boards, or experienced surfers who want an easier cruise on smaller days.
Custom shapes — if none of the above fits, tell us what you're chasing. Our shapers have built everything from step-ups for big wave days to specialist twin fins for retro-style surfing.
Browse our handmade surfboard range to get a feel for what's available, or go straight to our custom surfboard page to start a conversation.
Step 3: Decide on Dimensions
Once you've agreed on a shape, the shaper will work up dimensions. Here's what each measurement means and why it matters:
Length — longer boards paddle easier and are more stable; shorter boards are more manoeuvrable. As a rough starting point, beginners benefit from boards at least 2–3 inches taller than themselves.
Width — wider boards are more stable and carry more volume. Narrower boards are more responsive and sit lower in the water.
Thickness — contributes to volume. More thickness = more float. Generally you want enough float to paddle comfortably without feeling like you're riding a mattress.
Rocker — the curve running from nose to tail. More rocker means better performance in steep, powerful waves but slower paddling. Less rocker means faster, flatter waves and easier paddling.
Volume (litres) — the single most useful number for intermediate and beginner surfers. As a rough guide, multiply your weight in kg by 0.35–0.45 for a performance shortboard, or 0.5–0.7 for something more relaxed and user-friendly.
Don't overthink this — your shaper will guide you. Just come with your weight and an honest self-assessment of your level.
Step 4: Choose Your Fins and Construction
Fins — the fin setup dramatically changes how a board surfs. Here are the main options:
- Thruster (3 fins) — the most common setup. Balanced drive and control. Great for most surf conditions and styles.
- Twin fin (2 fins) — loose, skatey, fast. Suits fish shapes and retro-style surfing beautifully.
- Quad (4 fins) — powerful and fast down the line. Excels in hollow, faster waves.
- Single fin — classic longboard feel. Smooth, drawn-out turns.
We use FCS 1 recycled plastic fins across our boards — a sustainable choice that doesn't compromise on performance.
Construction — our boards are built using traditional PU (polyurethane) foam with fibreglass lamination, which gives a lively, responsive feel that many shapers and surfers still prefer over epoxy. We can discuss epoxy options on request — epoxy is lighter and more durable, which suits some surfers, particularly those in hotter climates where PU can delaminate more easily.
Step 5: Think About Aesthetics
This is the fun bit. With a custom board, you're not stuck with whatever's in stock. Choose your:
- Colour and resin tints — subtle or bold, single tone or multi-colour spray
- Artwork — hand-drawn or stencilled designs on the glass
- Logos and personalisation — your name, a date, whatever means something to you
- Fin box colour — small details that make the finished board feel like yours
Look through the Indorider aesthetic for inspiration — our boards lean into bold Balinese design sensibility, but we're happy to discuss whatever direction you have in mind.
Step 6: Place Your Order and Plan for Lead Time
Custom boards take time. Ours typically have a lead time of 4–6 weeks from order to shipping, depending on the shaper's queue and any finishing details.
Here's what the process looks like:
- Initial conversation — you reach out via the custom surfboard page with your details
- Spec agreement — we confirm shape, dimensions, fins, and aesthetics
- Shaping — your board is hand-shaped in Bali
- Glassing and finishing — fibreglass lamination, sanding, and finishing
- Quality check — we inspect the board before it leaves the shaping bay
- Shipping — dispatched from the UK, with free shipping on orders over £100
We'll keep you updated throughout, and we're always happy to answer questions along the way.
Is a Custom Surfboard Worth the Price?
A custom board costs more than pulling something off a shop rack — that's true. But the comparison isn't quite right. Off-the-shelf boards are manufactured at scale; a custom board is built once, for one person, by hand.
What you're paying for is the shaper's expertise applied specifically to your needs. You're paying for a board that doesn't need to compromise because it was never designed for anyone else. And you're paying for something that, if you look after it, will outlast several cheaper alternatives.
Our custom boards start from £700. If you protect your investment with a quality surfboard bag and look after the glass, a well-made custom board can last you a decade or more.
A Word on Sustainability
Every Indorider board is made in Bali using traditional shaping techniques by craftspeople who've spent years learning their trade. We source materials carefully and are committed to reducing the environmental footprint of our production.
We also donate 5% of every sale to ocean and river clean-up charities in the UK and around the world — because we believe the people who love the ocean should be the ones working hardest to protect it. Find out more on our sustainability page.
Ready to Order Your Custom Board?
If you've been thinking about going custom, now is a good time to start the conversation. The more you know about what you're after, the better the result — and if you're not sure where to begin, that's fine too. We'll ask the right questions.
Head to our custom surfboard page to get started, or browse our ready-to-ship handmade boards if you'd rather not wait.
Indorider handmade surfboards are crafted in Bali and shipped worldwide. We make boards for surfers at every level — from first custom orders to specialist performance shapes.
