A groveler is built for the small, mushy, gutless surf that most boards don't work in. Wide outlines, full noses, low rocker, and extra volume forward give grovelers the speed and float to make weak waves feel alive. When the surf is two feet and crumbling, a good groveler is the difference between a frustrating session and a good one.

Doc has been shaping grovelers in Huntington Beach since 1982. The boards in this collection represent four decades of refinement.

What makes a great groveler

The best grovelers share a few specific design traits. Volume forward lets you paddle and catch waves that don't have enough push to throw you in. Low rocker keeps the board fast through flat sections, so you maintain speed where steeper-rockered boards bog down. A wider outline gives you planing surface to keep the board on top of mushy water. And a full nose gives you the paddle and planing surface to catch waves that other boards miss.

What separates a great groveler from a good one is balance. Too much volume and the board feels corky. Too low a rocker and it doesn't turn. The shapes Doc has find the sweet spot, boards that paddle easy, generate their own speed, and still respond when you push them off the bottom.

How to choose the right groveler

If you're new to grovelers, the move is to size up slightly from your shortboard dimensions. Add a quarter to a half inch of thickness, a half to full inch of width, and a few liters of volume. The extra float makes weak waves catchable; the wider shape keeps you moving through the slow sections. For dimensions and recommendations specific to your weight and surfing, reach out, we'll dial you in.