Board Battle: Xanadu Katana vs. Album Moonstone

Board Battle

Xanadu Katana vs Album Moonstone

The Xanadu Katana and the Album Moonstone both fall under the modern mid-length umbrella, but they approach the category from opposite ends of the performance spectrum. The Katana is built as a scaled-up performance board, aimed at surfers who want precision, control, and the ability to surf aggressively on a longer platform. The Moonstone, meanwhile, is a glide-driven twin fin designed to maximize speed, flow, and wave count while still offering more control than a traditional fish or cruiser mid-length.

The Xanadu Katana feels much closer to a high-performance shortboard than its length suggests. Its domed deck and thin rails keep the board sensitive and flexible, reducing swing weight and allowing it to respond quickly underfoot. The curvier outline tightens the turning radius, while the reduced foam in the nose and tail prevents it from feeling bulky or slow to redirect. This is a mid-length that wants to sit in the pocket and be surfed with intent. The rocker is tuned to make wave entry manageable without sacrificing speed, and once on rail, the board feels composed and precise, particularly in hollow or faster-moving waves.

That performance focus defines both its strengths and its limitations. The Katana rewards surfers with solid positioning and confident rail engagement, but it doesn’t offer the same effortless paddling or glide as fuller mid-lengths. In softer surf, it relies more on surfer input to generate speed. Where it shines is in quality waves, where its agility and control allow for sharper turns and more vertical surfing than most boards in its class.

The Album Moonstone takes a more flow-oriented approach to the mid-length concept. Drawing inspiration from fish design, it blends generous paddle power with smooth, natural speed. Hidden foam under the chest, a beak nose, and a stretched rocker line make wave entry easy and consistent, encouraging early takeoffs and high wave counts. Once up and riding, the Moonstone carries speed effortlessly, trimming high on the face and gliding through sections with minimal effort.

Despite its glide-first feel, the Moonstone isn’t a one-dimensional cruiser. Modern rails and a refined concave-to-vee bottom give it surprising control and responsiveness for its size. The twin-fin setup adds a loose, playful character that invites long, flowing turns and stylish lines rather than abrupt direction changes. While it can handle size thanks to added rocker in the entry and exit, it remains more comfortable drawing clean arcs than snapping vertically in tight pockets.

In everyday conditions, the contrast between the two boards becomes clear. The Katana favors surfers who want to push harder and surf more aggressively when the waves have shape and power. It feels at home in hollow beach breaks, punchy reefs, and cleaner days where control and precision matter. The Moonstone thrives when versatility and flow are the priority, excelling in soft point breaks, rolling reefs, and variable conditions where speed and momentum make the session.

For surfers deciding between the two, the choice comes down to how you want your mid-length to behave. The Katana is a performance-first option that sacrifices some paddle ease in exchange for control, agility, and a higher performance ceiling. The Moonstone is a flow-driven mid-length that maximizes glide, wave count, and style while still offering enough refinement to handle serious surf.

The Xanadu Katana turns a mid-length into a precision tool, ideal for surfers who want to surf tighter, more technical lines on a longer board. The Album Moonstone turns a mid-length into a speed and flow machine, rewarding smooth surfing, early entry, and drawn-out turns. One is about intent and control; the other is about momentum and freedom.

learn more Xanadu Katana here

Learn more Album Moonstone here