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The Pyzel White Tiger began as a side project for John John Florence—a surfer known for his preference toward high-performance boards rather than “fun” shapes. Initially tucked away for nearly a year, the design found its stride with JJF’s younger brother Ivan, who quickly fell in love with the stubby, playful shape and shared clips of powerful carves and big airs. Soon after, John John himself began riding the 5’6” White Tiger and it quickly became one of his favorite boards for off-tour sessions when he wanted a more playful, creative ride.
The White Tiger features a clean, stubby outline with a very full nose and a wide squash tail. The wide point sits 1.5 inches forward of center, while the tail is just slightly wider than the nose, lending a balanced and surfable shape. Thickness is concentrated forward, with a distinctive beak nose design that boosts volume under the chest, enhancing paddle power and wave-catching ability.
The bottom contour consists of a flowing, even rocker that remains relatively flat throughout, designed to get the board on top of the water quickly for effortless speed generation. A single to double concave runs through the front two-thirds of the board, providing lift and smooth rail-to-rail transitions. This shifts into a pronounced vee combined with double concave through the fins and tail, which facilitates tipping the board onto its rail at speed and smooth, powerful turns up into the lip.
The deck is relatively flat with tapered rails, maintaining volume without feeling overly bulky. This ensures the board stays lively and responsive during turns and is easy to pump down the line, striking a balance between stability and sensitivity.
The White Tiger is best ridden 2 to 5 inches shorter than your regular shortboard, depending on ability, and about ½ to 1 inch wider with added volume to match the playful outline. Both JJF and Ivan ride their White Tigers at 5’6”, while their usual shortboards are 6’0”.
Pros:
Highly playful and responsive: Stubby shape and refined rails make it easy to carve and boost airs.
Excellent paddle power: Beak nose and forward volume enhance wave-catching on weaker days.
Speed and flow: Flat rocker and concave-to-vee bottom generate effortless speed and smooth rail transitions.
Versatile in small to medium waves: Performs well in a range of conditions with a lively feel.
Compact sizing: Shorter length offers maneuverability without sacrificing control.
Cons:
Less suited for large, powerful surf: The fuller nose and wider tail may feel less precise in heavy, critical waves.
May require adjustment for traditional shortboard riders: The playful, chunky shape is a departure from classic high-performance designs.
Summary:
The White Tiger is a fun, fast, and versatile board that bridges the gap between playful performance and everyday surfability. Born from John John Florence’s quest for a different kind of ride, it combines a compact, stubby outline with modern volume distribution and refined contours to create a board that excels in small to medium waves. With excellent paddle power, smooth speed, and responsive handling, the White Tiger invites surfers of all levels to inject creativity and excitement into their sessions.
