There are over 9 different types of surfboards used by pros and amatures around the world. The surfboard itself happens to play a big role in surfing because, well, that's the thing you use to ride a wave. But it also serves many other roles while its users are out in the waters. Here's a short list of the roles surfboards serve:
One of the common types of surfboards used is the shortboard. This board features a single to double concave (the board bends inward slightly, like a spoon) and typically three fins on the underside. More times than not, these surfboards are thinned down as much as possible, creating a board that makes paddling very difficult. Also, it makes balancing on the board very difficult. For beginning surfers, a shortboard can be very difficult to ride because it demands great skill and very large/fast waves. For this very reason, pros typically only use these boards, especially in competitions. If you think you're ready for the shortboard you must be able to turn quite frequently to generate speed. Great tricks are very possible with shortboards because of this speed they create, if you're able to create this speed. In summary, the shortboard surfboard design is meant for the intermediate to more advanced level surfer.
Another common type of surfboard used is the fish. Fishes are designed to be shorter and wider with flat rocker in the entry and tail. They are given the name "fish" because of the way the end of the board looks. It appears to look like fishes' tail fin. Most modern fish boards are designed with three or four fin on the underside of the board. Fish surfboards catch waves very good despite their lack of surface area (most times a surfers fish surfboard is shorter than a typical shortboard). This type of board is better suited for small waves but an above average surfer can make them work for medium size surf as well, so it's a very versatile surfboard. Because of the added width, fish boards are better when surfers ride them horizontal (left and right on waves) opposed to vertical (up and down on waves). In short, the fish board is a very fun and useful surfboard because it can be used for all different types of surf.
Gunner styled surfboards are another type of surfboard used by surfers around the world. Gunners, commonly called guns, are designed with a much thicker body and a wide point slightly forward of the center in order to allow for the easiest and most sufficient paddling. In the past, guns were designed with only one fin on the underside of the board. That has changed as technology has advanced because now many guns include four fins on the underside. Guns are only used by the best of the best surfers because they are intended for riding the largest waves of the year. The reason surfers choose gunners for the largest waves is due to the fact that the main objective in big wave surfing is to drop into the wave as soon as possible, get down the face of the wave, and ride it out on the edge. This is why they are created with a thicker body. The thickness of these boards allows for suction and control, therefore holding you on to the face of the wave. Basically, you should only purchase a gunner board if you are prepared to surf 30+ feet waves. In other word, only the serious and the sickly skilled surfers should be taking these boards out to beach.
Longboard styled surfboards are probably one of the most commonly used surfboards around the world. These boards hold true to their word because they are indeed very long. Longboards are the thickess, widest, and longest surfboards produced. Common longboards are at least 8 feet long. Because of its design, it allows for a very easy and smooth ride for those seeking to surf short waves. This design makes it possible to surf waves around 1-2 feet. Also, this makes longboards great for those just learning how to surf. Riding a longboard puts you as close to the roots of surfing as you can get because the ancient Polynesians surfed with surfboards that closely resembled the modern longboard. Overall, longboards are intended to give riders a fun and enjoyable ride. Nothing to fast or crazy, just for fun rides on days when the waves aren't very large.