The White Tiger is a compact, playful small-wave design engineered for average to below-average surf. Initially developed as an experimental shape for John John Florence, the board quickly revealed its versatility through Ivan Florence’s surf/skate-influenced approach, showcasing its capacity for powerful carving, aerial progression, and dynamic flow.
Its outline combines a clean, stubby profile with a generously full nose and a wide squash tail. The curve remains uninterrupted by any hip, while the wide point sits approximately 1½" forward of center. Tail width stays marginally broader than the nose, creating a balanced blend of stability, speed, and maneuverability.
Foam distribution is biased toward the front of the board, supported by a pronounced beak-nose configuration that maintains volume beneath the chest area for improved paddle power and easier wave entry.
The bottom rocker features a smooth, continuous curve with a flatter profile through much of the board, allowing the shape to plane quickly and generate speed with minimal effort. A single to double concave runs through the forward two-thirds of the bottom, transitioning into a more defined vee/double concave through the fin cluster and out the tail. This contour combination creates lift, promotes speed generation, and enhances rail-to-rail responsiveness despite the wider outline. The added vee through the tail supports quick engagement onto the rail and controlled direction changes at higher speeds, including confident turns into the lip.
A relatively flat deck flows into tapered rails, preserving generous overall volume while maintaining sensitivity through turns. This balance delivers efficient down-the-line pumping, responsive handling, and a lively feel without excessive bulk for its volume class.
The White Tiger performs best when ridden shorter, wider, and with slightly increased volume compared to a standard shortboard setup. This sizing approach maximizes paddling power, speed, and maneuverability while preserving the board’s compact, high-energy character. John John Florence and Ivan Florence both ride 5'6" White Tigers, compared to their standard 6'0" shortboard dimensions.