The short version: For Intermediate and Advanced sessions, bring a shortboard or small-wave board you already know well, under 8 feet. Beginner and Learn to Surf sessions are soft top only, and the soft top is included in your session. If you would rather travel light, the on-site quiver has performance shortboards, mid-lengths and soft tops for rent, starting at $29 plus tax for your first session. Every surfer in the lagoon needs a leash on their board or a life jacket.
Once your Waco Surf session is booked, the next decision is the board. Fly in with your favorite shortboard? Drive down with three? Show up empty handed and rent? The right answer depends on which session you booked, because each wave at Waco Surf is built for a different kind of surfing, and the board that shines on The Runner is not the board you want under your feet on your first day.
This guide covers the board rules for every session, what tends to work on each wave, what the rental quiver looks like and what to pack if you are bringing your own. Prices and rules below are current as of September 2026 and can change, so check the individual session pages before you book.
Why the wave decides the board
Ocean surfing asks one board to handle whatever shows up. Waco Surf does the opposite. The lagoon makes a different wave for every session level, and that wave does the same thing every time. That changes how you choose a board in two ways.
First, depth. Our waves break in waist to ankle deep water, which is great for wipeouts and not great for long boards with deep fins. That is why we recommend boards under 8 feet in Intermediate and Advanced sessions, and why longboards need to be under 9 feet.
Second, wave count. Waves arrive in sets of three or four, and one surfer rides each wave (our session playbook explains how the rotation works). You are not fighting for position or paddling half a mile between waves, so you do not need a board that paddles like a battleship. You need one that gets you to your feet quickly and turns where you point it. Nail the board and every wave in your session is usable.
Board guide by session
Match your booked session to the right board. The board rules come straight from our session pages, and the suggestions reflect what works on each wave.
Learn to Surf (ages 5 and up)
The wave: gentle shore break with an instructor pushing you into each wave, one surfer per wave. Board rules: soft top under 9 feet only. Bring: nothing. A soft top is included with every Learn to Surf session.
Beginner: The Coaster
The wave: a gentle, rolling wave with whitewater and small face waves, built for learning to stand and ride. Board rules: soft top under 9 feet only. Bring: your own soft top if you have one, otherwise use ours. A soft top longboard is included with every Beginner session.
Intermediate: The Runner
The wave: chest to head high with a roll-in takeoff and a long, clean wall for linking turns. Board rules: hard boards and soft tops allowed, boards under 8 feet recommended, longboards under 9 feet. Bring: a standard shortboard, or a small-wave board with a little extra volume. Rentals are available for Intermediate sessions at the rates below.
Advanced: The Peak
The wave: a quick takeoff, steeper drops, punchy sections and a long open face. Board rules: hard boards allowed, boards under 8 feet recommended. Bring: your go-to shortboard. Our Advanced session page is blunt about it: these waves have the power to break boards. Bring one you are not precious about, or rent and add board insurance.
Pro Slab Barrel and Pro Air Wave (private sessions only)
The wave: a steep takeoff into a large, hollow tube on the Slab, or a fast takeoff into a consistent ramp on the Air Wave. Board rules: advanced and elite surfers only, not for beginners or intermediates. Bring: both session pages list high-performance board options, so talk to the team when you book your private.
Shredmill (stationary wave)
The wave: a deep water stationary wave with a 4 to 5 foot face for endless turns. Board rules: you ride a standard performance shortboard. Bring: your shortboard, or use ours. Board rental is included with the Beginner tier of the Shredmill and available for the other tiers.
Board rules at a glance
| Session | Allowed boards | Board included? |
|---|---|---|
| Learn to Surf | Soft top under 9 ft | Yes |
| Beginner | Soft top under 9 ft | Yes |
| Intermediate | Hard or soft, under 8 ft recommended, longboards under 9 ft | No, rentals available |
| Advanced | Hard or soft, under 8 ft recommended | No, rentals available |
| Pro Slab Barrel, Pro Air Wave | High-performance boards, ask when booking | Ask when booking |
| Shredmill | Standard performance shortboard | Beginner tier yes, other tiers rentals available |
What the pros bring to Waco
Shapers and coaches have been testing boards in this lagoon for years. Matt Biolos of Lost Surfboards put it this way in a 2019 WavePoolMag board test, back when the property was still called BSR: “The wave is relatively short and punchy, with plenty of power, and tight transitions. This lends itself to shorter, quicker turning boards.” His summary of the ideal Waco board was three words: light, quick and snappy. You can read the full test on WavePoolMag.
More recently, surf coach and board test pilot Noel Salas broke down the best type of board to bring to the wave pool, tailored to your skill level, in a video we posted in September 2024. If you are on the fence between two boards in your garage, watch it before you pack.
One more advantage you do not get in the ocean: the wave is identical every time, so if you bring two boards you can swap between sets and feel the difference immediately. Flowstate films every wave in the pool, and you can watch your rides back on the TVs in our lounge after your session. It is the best board test you will ever run.
Renting a board at Waco Surf
You do not need to own a board to surf here. Our quiver covers all shapes and sizes, from performance shortboards to mid-lengths and soft tops, and the team in the lobby will help you pick the right one for your session.
- Performance boards: $45 plus tax for your first session, then $20 plus tax for each additional session the same day.
- Soft tops: $29 plus tax for your first session, then $14 plus tax for each additional session the same day. Soft tops are included with Beginner and Learn to Surf sessions.
- Board insurance: $45 plus tax per person, per day. Optional, and worth a thought if you are booking Advanced.
- Wetsuits: $25 plus tax per person, per day, for kids and adults. You will want one in winter and early spring.
The surf shop in our lobby also stocks wax, towels, swimsuits, apparel and Waco Surf gear, and helmets are available in the lobby for anyone who wants one.
Bringing your own board
Your own board is welcome in every session, with one rule for beginners: it must be a soft top under 9 feet. For everyone else, here is the packing list.
- Leash. This one is not optional. Under our surf lagoon rules, everyone in the water must have a flotation device, either a US Coast Guard life jacket or a board leash attached to the surfboard. Bring a spare.
- Wax for the season. The lagoon runs from the mid 40s in late fall and early spring to around 90 degrees in midsummer. Check the water temperature table below and pack wax to match. The surf shop has wax if you forget.
- Fins and a fin key. Same wave every time means a great place to compare fin setups.
- A ding kit. Especially for Advanced sessions, where the waves have the power to break boards.
- A board bag if you are flying. Waco Surf is about 90 minutes from both Dallas and Austin. Check your airline’s board policy before you book the flight.
Two things you cannot bring: stand-up paddleboards are not permitted in public sessions (they may be considered for private sessions with prior staff approval), and foils are not allowed under any circumstances. Bodyboards are welcome.
Water temperature by month
Board choice and wax choice both depend on the water. Here is what the lagoon typically feels like through the year.
| Months | Water temperature |
|---|---|
| March to April | 45 to 65 degrees F |
| April to May | 60 to 75 degrees F |
| May to June | 75 to 85 degrees F |
| June to July | 80 to 90 degrees F |
| August to September | 75 to 90 degrees F |
| September to October | 65 to 80 degrees F |
| October to November | 60 to 75 degrees F |
| November to December | 45 to 65 degrees F |
Wetsuit rentals are $25 plus tax per day and cover the cold months. From late spring through early fall, trunks and a rash guard are plenty.
Not sure which session you booked for?
Board choice starts with an honest read of your level. Beginner sessions are for getting to your feet. Intermediate is for surfers who can paddle into waves on their own, ride the face with control and turn frontside and backside. Advanced is for surfers who can handle steep, fast drop-ins on a wave that is difficult even for professionals. If you are between levels, book the lower one first, catch every wave, and move up on your next session. Our first-timer guide walks through picking a level, and our wave pool vs ocean guide explains what each wave rides like.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my own surfboard to Waco Surf?
Yes, for every session level. Beginner and Learn to Surf sessions require a soft top under 9 feet. Intermediate and Advanced sessions allow hard boards and soft tops, and we recommend boards under 8 feet because of pool depth.
What size surfboard should I bring to Waco Surf?
Under 8 feet for Intermediate and Advanced sessions. Most surfers ride a standard shortboard or a small-wave board with a little extra volume. Longboards must be under 9 feet. Soft tops for beginners must also be under 9 feet.
Do I need a leash at Waco Surf?
Yes. Everyone in the surf lagoon must have a flotation device, either a leash attached to their board or a US Coast Guard life jacket. Guests 52 inches and under must wear a life jacket.
How much does it cost to rent a surfboard at Waco Surf?
Performance boards are $45 plus tax for the first session and $20 plus tax for each additional session the same day. Soft tops are $29 plus tax, then $14 plus tax. Soft tops are included with Beginner and Learn to Surf sessions. Optional board insurance is $45 plus tax per person, per day.
Can I ride a longboard in the wave pool?
Longboards are allowed in Intermediate sessions as long as they are under 9 feet, though we recommend boards under 8 feet because of pool depth. Beginner sessions use soft top longboards under 9 feet.
Can I bring a SUP or a foil board?
Stand-up paddleboards are not permitted in public sessions and may be considered case by case for private sessions with prior staff approval. Foils are not allowed under any circumstances.
Should I rent or bring my own board?
If you are booking Beginner or Learn to Surf, the board is included, so leave yours at home. If you are booking Intermediate or Advanced and you have a shortboard you love, bring it. If you are flying in for a single session or want to try a shape you do not own, rent from the quiver and let the lobby team match you to the wave.
Ready to test the theory? Book a surf session, or plan a multi-day trip with our on-site lodging and get priority access to sessions before they open to the public.