SMTH Grande 7'4 review: a twin fin mid-length that feels lively
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 7'4" |
|---|---|
| Width | 21 3/4 in |
| Thickness | 2 7/8 in |
| Volume | 49 L |
| Fin config | Twin |
| Top speed | 29.2 km/h |
| Wave range | 2 to 5 ft |
The SMTH Grande is a 7'4 stock twin fin mid-length, built with a more traditional shortboard outline than most boards its size. Where a lot of mid-length twins feel flat and forgiving underfoot, this one feels alive.
What it is and why I bought it
I bought the Grande stock in July 2024, a PU board glassed light at 4x4x4, with medium rails and a mostly single concave that goes to a mild double near the tail. At 21 3/4 inches wide and 49 litres over 7'4, its outline reads more like a stretched shortboard than a classic rounded-nose mid-length twin, with nose rocker and a moderate tail rocker carried through.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at Sunrise, at a top speed of 29.2 km/h (about 18.1 mph) over 75 metres, using NVS Fascination fins. Compared with the rounded-nose, flatter-rocker mid-length twins that make up most of that category, the Grande is sportier and more responsive, still delivering the extra paddle and glide a mid-length is bought for while surfing closer to a performance shortboard than a cruiser. It has been a real standout against a heavier, less lively twin of a similar length elsewhere in the rack, which the Grande's lighter glass job and shortboard-style rocker outperform for everyday, clean-wave surfing. Light glass does mean visible deck impressions build up over time without a tail pad.
Who it suits and who it does not
An intermediate surfer or above who already rides mid-length twins and wants something more lively underfoot is exactly who the Grande was built for. A genuine beginner will not get the most from it, since it rewards standing with weight over the rear fins to drive through turns rather than a passive, forgiving stance.
What happened to it
It is still in the rack. It cost $850 to buy, with a replacement cost of $1,150 logged, and carries an asking price of $700, though there is little reason to move on a board performing this well.
Questions people ask
What fins work on the SMTH Grande?
NVS Fascination fins are the setup logged against this board.
How is the Grande different from a typical mid-length twin?
Most mid-length twins carry a rounded nose and a flatter, more forgiving rocker profile. The Grande instead uses a more traditional shortboard outline with real nose and tail rocker, which makes it sportier and more performance oriented while still giving the paddle and glide a mid-length is meant for.
Is the SMTH Grande good for beginners?
Not particularly. It suits an intermediate surfer or above who can position their weight over the rear fins to drive it through turns; a beginner will not get the most out of it.
For the full spec sheet, see the current quiver. For a similarly lively twin fin, see the SMTH Shapes Goldfish and the Campbell Designed Mid Mod. For more on twin fin mid-lengths generally, see mid-length or longboard.
