Yugen SG Speed Groveller 5'10 review: a stringerless board for extreme speed
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 5'10" |
|---|---|
| Width | 21 1/8 in |
| Thickness | 2 3/4 in |
| Volume | 37.5 L |
| Fin config | 4 Slots |
| Top speed | 26 km/h |
| Wave range | 1 to 4 ft |
The Yugen SG, short for Speed Groveller, is a 5'10 stringerless EPS board built with one goal: extreme speed in small, soft surf.
What it is and why I bought it
I ordered the SG from Yugen in February 2019, a stringerless EPS board with a flat rocker and hard rails, running a single-to-vee-double bottom, finished with a rounded square tail and four fin slots. At 21 1/8 inches wide and 37.5 litres over 5'10, it was built specifically as a groveller for extreme speed, per its own name and the register's description.
It came in a white and cream colourway.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at Freshy, at a top speed of 26 km/h (about 16.2 mph) over a 130 metre ride, using Hayden Shapes or JB keel fins. It confirmed the speed-focused brief, with the stringerless EPS build adding a lively, responsive feel to what is otherwise a dedicated small-wave shape. The logged wave range is 1 to 4 ft, ideal at 2 ft.
Who it suits and who it does not
A stringerless, speed-focused groveller like this suits someone who wants maximum pace out of small, weak waves rather than a more relaxed, forgiving small-wave board. It is not built for anyone chasing size or a softer, more cruisy ride; everything about its build points toward speed specifically.
What happened to it
It sold on 11 August 2021 for $290, against a $650 build cost. A replacement cost of $900 is also logged against it, for comparison against what it originally cost.
Questions people ask
What fins worked on the Yugen SG?
Hayden Shapes or JB keel fins are logged as the setup on this board.
What does SG stand for on this board?
Speed Groveller, as the register itself notes, describing both the model name and its intended purpose in small surf.
What conditions suited it?
The logged range is 1 to 4 ft with 2 ft as the ideal, small, soft-wave territory built specifically for speed.
For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Yugen boards in the log, see the Yugen VF (Very Fast). For more on choosing a small-wave board, see surfboard for small waves.