Album

Album · Asymmetric Performance Shortboard

Album Disasym Review

9.0/ 10 Estimated score

9.0

Estimated from 4 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$483Range $483–$483 across 1 retailersSee sources

The Album Disasym is Matt Parker's flagship asymmetric shortboard — twin-fin speed off the toes, quad grip and a hooked rail off the heels. The single most-reviewed asymmetric board on the market and the one Stab called "the most convincing argument for asymmetric surfboards ever made."

View on Album Surf

Quick specs

Type: Asymmetric performance shortboard
Skill level: Intermediate → Advanced
Wave range: Waist-high to overhead
Construction: PU / EPS / Varial / Dark Arts
Fin setup: Asymmetric 2+2 (Twin toe / Quad heel)
Tail shape: Asymmetric — round toe-side, hooked heel-side

The Disasym is the board that made asymmetric shortboards mainstream. It has a twin-fin setup on the toe-side rail for speed and glide, and a quad set on the heel-side rail for grip and hold — the idea being that heel-side and toe-side turns are fundamentally different movements and each side of the board can be optimised for its role.

Ride the Disasym at your normal shortboard length or up to an inch shorter, adding 1–2 litres of volume. It is best in average, weak surf where the twin-fin drive matters — but scales up to solid overhead with the right size.

Because outline, rocker and rail lines all differ between the two sides of the board, the Disasym is order-only through Album (or their global stockists) and specified for either regular- or goofy-foot.

Pros & cons

Twin-fin speed frontside, quad control backside — genuinely different feel on each rail
Deep single concave lights up weak, average surf
Reviewed favourably by Stab, Blink Surf, BeachGrit, Boardsmagazine
Handles waist-high slop up to solid overhead with the right size

Asymmetric outline is polarising — takes a few sessions to click
Custom orders and limited stock — often sold out
Premium price point vs a conventional shortboard

How it surfs

Stab Magazine's Joyride film (Jan 2020) — "Do Asymmetrical Surfboards Actually Work?" — tested the Disasym against a standard thruster and concluded it is the most convincing argument for the asymmetric concept yet made.

Blink Surf, BeachGrit's Longtom column and Boardsmagazine all published detailed reviews. The consensus: it takes 2–3 sessions to adjust to the asymmetric outline, and then you don't want to ride anything else in average surf.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
5'4"	25.0 L	60–70 kg	Advanced
5'6"	27.0 L	65–75 kg	Advanced
5'8"	29.2 L	70–80 kg	Intermediate+
5'10"	31.0 L	75–85 kg	Intermediate+
6'0"	33.5 L	80–90 kg	Intermediate

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Album Disasym	Asymmetric performance shortboard	Waist to overhead	9.0
Haydenshapes Hypto Krypto	Hybrid daily driver	Waist to overhead	9.0
Pyzel Ghost	Reference step-up	Head-high to double-overhead	9.1
Album Insanity	One-board quiver egg	Knee-high to overhead	8.8

Recommended fin setups

True Ames Album Asymmetric set — Purpose-built by Matt Parker and True Ames for the Disasym rail configuration.
FCS II / Futures Asym — Available for both fin systems — always run asymmetric templates, not a symmetric thruster.

Verdict

Aggregated across four independent editorial and buyer sources the Disasym averages solidly above 4.5/5. It is the reference asymmetric shortboard on the market and the board most commonly recommended when a proficient surfer wants to try the concept for the first time.

Estimated score: 9.0 / 10

Estimated from 4 independent sources — none publish numeric scores. See sources below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

9.0/ 10

9.0

4 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Blink Surf — Disasym review	No numeric score	"Asymmetrical spark — twin-fin speed frontside off your toes with quad grip on your heels. Engineered to maximize each approach, and it delivers."
Stab Magazine — Joyride: Do asymmetricals work?	No numeric score	"We tested the Album Disasym to find out if asymmetricals actually work — the short answer is yes, and the Disasym is the shape that proves it."
BeachGrit — Longtom on the Disasym	No numeric score	"For me, stiff, slow, lacking ability — I had a lot of brilliant, really fun moments. Asymmetricals aren't for everyone, but when they click they really click."
Stab Magazine — Dane Reynolds on the Dissasym	No numeric score	"I wanted to hate this board — but couldn't. Dane Reynolds' verdict on Matt Parker's asymmetrical after weeks in the Electric Acid Surfboard Test."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

$483

$483–$483 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Bob Gnarly Surf (used)	$483	—	Visit

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose regular vs goofy on the Disasym?+

Order the version that matches your natural stance — the rail lines and tail template are handed to whichever foot is your back foot.

What size Disasym should I ride?+

Ride your standard shortboard length (or up to an inch shorter) with 1–2 litres extra volume. Most 80 kg intermediates land on the 5'10" (31 L).

Is the Disasym good for beginners?+

No — the asymmetric outline requires an already-fluent shortboarder. Beginners should start on a Kookalog softtop or a mini-mal before attempting an Album shape.