Pyzel

Pyzel · Shortboard

Pyzel Gremlin Review

8.8/ 10 Aggregate score

8.8

Average price$1,295Range $1,295–$1,295 across 1 retailersSee sources

The Pyzel Gremlin is the shorter, wider, flatter step-down cousin to the Phantom — a small-wave shortboard that keeps Pyzel's high-performance rail line but adds paddle power and speed for weak, everyday surf. Pyzel positions it as the board to reach for when your Ghost or Phantom is too much board for the conditions.

View on Pyzel Surfboards

Quick specs

Type: Small-wave step-down shortboard
Skill level: Intermediate → Advanced
Wave range: 1 ft to 6 ft (per Pyzel)
Construction: PU/PE (Dark Arts and epoxy options via dealers)
Fin setup: Thruster, Quad or 5-fin
Tail shape: Squash

Pyzel describe the Gremlin as "the step-down cousin to the Phantom with more volume packed into a shorter, wider, flatter package designed for quick acceleration, easily sustained speed, and great paddle power." That is a fair summary of how it rides: it is not a fish or a retro shape, it is a shrunk-and-fattened performance shortboard.

The squash tail and five-fin box layout give it real flexibility. Run it as a thruster for a familiar shortboard feel, as a quad when the waves are running down the line, or as a twin+1 if you want to loosen it further in ankle-to-waist surf.

Pros & cons

Genuine speed generation in gutless, small surf
Extra foam without the corky feel of most grovelers
Five-box layout lets you run thruster, quad or twin+1
Familiar Pyzel rail feel if you already ride a Ghost or Phantom

Flatter rocker asks for care on steep, late take-offs
Not a step-up — it runs out of range above head-high
Most sizes are custom order rather than stock

How it surfs

Community ratings on Boardcave sit at 4.4 out of 5 across five rider reviews, which is a strong but not universally glowing score — consistent with a board that excels in its narrow small-wave brief.

Sizing follows the usual step-down logic: most riders take the Gremlin 2–4 inches shorter and 3–5 litres bigger than their standard shortboard. A 78 kg intermediate typically lands on the 5'10 (33.9 L) or 6'0 (36.5 L).

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
5'2"	24.8 L	50–58 kg	Advanced
5'6"	29.6 L	62–70 kg	Intermediate+
5'8"	31.6 L	68–76 kg	Intermediate
5'10"	33.9 L	74–82 kg	Intermediate
6'0"	36.5 L	80–88 kg	Intermediate
6'2"	38.7 L	85–95 kg	Improver
6'8"	48.1 L	100 kg +	Improver

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Pyzel Gremlin	Small-wave step-down	1 ft to 6 ft	8.8
Pyzel Phantom	Everyday performance	Waist to overhead	8.6
Pyzel Ghost	Step-up in punchy surf	Head-high to double-overhead	9.2
Lost Puddle Jumper HP	Small-wave groveler	Ankle to shoulder-high	8.7

Recommended fin setups

Futures F8 Legacy (Neutral, Large) — Balanced drive-to-release — the natural thruster match in a five-box Pyzel.
FCS II Performer (Medium) — Neutral all-round set for weaker beachbreak days.
FCS II Accelerator (Large) — More drive and hold when the Gremlin gets ridden in better waves.

Verdict

A properly considered small-wave shortboard rather than a novelty groveler. If you already ride a Ghost or Phantom and want the same feel with more foam for the average day, the Gremlin is the obvious step down.

Aggregate score: 8.8 / 10

Aggregated from 2 independent sources — see full list 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.

Aggregate score

8.8/ 10

8.8

2 sources

Source	Score	Summary
Boardcave — community rider reviews	8.8 4.4 / 5 (5 rider reviews)	"Browse all Gremlin Surfboard reviews completed by the global Boardcave community."
Pyzel Surfboards — model page	No numeric score	"If you love the feel of your Ghost and Phantom, but want a shorter, chunkier board for smaller surf the Gremlin is the board you'll want!"

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

$1,295

$1,295–$1,295 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Pyzel Surfboards (Dark Arts stock board)	$1,295	—	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What is the Pyzel Gremlin good for?+

Small, weak, everyday surf. Pyzel rate it from 1 ft to 6 ft and describe it as a shorter, wider, flatter step-down from the Phantom, built for quick acceleration and paddle power.

Pyzel Gremlin vs Phantom — what is the difference?+

The Phantom is the everyday performance shortboard; the Gremlin is its step-down. The Gremlin is shorter, wider, flatter and carries more volume, so it paddles and generates speed more easily in weak waves but has less range once the surf gets over head-high.

What size Pyzel Gremlin should I ride?+

Most riders go 2–4 inches shorter and 3–5 litres bigger than their standard shortboard. A 78 kg intermediate usually lands on the 5'10 (33.9 L) or 6'0 (36.5 L).

Is the Gremlin a thruster or a quad?+

Pyzel supply it with a 5-fin box, so it can be ridden as a thruster, a quad or a twin+1. Thruster is the default; quad suits faster down-the-line waves.

Is the Pyzel Gremlin suitable for beginners?+

No. Despite the extra volume it keeps a performance rail line and a squash tail. Beginners are better served by a soft-top or a wide mid-length such as the CI Mid.