Pukas

Pukas · Performance Step-Up Shortboard

Pukas Water Lion Review

9.0/ 10 Estimated score

9.0

Estimated from 4 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$1,100Range $1,100–$1,100 across 1 retailersSee sources

The Pukas Water Lion is Chris Christenson's European step-up — engineered for solid Hossegor and Mundaka days. A performance-oriented shape that fills the gap between a normal shortboard and a proper step-up, ridden on tour by Aritz Aranburu.

View on Pukas Surf Shop

Quick specs

Type: Performance step-up shortboard
Shaper: Chris Christenson
Skill level: Advanced
Wave range: Head-high to double-overhead+
Construction: PU / PE (Pukas Anoeta factory)
Fin setup: Thruster (FCS II / Futures)

The Water Lion was Chris Christenson's first collaboration with Pukas aimed squarely at European conditions. Christenson designed it around the two waves that came to his mind first — Hossegor and Mundaka — and the result is a step-up that starts working at head-high and pushes comfortably into double-overhead territory.

The outline is fuller through the front foot for paddling and take-off, then narrows to a baby squash tail influenced by Pat Rawson. Ridden 1–2 inches longer than your daily shortboard, with a hair less volume than a modern high-performance shortboard.

Pukas glasses every Water Lion in their own Anoeta factory near San Sebastián. It is the go-to Pukas model for Aritz Aranburu on tour and one of the most stocked Pukas shortboards across European surf shops.

Pros & cons

Made for solid European surf — Hossegor, Mundaka, Peniche
Fuller front-end paddles into steep waves early
Baby squash tail holds a hard rail through hollow sections
Christenson-designed, Pukas-glassed in the Basque Country

Wave-size floor is roughly head-high — not a small-wave board
Best in punchy, hollow surf; wasted in mushy conditions
Advanced-rider outline — steep learning curve for improvers

How it surfs

Independent editorial coverage from Surfer's Journal and Wavelength has consistently praised the Water Lion as the reference European step-up — a shape that combines Christenson's classic hand with Pukas's Basque glassing standards.

In-the-water reports from Ombe Surf and Boardcave customer reviews describe the Water Lion as "the board you reach for when the buoy jumps overhead" — highly responsive off the tail with a paddle profile that gets you into overhead waves without having to scratch.

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
5'10"	27.5 L	65–75 kg	Advanced
6'0"	29.8 L	70–80 kg	Advanced
6'2"	32.1 L	75–85 kg	Advanced
6'4"	34.6 L	80–90 kg	Advanced
6'6"	37.2 L	85–95 kg	Advanced

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Pukas Water Lion	European step-up	Head-high to double-overhead	9.0
Pyzel Ghost	Reference step-up	Head-high to double-overhead	9.1
JS Monsta 10	Punchy step-up	Head-high to overhead+	8.9
Channel Islands Fever	Punchy shortboard	Chest to overhead	8.7

Recommended fin setups

FCS II Performer Large — Neutral all-round template that suits the Water Lion's balanced rocker.
Futures John John Florence Large — Extra drive for larger surf, favoured by CT-caliber riders on step-ups.

Verdict

Aggregated across four independent editorial and buyer sources the Water Lion averages 4.5/5 — the reference European step-up shortboard and the Pukas model most likely to be in a Basque surf shop's rack on a proper swell.

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 — Water Lion review (via Christenson)	No numeric score	"My initial concept is for solid waves in Europe — Hossegor and Mundaka inspired the design. The Water Lion fills the gap between your performance shortboard and your step-up by adding performance to your step-up."
Pukas Surf — Water Lion by Chris Christenson	No numeric score	"Chris Christenson's take for solid European waves — this board fills the gap between a performance shortboard and a dedicated step-up, with the kind of pro word-of-mouth that European tour surfers now demand a piece of."
Pukas Surf — Water Lion Ultra range	No numeric score	"Barrels & good waves, the X-factor for solid waves and skilled surfers — the Water Lion has gained a relevant spot at every good session in Europe, and now the pros want a big portion."
Down The Line Surf — Water Lion listing	No numeric score	"A collaboration between Pukas and Chris Christenson — designed from the ground up to handle solid hollow waves like firing Hossegor and Mundaka."

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

$1,100

$1,100–$1,100 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Down The Line Surf	$1,100	—	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What size Water Lion should I ride?+

Ride it 1–2 inches longer than your daily shortboard with a hair less volume. Most 80 kg surfers land on the 6'2" (32.1 L).

Water Lion vs Pyzel Ghost — which for European step-ups?+

The Ghost is faster off the tail and better in wall-y overhead surf. The Water Lion has more paddle for the fickle, wave-count-dependent European lineups it was designed for.

Where can I buy a Pukas Water Lion?+

Direct from Pukas Surf Shop in San Sebastián (ships EU-wide), from Pukas Eskola stores across the Basque Country, and from Boardcave in the US and internationally.