Choosing your first surfboard can be an inspiring and exciting process. However, for a beginner surfer it can also prove to be something of a challenge, with a seemingly endless variety of different board types, manufacturers and complicated jargon to sift through.
This basic surfboard selector article is intended as a starting point for anyone new to the sport of surfing, who is looking for a little guidance to help them make an informed choice about how to get started. It is by no means an exhaustive listing!
Starting Out
Before even considering buying a surfboard, the first step to becoming the next Kelly Slater is to get in the water and have a go! We at Sunset Surf would always recommend starting out with a structured surf lesson with a registered and BSA (British Surf Association) approved SurfSchool.
Check out the Surf School tab at the top of the page for details on the lessons and courses we run here.
After a couple of lessons you should have a basic grasp of surfing, including the all important safety and surf etiquette aspects, fundamental surfing skills and maybe even experience of surfing a couple of different boards.
From here the next step is to get in the water and practice, practice, practice! Obviously this is going to require a surfboard, wetsuit and accessories, and unless you know someone willing to lend you the gear, it’s going to be pretty difficult to get that water time so essential for your progression clocked.
That’s where our Sunset Surf Hire Centre comes into play. We have a comprehensive range of wetsuits, accessories and surfboards, all available to hire 12 months of the year! This will allow you the opportunity to try out a number of different types of surfboard, helping you decide on the right type for you as an individual surfer.
Check out the Surf Hire tab at the top of the page for details, prices and terms on the hire centre.
Types of Surfboard
Although there are numerous different types of surfboard to choose from, there are only a couple of types of board that should realistically be considered when starting out…
Softboards
Sometimes called 'Foamies', these soft boards are ideal because the soft foam construction means the boards are incredibly buoyant, enabling the beginner to catch waves easily. Their dimensions ensure that they are very stable in the water - making it much easier for the surfing novice to stand up.
The fact that they are soft makes them an ideal board for a surf school where any injuries are minimized (Even the fins on softboards are soft to a certain degree). A custom fibreglass surfboard can really hurt if you fall onto it!
An ideal soft surfboard to buy for an adult would be around 8' in length. A softboard around the 6' region would suit a child.
The Mini-mal offers everything that a beginner should be looking for - it is wide, it is long, and it has excellent buoyancy. The classic design and construction of a Mini-mal is such that they paddle well, making them ideal for catching waves. Their width helps with stability, giving a little extra help for the novice surfer. This type of surfboard has great mileage for a beginner, and the right board will see you progress from novice to advanced surfer - giving it an edge over the soft board.
The longboard, or Malibu, is another good choice for the beginner for the same reasons as the Minimal. They make it easy to catch the waves and are buoyant and stable, although they do tend to loose out slightly due to their extra length and weight. The longboard can also be the hardest board to get out to the line up, on a messy surf day it can seem almost impossible! These boards are also harder to turn than a minimal, making the step down to a shortboard less of a natural transition.
Before making that all important decision on which board to go for, here are a couple of basic considerations to take into account…
Surfboard Size
* No matter what type of beginner board you buy it should be at least 6'' longer than your own height. * The wider the board, the more stable it will be on the waves * The thicker the board the more buoyant it will be, making it easier to paddle and catch waves * An ultra thin, light Shortboard will make learning to surf very difficult - why do you think that performance Shortboards aren’t used by surf schools?!
Type
* The best type of beginners surfboard depends on different factors. How often you will be surfing, your fitness levels, whether you need to look cool etc. * Softboards, Longboards, Mini-mals are all generally great beginners boards * Shortboards are not such a great beginner board for the average surfer.
How Often You Surf
* If you only surf once a year or so, go for a Softboard * If you surf intermittently go for either a Longboard or a Mini-mal. * If you surf 3-4 times a week you can pretty much start on any board you like. Surfing this regularly should see you quickly out of the 'novice surfer' stage.
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