Assuming you are a beginner, your weight, age and desired surfing style goal are the most important factors. The elements you need to consider are:
Length – when beginning the length of the surfboard is one of most critical decisions and generally speaking the longer the better. A board 1-2ft taller than your own height is a reasonable guideline, but the other factors will come into play. A longer surfboard should help you to make paddling easier.
Thickness – A thicker board will provide more flotation which allows easier paddling and provide more of a glide when stood up. You will need to consider a thicker surfboard the heavier you are- a 2.5″ to 3″ thick surfboard should be suitable.
Width – A wider surfboard will be more forgiving when learning, again being easier to paddle and provide a more stable platform. Look for width in the nose, centre and tail of the board.
Which board to choose
When it comes to surfboard construction (see our surfboard design page for more info) there are a number of types, but in basic terms there are the custom boards, epoxy, softboards and pop-outs. If you are going to surf regularly and look to progress then a custom or epoxy board may be the way forward, but if you are only looking to surf during holidays or your board will take a lot of abuse perhaps look at softboard or pop-out. Mals and mini-mals are ideal beginner surfboards.
 |
Softboard – Softboards or “Foamies” are as the name suggests made of foam and are soft, which allows them to be more forgiving to the novice. These surfboards are very buoyant, big and stable in the water. |
 |
Pop-outs – These are tough beginners boards with plenty of float. They are made of a foam core with a thick fiberglass coating and can stand a lot of abuse! They tend to be a cheaper alternative than a custom surfboard and hold their resale value once you want to trade up to a custom surfboard. |
