Beyond SUP: How To Choose A Surfboard For Beginners

So you’ve heard the call of the ocean and decided to move beyond stand up paddle boarding. After some consideration, you’ve decided that you’re interested in learning how to surf. People have been swimming and riding waves since the dawn of humanity, but modern surfing as we know it today has been around for just over a hundred years.

When approaching the sport, it can be difficult to figure out where to start since it’s similar to paddle boarding but not quite the same thing. Maybe you go into your first surf shop and see hundreds of boards lining the walls, all of them different sizes and shapes, some painted with a simple stripe down the middle and some layered with abstract art. Talk about an overwhelming decision you gotta make!

To help make your decision easier, we’ve put together the ultimate surfboard buyer’s guide so that you can find the board that’s best for you and begin your journey as a surfer.

Personal Considerations When Shopping For Your First Surfboard

Not all boards are created equal; it’s important to choose a board that is appropriate for your body, your skill level and takes into account your personal preferences and comfort level.

Height

Tall people can ride shortboards, and short people can ride longboards, regardless of whichever board you’re leaning towards, you need to think about how your height and how it’s going to affect your ride. You don’t want to be dwarfed by your board, but you also shouldn’t be hanging off because you’re too tall for your board.

Shortboards that are designed for taller surfers are going to accommodate for this by being a little bit wider, as well as a few inches higher. Longboards created for shorter surfers are going to be skinnier and a few inches shorter.

Weight

Your weight is one of the most important things to factor into your decision-making process. If you choose a board that cannot fully support your weight, you’ll find yourself sinking into the water, and when you do manage to catch a wave, you won’t be able to build up the momentum to ride it for long.

You want your board to sink just enough so that you can carve into a wave, but you need it to provide enough buoyancy so that you can gain speed and cruise back towards shore.

A board’s foam density determines how much buoyancy it will provide. Boards designed for lighter surfers will be less dense and allow the rider to sink down a couple of inches, and boards designed for heavier people will be made more dense to resist the surfer’s weight and prevent them from sinking too far.

Here’s a good chart to determine what size board you need:

Shortboards

Weight	Board Height
99-140 pounds	6’ 2” – 6’4”
140-160 pounds	6’4” – 6’8”
160-180 pounds	6’8” – 6’10”
180-200 pounds	6’10” – 7’4”
200 + pounds	7’4” – 7’8”

Longboards

Weight	Board Height
99-140 pounds	9’2” – 9’4”
140-160 pounds	9’4” – 9’6”
160-180 pounds	9’6” – 9’8”
180-200 pounds	9’8” – 10’
200 + pounds	10’ – 10’4”

Personal Preference

After taking your weight and height into account, you want to choose a board that you can be very comfortable with. When riding larger waves, your board will need to function as an extension of your body, which can’t happen until you’re fully comfortable and familiar with your board.

Thankfully, there is a huge variety of board styles out there. Most retailers won’t let you take the boards for a test drive, so the best way to figure out what you like is to try somebody else’s out or to rent one.

Surfers tend to have an incredibly friendly and supportive community, so it shouldn’t be hard to find somebody who’s willing to let you test their boards. They might even give you some great tips and tell you where the best waves are.

Ability

Your ability as a swimmer and as a surfer is going to be important as well. Certain boards are designed to be ridden by advanced surfers and require more complex movements to give you a good ride.

Shorter boards, for instance, have less surface area than longboards, which means that the surfer will have to be a proficient swimmer and will need more endurance as they will be putting in more effort to paddle out through the surf zone.

If you plan on going out in heavy surf, you will also need to be adept at maneuvering around waves. Those with shortboards will be able to push their board under, and nose dive straight through the waves, whereas with a longboard you will have to figure out a way of paddling around large waves or dismount and guide your board.

Styles of Surfboards

There is a perfect board for every surfer, no matter their size or type of waves they’ll be riding. After you’ve figured out what size board to get, you’ll want to select what style of board you’ll want. Most still fall under the basic category of short and longboards, but with a few key differences.

Foam Board

If you’ve ever taken a surfing class before, then “foamies” are probably the boards that you learned how to ride on. These soft boards are perfect for beginners because their soft foam construction gives them incredible buoyancy, allowing the novice to easily catch waves.

They’re designed to have a lot of surface area and are usually wider to give individuals more stability and allow them to easily stand up.

Longboard

These usually range from 8 – 10 feet long, have rounded noses and are sometimes referred to as “cruisers” or “logs” due to their large size. Their greater surface area allows surfers to cruise across the water with minimal paddling effort, and easily catch a wave’s “sweet spot.”

They are great for riding small-medium sized waves, but because of their size and buoyancy, they can be hard to paddle through the choppy surf zone, and require more navigational skill to get out to where you will be picking up the waves at.

Longboards don’t offer the speed, and pivotal shredding abilities of shortboards but are great if you really want to cruise on a wave. If you want to mix it up and try some tricks, nose surfing and cross-stepping across the board are common and easy to accomplish with practice.

Shortboard

Sometimes referred to as a “thruster” these boards are great if you want to shred some waves, and are the most common style used in competition surfing. They are 5’6″ – 6’5″ long with sharp noses, and have 16″ – 19″ wide with rounded or square tails.

Due to their lack of surface area, these boards require the surfer to put in a lot more arm work to paddle out, and require more skill to maneuver into the wave’s sweet spot. Shortboards are recommended for more advanced surfers who are looking for a challenge.

Fish Board

Fish boards are like shortboards, but the design seeks to create more surface area with an increased width board width. They are typically 5’2” – 6’4” long with an 18” – 22” width.

Fish boards are named for the distinctive tail which is triangular and shaped like a fish’s tail to allow for advanced shredding and quick turns.

Funboard

Funboards are a great compromise between a longboard and a shortboard. They are 6’6″ – 8′ long with a 20″ – 22″ width. These boards provide more surface area for ease of paddling and a nice cruise, but still, allow the user enough flexibility to do some light shredding and quick maneuvers.

Gun Board

These boards are designed for surfers who travel the world riding monster waves and are named because they are the surfer’s metaphorical gun with which they will bring down their massive prey with.

They come in a wide variety of lengths and can be as short as 6′ or more than 10′. They have a thin and pointy nose and tail which cuts through waves giving surfers an easier paddle out and allowing them to carve into the sides of tall, steep waves.

Malibu Board

The malibu is very similar to the longboard but tends to be a little shorter with a slimmer board width and sharper tail which gives the surfer greater maneuverability than traditional longboards can provide, while still giving them an easy paddle out and the smooth cruise of a longboard.

Common Surfboard Features

Now that you know what styles of boards are out there let’s take a closer look at the small features that make all the difference. Different tails, fins, and board curvature can give drastically different rides, and each has their pros and cons.

Tail Shape

When you’re looking at a surfboards tail shape, and important rule of thumb to remember is that round shapes will give you smooth, wide turns and angularly shaped tails will give you more pivot action and allow you to make sharper turns and shred the wave.

The tail shape controls how much water is held and released on the wave’s surface. Rounded curves hold more water, creating more stability, whereas sharper tails release water more quickly, giving the board a loose and snappy quality.

Square Tail

The square tail was the first tail design to be used on surfboards. It’s wide, square shape gives added stability, and it’s sharp corners allow the rider to dig into the wave. The square design isn’t as good for riding barrels however as only one edge of the tail will be digging into the wave’s side, making the board harder to control.

Because of this square tails are found mostly on longboards instead of shortboards and are designed to provide a good cruise with a little bit of cutting power.

Squash Tail

The squash tail is a variation of the traditional square tail and is the most common to find on shortboards. The edges are a little bit rounder than the square tail, which allows the board to more easily traverse wave curvature and barrelling.

The edges are still sharp enough to allow for pivotal turns and quick shreds and the squash tails extra surface area gives the board a greater lift and thus more speed. It is a very versatile tail and can be used in a wide range of different conditions.

Pin Tail

Pin tails are most commonly seen on gun boards and give the surfer a lot of traction and control. The surface area of the pin tail is smaller than any other tail which allows the edge to sink into the wave and carve a path through strong waters.

This is great for riding in big waves where you’re going one direction but isn’t a good idea if you want to be able to make quick turns and shred the wave.

Round Tail

This shape allows water to wrap around the contour of the tail which makes it ideal for fast, hollow waves and gives better traction and speed than you can expect from square tails.

The added width creates more lift which allows the board gives the rider added control and more maneuverability than pin tails, but the rounded design doesn’t quite the pivotal turning ability of square tails. This shape of tail provides great versatility for use on a variety of different waves.

Swallow Tail

The swallow tail is usually found on fish boards and resembles two pin tails joined beside each other, giving the back of the board a V-shaped cut in. This is the most maneuverable tails and is great for shredding up small or medium-sized waves.

It has a lot of surface area as well which gives good lift and allows the board to build good speed.

Fins

When you’re riding a wave, the fins make up almost half of your water to board surface area, which makes them a critical in dictating how the board rides. You can’t have a great board, but without the right fins, it won’t ride very well.

There are thousands of different fins on the market, and they are very easy to switch out when you are surfing different environments. There are long, short, and medium-sized fins designed to perform for different size riders.

Aside from the fins length, other factors such as the fin layout and the fin’s sweep, foil, flex, and cant also affect its performance.

Fin Size

Most fins come in different sizes which are designed to accommodate heavier or lighter individuals. It’s important that you choose the right size fin for your body type if you want to get the maximum benefit out of it. Here is a simple chart to help you out:

Fin Size	Surfer Weight
Extra Small	120 pounds or lighter
Small	120 – 155 pounds
Medium	155 – 195 pounds
Large	165 – 190 pounds
Extra Large	190 + pounds

Fin Layout

Once you’ve figured out what size fin you need, you need to look at the fin layout. Surfboards have a maximum number of fin slots, so make sure you’re familiar with your boards set up.

The most common are single, twin and tri-fin layouts, and some are equipped with five slots to allow surfers to mix and match and create their own setups.

Single Fin

This is the most traditional setup and is most commonly seen on longboards. Turning power is limited with these fins, but they are great for fast, straight surfing.

They are very predictable and provide great control and stability. The center fin slot is long and allows you to position the fin further forward or backward to change how tight your ride is.

Twin Fin

A twin fin setup will give your board a lighter and more maneuverable feel. They offer more control than single fin setups and allow the surfer to make wide roundabout turns.

These are commonly seen on shortboards and are not good for surfing large waves.

Tri-Fin

This is the most common setup you’ll see today and is featured on a wide variety of boards, and gives you the option of switching to single or twin fin setups should you desire.The two side fins are closer to the middle of the board and are angled in to control water flow.

The middle fin is positioned towards the back of the tail and provides stability and added control. This makes it a great setup if you want to start shredding, but aren’t ready for the quick pivots that a quad or five fin setup will give you.

2 + 1 Fin

This is almost identical to the tri-fin setup, but a longer center slot allows for the middle fin to be positioned farther backward or forwards like the single fin setup offers.

Quad Fin

Positions two pairs of fins on opposing sides of the tail, without a center fin. A quad fin setup offers speed and enhanced maneuverability in any size surfboard. And, the outermost fins are great for holding and carving into big waves and generate momentum through quick turning motions.

Sweep

A fin’s sweep refers to how far the from of the fin angles back. Some fins will plunge deep into the water with minimal angling and will provide the surfer with advanced control and the ability to make tight turns.

Fins that have a smaller sweep and shorter lengths are great for building speed as they have less drag but offer little in the way of control or predictability.

Foil

Foil describes the inside face and outside shape of the fin. A fin’s foil is responsible for altering the flow of water across its surface.

Center fins should always be symmetrical and have a convex surface on each side to give stability. Meanwhile, the outer fins tend to have convex surfaces facing inside and flat or concave surfaces facing inside.

A flat inside gives the rider balance, control, and playfulness, while a concave surface maximizes lift and is great for building speed.

Flex

This refers to a fin’s flexibility, which can greatly affect the way a board rides. Most fins tend to be more solid at their base and have softer, more flexible tips that can move with the flow of water.

In general, having stiffer fins is better for beginners because they are more stable and predictable, and more flexible fins are more difficult to control and should be left to more experienced riders who will appreciate the quick responsiveness and lively feel.

Cant

Cant refers the tilt of the fin and is measured in degrees. A can’t that goes straight down at a 90-degree angle is said to have no cant and is best for speed.

If you seek to improve your board’s responsiveness and shredding ability, you will want your side fins to have more cant to them. This angle allows them to carve through the waters surface and manipulate the flow of the water to quickly change direction.

Bottom Curve

The bottom curve of a board from its nose to tail is referred to as the rocker. The reason for this curve to fit the boards surface to the natural curvature of the waves it’s riding. If your board has a straighter rocker, you are more likely to nosedive while riding larger waves that have more curvature.

The curve in the rocker also affects the boards turning ability. Performance-oriented surfboards will likely have sharper curves which will give them a smaller turning radius and make it easier for surfers to maneuver into tight barrels.

Other Things To Consider Before Buying

Used or New?

Depending upon your budget, you may have more or less money to spend on a surfboard, and that shouldn’t stop you from getting into this great sport. If you can afford a new board go ahead and make the investment, as you won’t have to worry about any substantial damage from prior owners.

A surfboard that is well cared for can last a lifetime, and purchasing a used board can be a great option as well. Providing that the person you’re buying it from has treated it well, you could end up getting a board that’s as good as a new one. Just make sure that there are no holes in the surface or dry rot present in the foam.

Durability

The life of a surfboard can be brutal is it is often dragged across hot sand, dropped in parking lots, thrown into the air by waves, or smashed onto ocean rocks when you wipeout. Make sure that the boards surface is made from a hard, ding-resistant material. All it takes to ruin a board is a small hole that lets water in and rots the foam.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has given you some food for thought and provided you with all the knowledge you need to go and make a well-informed purchase.

Surfing is one of the greatest sports in the world and is loved on islands and beach towns across the entire world. Wherever you travel, you’re bound to meet fellow surfers who will be your friends for life. So what are you waiting for? Go buy your first board and hop into the ocean!

Sources:

1. https://www.surfertoday.com/board-size-chart/surf
2. http://archive.clubofthewaves.com/surf-culture/types-of-surfboard.php
3. http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-anatomy/tail/basic-tail-shapes/
4. https://www.surfer.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-fins/
5. http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-anatomy/rocker/different-rocker-shapes/

Images:

1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Surfboard_Rental_Shop.jpg
2. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Le_Passage_des_Brisants_%C3%A0_Hawa%C3%AF%2C_c._1913.jpg
3. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Elevenfootersmall.jpg
4. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6165557 – By Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0,
5. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Riley-MiniMal-Allrounder2.jpg
6. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=357814
7. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ANubster_Fin.jpg
8. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48309730 – By Rosa Ana Busto Iglesias

Last update on 2021-08-05 at 22:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API