What Surfboard Is Best For Beginners?

Purchasing your first surfboard can be a confusing experience.

The first thing you will ask yourself is "What surfboard should I buy?"

How much should I spend?

Should I buy a hard or a soft surfboard?

The options are nearly endless! Surfing technology has certainly come a long way with more than 50 years of surfboard development already behind us. Today's surfboards make learning how to surf a more pleasurable experience than it was in the past. The surfboards beginners use these days are safer, more durable, and lighter than their ancestors.

The Soft Surfboard

The most popular surfboard for beginner's these days is the soft surfboard, and for good reason. Because they are very buoyant, paddling is extremely easy. When you are wondering what surfboard is right for you, if you are a beginner you should consider a soft surfboard. They have more grip, stability, and buoyancy compared to a regular fiberglass surfboard. These boards are usually between 7 and 10 feet long because a longer board is much easier to balance.

The soft, rubber like material that is used for the top surface of these surfboards provides plenty of stability and will hold up in even tough conditions. While it is very strong and durable it is also safe enough not to hurt anyone if you happen to lose your surfboard among a crowd of swimmers.

The base of a soft surfboard has a smooth, soft skin. The skin effectively reduces friction with the water's surface, allowing you to glide with some of the speed of a fiberglass surfboard.

What surfboard height should I purchase?

Length is something you will have to consider when you are going to buy a surfboard. The majority of surfers learn to surf on a board that is a few feet longer than their height. When wondering what surfboard to buy, you should remember that the longer the board is the more stable it will be. If you are heavier than average, consider buying a board that is a little thicker than normal. Checking a surfboard height and weight matrix can help you decide on the right surfboard.

New or Used?

The answer to this will largely depend on your budget. Something else to take into consideration is how often you will be using the board. Someone who uses it regularly is going to progress faster and will outgrow a soft surfboard very quickly. Due to the hard wearing construction of the soft surfboard there are plenty of used ones in good enough condition to learn on.

Should I get lessons?

The answer is definitely YES! Just because your friends know how to surf doesn't mean they can teach you to surf. Surfing is a very individual thing so you need to learn the basic skills and techniques before you are able to refine them into your own style. Take a few proper lessons that will allow an experienced instructor to teach you the important basics of surfing. It is also helpful to have a good quality instructional book or DVD available for reference.

An instructor will also take you through all the safety procedures. Things like, where is it safe to surf? And how to spot a rip or undertow? These are incredibly important things to know. An instructor will also teach you the rules of the surf. When surfing, there is a globally recognised set of rules that governs which surfer has right of way in different situations. Learning these rules is a must if you want to survive in the crowds.

While its important to know what surfboard is right for you, a soft surfboard or a hard surfboard, its more important to be patient when you're learning how to surf. Remember that surfing can be tricky to really get the hang of. With each ride lasting just a few seconds, less time is spent standing up than with skateboarding or snowboarding. For this reason it might take some extra time to move to the next level, but believe me, its worth it.

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