How to choose your first surfboard

This is something that nearly everyone gets stuck on. And it’s probably a good thing you did. Buying a surfboard isn’t cheap. You need to make the right choice. You need a board that will last a long time, that will help you to learn well and fast, and that won’t burn an unnecessarily large hole in your pocket! But there are just so many options that it’s dizzying!

Here is an absolutely solid how-to for what will probably be the most important thing in your surfing life: buying your first board. Read this guide carefuly and you will have more chances of buying your “Magic Board”. Love at first sight J

We have a huge range of surfboards that we regularly ship all over the continent to every type of surfer, so you can be sure that we will have something that will suit you.

Usually when people get in touch they have been for a few surfing lessons and have ridden 8 or 9 foot long softop boards that pick up waves easily and give you a nice stable platform for learning the basics, from that stage they often start looking for a first surfboard which will offer the same benefits without holding them back.

These are the most popular characteristics that first time board buyers ask for in a surfboard:

• Good value for Money
• Very Durable
• Easy to transport
• Able to be duck-dived under waves
• Works in small and big waves
• Allows progression

Unfortunately it’s impossible to get a surfboard that meets all these needs, you’re going to have to compromise to get the best surfboard you can for your surfing, first there’s a couple of basic things you should know about what surfboards are made of.

Why not to buy a shortboard

Short boards are generally anything up to around the 6’6” mark, but really the name refers to the shape of the board. A short board is generally narrow, thin and, yes, short. The nose is narrow, which means there’s not a lot of volume under your chest, so you will struggle to catch waves. The tail is thin, so it will feel very unstable and it will be hard to go in the direction that you want to go. Need more reasons? These boards are for very experienced surfers. You’ll spend a LOT longer struggling to learn with this kind of board than you would with a nice big longboard.

Why to buy a mini-mal

A mini-mal (one of many names) has more volume. It’s thicker. It’s wider. The nose is rounder. It’s just bigger. This helps you catch waves. More waves means more time to practice surfing waves. The width and thickness will make it much easier to balance and decide on your direction. A good beginner board is generally between 7’2” to 7’6”. Too big and it becomes hard to control, too small and it becomes hard to catch waves and balance. The width should be between 19 – 22 inches across at the widest part, and it should be more or less the same the whole way through the board. It should be 2 – 3 inches thick. Remember: the bigger the better, but do take your size, strength and weight into consideration too. If you are a small, young child, you won’t need a board quite as big as a big, muscle-bound man. Check out the boards to the right to compare a shortboard and a mini-mal.

 Epoxy or PU 

Here are good points about both of these types of boards, and at the end of the day the choice is down to you. Epoxy is generally stronger – it’s harder to damage and easier to make it last longer. The draw-back is that with epoxy boards for beginners, they don’t quite have the same feel as PU (Polyester) boards do, and PU boards are to this day the most popular choice. PU boards are generally made a little bit better, so as soon as you start progressing you’ll find that it’s easier to learn the more technical parts of surfing on a PU board. However, PU boards are more likely to ding than Epoxy boards, and an Epoxy board doesn't delaminate or discolour.

In a nutshell – if you want a board that’s going to be strong and last a long time without having to be too careful, choose an Epoxy board. If you want a board that’s going to help you surf better, and you don’t mind having to be extra-careful with it, choose a PU board.

How much should I spend 

Some people will say you only want a cheap surfboard because you’re going to be bashing it up and progressing onto a smaller board quickly. Well, they’re half way there. You’re probably going to be bashing it around a lot, and if everything goes according to plan you will*be moving onto a shorter board before too long. Why not settle for the cheapest board you can find? Here’s why:

It’s important to get a good quality surfboard in order to get the proper foundation you need to progress as a surfer. Could you learn to play guitar well on a guitar that comes out of tune every couple of minutes? Maybe, but it’d take one heck of a long time. A surfboard pretty much works the same way. A good surfboard sets you up to get good technique.

A good quality board will last longer. If you buy any old cheap surfboard, especially if it’s PU(Polyester), it’s likely to discolor and delaminate faster. Also, it’s likely to only be thinly glassed, which means it won’t be as strong and will be easier to ding. When aboard dings, it’s essential to get it repaired, which can be expensive or time-consuming. If it’s not repaired, the foam will soak up salt water. Then it will become heavy, and will break from the inside out.

One last Tip

If you are decided to buy a new board and want to make sure that your money is well spent, the best advice is to try some models you think can go well for your surfing. In surf schools like ours we have over 60 different surf boards to choose from and you never know which can be your "magic board" with which you will not miss a single wave. When you find that “magic board” pointing measures and tries to find an equal or even talk to a shaper known in your area who can help you make the board of your dreams.

We hope you find this information useful.