If you’re ready to buy your first surfboard, congratulations! It’s an exciting milestone and a rite of passage for every surfer.
While the first question on every surfer’s mind is “how long?” that’s not the only detail to consider for your first board. We also need to take into account things like:
What’s the shape I should go for?
How much volume should I have?
What construction material should I get?
What kind of fins do I need?
With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry — we’re here to simplify the process so you can get in the water sooner. Here’s everything you need to know to find the perfect surfboard.
What surfboard length should I get?
As a new surfer, you might feel tempted to get the smallest (… or cutest) board you can find.
That’s a great idea … if you’re buying it to take photos on the beach … but a terrible idea if you actually want to learn to surf.
Here’s a simple rule to keep in mind: the only way to become a better surfer is to get more waves — so you need to maximize your wave catching ability.
How do you do that?
Simple.
You get the absolute longest board you can reasonably use.
We teach people to surf everyday, and we can say with total confidence, there is no benefit to going shorter. At least, not until you’ve caught your first 1,000 waves.
Of course there are practical limitations on how big your board can be.
The first limitation is storage and transportation. Do you have space in your home for a 12’ longboard? Can you easily attach a longboard to the top of your car?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, you have to find the longest length you can both store and transport.
The second limitation is wave access. If you’re a beginner, you should Google “beginner surf breaks near [insert your location]” to find the easiest waves for you to learn on.
Your first surf spot should have long rolling surf — waves that have very low slope and break gradually over a long period of time. This usually means you want waves that are a bit far away from shore.
In general, the closer the wave gets to shore, the steeper it gets and the faster it breaks.
If the only waves you can find are steep and fast, you might want to shorten your board length a bit — but not shorter than 8’.
Of course — just like a shortboard — this will prolong your learning curve. So if you can drive an extra 20 minutes to more beginner-friendly surf, it’s definitely worth the extra miles.
So now you have a pretty useful outline for picking your first surfboard by length, but that isn’t the only factor to consider!
Next let’s figure out the best construction material for your first board.
What surfboard construction should I get?
Now that you know to go with a longer board, let’s figure out what kind of board to get. Surfboards are made from various materials, and some are better than others for beginner riders.
As a newbie surfer, you need to focus on two things when it comes to construction: durability and buoyancy.
For starters, it’s super important that your first surfboard is strong enough to withstand all those dings you’re inevitably going to give it as you learn.
The last thing you want is to crack a fancy fiberglass board on your first session, right?
You also need to make sure your first board has a lot of volume. This buoyancy gives you the paddle power to get into as many waves as possible and the stability to keep your balance as you learn to ride them.
Think of it this way: the more float, the better.
Here’s an easy formula: get a board with at least as many liters as your bodyweight. Don’t be afraid to go even higher than that.
In our experience of teaching beginner surfers, the perfect first surfboard is a soft-top or foamie. You know, like those Wavestorms from Costco — which you can totally still rip on, if you’re wondering.
Since these boards are entirely made of foam, they’re close to indestructible. You can drop it on the ground or run into some rocks and it still won’t crack or break.
Plus they make it way less intimidating to wipe out since a harder board is prone to injure you more if it hits you. And as a beginner, you’re going to wipe out a lot.
Once you feel confident not only catching but riding a bunch of waves on your soft-top, you can move onto a molded construction surfboard as your first real hard-top surfboard. These are mass-produced EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam cores, encased in epoxy resin.
They offer a more responsive ride than foamies while still being durable, which is ideal for progressing surfers.
And remember: you’re going to beat your first board up, and that’s okay, it’s just part of the process. That’s why we don’t want to spend a ton of money on our first board.
Instead, you’ll find plenty of good, affordable options on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or at a surf shop that sells used boards.
What surfboard shape should I get?
Now, let’s talk about shapes. Surfboards not only vary in length and volume but also in shape. And trust us, shape makes a big difference!
Look for a board with a wide nose and tail, specifically a squash or round shape — just like a Wavestorm. They offer maximum stability and easier paddling.
Avoid boards with pointed noses or pin tails since these are harder to control. Since you’re still learning to balance and catch waves, these boards are only going to make the learning process more challenging.
When looking for a longboard be especially sure to avoid anything that’s labeled “gun” or “high performance.”
Guns are a version of longer boards that are specifically made for big waves. They are not meant to be ridden in small or medium-sized waves at all.
“High performance” longboards are made to be very reactive to the riders movements. They’re optimized for advanced riders. Buying a high performance board will prolong your learning. You’ll catch less waves and have much more trouble balancing.
Okay! Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid, let’s make sure you’re getting the right fins and leash.
What type of surfboard fins and leash should I get?
Surfboard fins play a crucial role in how a board rides in the water, so it’s important to get the right fin set-up.
Choose a board with either a single-fin setup or a 2+1 configuration. Both options are excellent for beginners, and also found in most longboards.
Let’s look at the single fin set-up first. This is a classic all-around choice for beginners. It’s also super easy to find. To buy a single fin, you can match the fin size to within 1.5 inches equal to your board’s length in feet.
For example, if you buy a 9-foot surfboard, your single fin should be ~8-10-inch single fin.
Some boards also have an option for a 2+1, which means there are two smaller fins on either side of a larger center fin. You can buy these in a set, making it much easier.
Stay away from boards with quad or twin fins set-ups until your skills improve. These are made for speed and looseness.
Finally, it’s time to get the right leash. Too short of a leash could cause your board to rebound when you wipe out and injure you — and too long of a leach creates unnecessary drag.
For your safety, get a leash around the same length of your board or as much a foot shorter (but not more).
There you have it, everything you need to know about picking your first surfboard. Now get out there and start shredding!