There are many
different types of surfboards, and for a beginner the features and
characteristics can seem confusing. Look for a more comprehensive
surfboard guide amongst these pages in the future.
The best surfboard
for a beginner is a funboard or an egg, which is a
fairly wide and thick board from 7' to 8' in length, typically having
a blunt or rounded nose. A good rule of thumb is to get something
14" longer than you are tall, and at least 20" wide.
A longboard,
a round-nosed board of 9' or more length, is too difficult to paddle
and control for most beginners, while a shortboard is
typically too thin, narrow, and short, rendering it unstable and
difficult to paddle.
Look for a used
board when first starting out. Most surf shops should have some sort
of used board selection. There may also be used-equipment retailers in
your area, like "Play it Again Sports." Look in newspapers
for boards for sale. Be sure to look the board over before purchasing:
- Make sure there aren't any dings,
or holes in the board. If there are, you will need to repair them.
- Test the deck for soft, bubbly, delamination,
which weakens the board and allows it to take on water.
- Make sure the fins are intact and
that there is a plug on the deck for a leash.
- Again, look for something with
general characteristics of being wide, thick, and long as opposed
to narrow, short, and thin.
The board need not be
totally pristine; once you really get into surfing you'll likely want
to upgrade to something different.
