Your First Surfboard

You can learn to surf on whatever board you like, but some surfboards are more appropriate than others. To maximize the rate at which your surfing progresses you need to get started on the right board. You did not start your driving lessons in a Ferrari, you do not want to learn to surf in a Ferrari (you know what we mean!). So what is the anti-Ferrari in surfboard terms (confused yet?).

The Soft Surfboard

If you have ever had surfing lessons with a surf school you should already have a good idea as to which surfboard is best for the beginner. Is is a soft surfboard. Sometimes called 'Foamies', these soft boards are ideal because the soft foam construction means the boards are incredibly buoyant, enabling the beginner to catch waves easily. Their dimensions ensure that they are very stable in the water - making it much easier for the novice to stand up.

The fact that they are soft makes them an ideal board for a surf school where any injuries are minimized. A custom fibreglass surfboard can hurt if you fall onto it. (Even the fins on this design are soft to a certain degree. An ideal soft surfboard to buy for an adult would be around 8' in length. A softboard around the 6' region would suit a child.

These boards, while ideal for a single surfing lesson are perhaps not the best surfboard to buy for an adult who will be surfing regularly. Most people would quickly outgrow these boards and would be left needing a replacement pretty soon - not making it the best buy. For small children who will not progress in surfing so quickly, or for adults who only go surfing on vacation once a year they are a great buy.

The Pop-Out

A Pop-Out is a surfboard that is made on a production line and is a cheap alternative to a custom made fibreglass surfboard. The Pop-Out is made of foam covered with thick fibreglass and are practically indestructible. As a result of their construction the popout is much heavier than a softboard or a custom. The weight reduces the performance of the board, which is good from a learners point of view - the board is much steadier in the water.

The downside of these boards is that their weight means that they can pack a hefty wallop, so when using these boards you need to pay attention to where the board is going if you come off it, and be aware of other surfers and water users.

The Pop-Out is a popular choice as a beginners board, they offer more for the average surfer than the soft boards because they have a longer time span where they are still of use as a board to learn to surf on. Another great thing about the Pop-Out is that they are in demand and always have a good resale value when you have learned to surf on them and are looking to buy a board more suitable to your surfing ability - you try finding a second hand one.

Summary So Far

So we have taken a look at what can be classed as the 'traditional' beginners surfboards, and let's sum up what we have found.

Soft Surfboards are suitable for everyone as a first board, and because of their construction the size of the board does not really matter. An 8' board would be ideal for an adult, a 6' for a child. The downside is that they are quickly outgrown and a new board will be needed by someone who gets into the surf regularly.

Pop-Out Surfboards are have a longer user life than the softs, they can take a surfer form complete novice to intermediate with the same board. They have an excellent resale value when looking to trade up. The downside is really their weight, and that for a surfboard they are incredibly hard to duck dive.

There is one problem with both these boards - they have a cool factor of 0, nil, nada. This is a reason that many surfers can be put off from buying them, even though they make great beginners surfboards.

Lets have a look at Custom Surfboards For Beginners - are they a better option (or just a solution to the cool factor?)