Custom Surfboards

When we talk about custom surfboards, we're talking about glassed surfboards, boards that have been handcrafted as opposed to factory-produced pop-outs or soft boards. (But not necessarily produced to an individual's specifications.) The custom surfboard is the board used by the average and professional surfer alike, and it makes a great beginner board— if the right surfboard is chosen.

Avoid the Thruster

The title "Avoid the Thruster" refers to a shortboard, which honestly is not the greatest surfboard to start learning on. Shortboards are not wide enough, thick enough, or long enough to suit a novice surfer; a much better choice is a mini-mal or longboard.

The mini-mal, also known as the funboard, offers everything that a beginner should be looking for — it is wide, it is long, and it has excellent buoyancy. The design of the mini-mal is such that it paddles well, making it ideal for catching waves. Its width helps with stability, giving a little extra help to the novice surfer.

As a beginner, using the right board will likely see you progress quickly from novice to advanced surfer. This type of surfboard has great mileage, giving it an edge over the soft board and the pop-out surfboard. Mini-mals can be quite expensive, but they are the best choice, so start saving now or hope Santa is particularly flush this year.

The longboard, or malibu, is another good beginner board for the same reasons as the mini-mal. They make it easy to catch the waves and are buoyant and stable. They lose out slightly because of their length and their weight. Additionally, the longboard is the hardest board to get out to the lineup; on a messy surf day it can seem almost impossible! These boards are also harder to turn than a mini-mal, making the step down to a shortboard less of a natural transition.

Beginners Surfboard Guide Summary

Here are some of the main things to bear in mind when considering which surfboard to buy as a beginner.

Surfboard Size

• No matter what type of board you buy, it should be at least 6 inches longer than your own height.
• Remember that the wider the board is, the more stable it will be on the waves.
• The thicker the board is, the more buoyant it will be, making it easier to paddle and catch waves.
• An ultra-thin, light shortboard will only make learning to surf more difficult. Why do you think that performance boards are not used by surf schools?

Type

• The best type of beginner surfboard depends on different factors. You should consider how often you'll be surfing, your fitness levels, and whether you need to look cool. Best go back and read the both the beginner board pages again.
• Soft boards, longboards, mini-mals and pop-outs are all great beginner boards.
• Shortboards are not such a great beginner board for the average surfer.

New or Old

• Whether to go with a new or used board depends on a number of factors including budget and availability of boards.
• Buying a new soft surfboard is a good idea if you have children or you do not intend to go surfing regularly. If you progress quickly in your surfing, you'll soon need another board more suited to your ability. These boards are for the novice only. A cheap, second-hand board might be the best bet.
• Good second-hand surfboards can be hard to find. If you're new to buying a surfboard, you might want to take a look at our surfboard buying guide.
• With a beginner board, you're going to have to replace it soon. You need a board that you can resell.

How Often You Surf

• If you only surf once a year, go for a softboard.
• If you surf intermittently, go for a pop-out, mini-mal or Malibu.
• If you surf three to four times a week, you can pretty much start on any board you like. Surfing this regularly should see you quickly move beyond the "novice surfer" stage.

Back to pop-outs and soft surfboards

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