What surfboard should You get as a Beginner?
Hi, it's Filippo for friend GAF an average surfer that is currently in his 3rd year of surfing (sounds like University 😅).
I would like to give you a better idea of what surfboard to get as a beginner so you can progress faster and have more fun. 😬😬😬
Why is your surfboard so important?
When you are learning how to surf, your surfboard can impact your progression and how much fun you have in the water. 😬
Right board -> More waves you catch -> quicker progress -> the more fun you have 🤙😬
Wrong board -> Less waves you catch -> slower progression -> You start hating surfing 🙃
There is no board that works for everyone because it depends on so many factors:
- Surfing Level
- Weight
- How much and fast can you paddle
- What waves do you surf
- What you want on the wave and style
But today I am guiding you on what to look for in surfboards for beginners or those who are just starting out 🤙
What surfboard to get when starting out or as a beginner?
When you are starting your surfing journey your goals are to:
- Get comfortable in the ocean, with waves, other people, and your board
- Balance on your board: laying down, sitting, and eventually standing
- Paddle and move your board around
- Learn a basic Pop up
- Read and catch white water waves independently
Lots of things but it is exciting to learn 😬
What board should you use to improve these skills?
Go Big, Wide, and Spongy.
Start with a soft foam board.
What is a soft foam board (foamie, soft board, soft-top board, or foam board)?
It is a surfboard made of high-density foam and they are perfect for beginners.
Why are soft foam boards great for beginners?
These boards have been around only for the last 20 years.
In 2004 one of the most famous brands WaveStorm started to be mass-produced in the USA. 🇺🇸
They made surfing more accessible and also when you get better they can still be so much fun to ride 🏄♂️
Before then surfboards were mostly "hard" made of fibreglass/resins.
But why are they so good for beginners?
- Safer than hardboard: their shell is spongy so if you get hit or hit someone else they would hurt a lot less
- Have shapes designed for beginner goals: thick, wide and long
- Cheap: they cost less money to be produced
- Hard to break: they can last longer than hardboard
Why not go for a hardboard (fiberglass/resin)?
The more traditional hardboard made with fiberglass and resin are:
- Less safe: they have a hard shell -> so they can more likely hurt you and the people around you
- More expensive: they cost usually double the foam boards
- It is harder to pick one designed for beginners because they can come in different shapes, lengths, widths, and thickness
- Are fragile - They require more care and fewer mistakes
What size of surfboard should you get?
To keep things simple there are only 2 measurements you should care as a beginner:
- Length: measured in feet (ft), how long the board is
- Volume: measured in liters (L), it summaries how big overall the board is
For Length, in general, you want to go for something around 2-3 feet higher than your height.
For instance, if you are 170 cm tall (which is 5' 7 ft) you want to go for something at least 7' 7 ft.
7' 7 = 7 feet and 7 inches
But feel free to go longer, especially if you weigh more or you struggle, there is no shame - there would be plenty of bigger sizes like:
7' 10 ft - 8 ft - 8' 6ft
Why is length important?
The longer the board -> the more stable -> the easier it is to catch waves.
However, some boards might also be thicker and wider than others which is why it is important to consider the volume.
Why is Volume important?
The volume summarises how big the board is in all dimensions, it can give us a good indication of how much it would float.
For example, 2 boards 8ft long but with different shapes can have different volumes therefore one would surf differently than the other.
The more volume -> the more you float -> the faster you paddle -> the more waves you catch
As a rule of thumb, for a beginner, your surfboard should have a volume of about 100-120% of your weight in kilos.
For instance, if you weigh 65 Kilos something with a volume between 65 and 78 Liters would be great.
Don't be afraid to go with something with more liters, as long as you can carry the board around and it does not feel like a 150kg wardrobe you would fly. 😬
If you weigh over 100kgs, it might be hard to find surfboards with more liters than 100L. In that case, go for the biggest foam board you can find, probably a 9ft or bigger.
Let's find your board combining Length and Liters
To sum it up, if you are someone who weighs 65 kilos and is 170cm tall you are looking for a surfboard 7' 6 - 8' 6 ft long and 65 and 71 Liters of volume.
Again don't be scared to go bigger, I would go for something 8ft long and 70L or more.
Calculator for recommended Sizes for a beginner surfboard (Length and Volume)
Here I leave you a calculator that you can use to get an idea of recommended length and volume.
But please use the following as a guideline as it is more complex to understand what board works best for you.
Height in cm
Weight in KGs
Recommended Range Length:
Recommended Range Volume:
How do I practically know if the surfboard is right for me?
Try the surfboard for at least 3-4 sessions and see how it feels.
Take your time to experiment with the board, and get a few good surf lessons so you understand the basics.
If you struggle to physically carry the board around, go for something shorter or with less volume.
If you struggle to balance on the surfboard, go for something longer or with more volume.
In general start with bigger boards.
But what if the board does not say its volume?
Volume is something that came out in recent years and not all manufacturers provide it.
Focus only on the length of the board.
Try the board a few times and see how it feels.
Go Surfing and Let me know how it goes 🤙