Buying a surfboard might be a difficult undertaking.
For starters, boards are not inexpensive. For two, it can be difficult to know where to begin in such a sophisticated market of varied designs for shredding your fair share of surfing situations.
Whether you’re a newbie seeking to buy your first board, an experienced wave rider looking to improve your game, or an aging pro looking for your next custom shape, it’s a good idea to plan ahead of time when visiting your local shaper or board house.
Beginner Surfboard
Learning to surf as a child is completely different. Kids bounce back no matter how many times they’ve touched rock bottom. Kids also appear to enjoy a sense of joy in the water that many starting adult surfers do not. Young people should also carefully study the board they are getting and ensure that it will survive a lifetime in the ocean.
Many surfers prefer to learn how to surf on a longboard. This predilection stems from the fact that buoyancy and momentum are crucial when learning to surf. It’s far easier to paddle a longboard in the water than a shortboard, especially when catching your first wave. Another factor that novice surfers should consider is safety.
Many surfers choose to begin their adventure in the ocean on a soft top. Nowadays, there are a plethora of soft-top manufacturers worldwide who offer high-quality surf crafts to anybody, not just beginners.
There is no shame in requesting additional assistance. Surf schools, guides, and instructors all over the world are here to keep you stoked with safe and enjoyable ocean experiences.
Middle-Length Board
Mid-length boards are known by a variety of names, ranging from eggs and fun-boards to retro-style single fins and mini-guns. These are best suited for intermediate to big guts surfers.
A mid-length board has a certain level of style and allows you to step up when the waves are unusually big or extra little. A thruster pushing 6’8″ with a little extra capacity will allow you to get in early on hollow days or long sluggish rollers. A 7’0″ circular pin might win a few more points on a smaller day and won’t be difficult to paddle in huge surf.
Before deciding on a mid-length board, consider demoing a few at a local surfing event or surf store. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you could rent a few from some local beach boys here in Bali.
Should you get a Foamie?
The best first surfboard for an adult is determined by several characteristics, including weight, height, fitness, and frequency of surfing.
Without this information, determining which board will work is difficult! The difficult element is balancing a board with enough volume to help you float while also making paddling and wave catching somewhat straightforward, without becoming so large that you have little prospect of turning it or possibly even holding it!
Depending on your price and frequency of surfing, a foamie/soft board may be the best option. Because they are intended to withstand the rigors of a 6 month summer season on the beach and being used and abused 20 times a day, the foamies you may encounter in surf schools are thicker and heavier than the surfboard which is typically sold.
Most adults up to 75 kgs are fine on a 7’0 foamie, above that an 8’0 foamie will do the job.
Short-Board Surfboards
With the variety and sophistication of today’s surfboard design, it’s difficult to place all boards under 7’0″ into the same category. Today’s market is expected to include a variety of elliptical, asymmetrical, and even rectangular surfboards.
Again, when choosing your board, consider the conditions where you intend to surf as well as your particular taste or surfing style. Are you trying to cut down the face, arrive late to the barrel, or chuck a pop-shove-it? The primary distinction between a shortboard and a longer board is that short boarders must strategically position themselves on the face of the wave in order to develop, release, and redirect momentum.
For better or worse, shortboards allow you more control over your maneuverability. As a result, many new and beginner surfers may find shortboards unpleasant.
Shortboards are less forgiving of window rolling and involuntary body motions. Surfers on a shortboard must be comfortable, quick, and deliberate to sustain momentum and maintain a decent surfing stance. Building speed to stay ahead of the section may be a touch outside your learning curve while you’re initially learning to paddle, drop in, or cut down the line.
Intermediate and advanced surfers may want to ease into a shorter board by graduating to a mid-length. While speed is key, wave sense is the most important lesson to acquire before paddling out on a shortboard. To drop in, shortboards require a steeper wave face. Surfers with wave awareness avoid taking too many on the head or hugging too close to the shoulder.
What size surfboard should I get?
If you’re new to surfing and want to buy a shortboard, look up some volume recommendations online. While your body height and weight do not necessarily precisely correlate with the optimum board for you, it is comforting to know that you will be able to paddle the board you purchase. They also have a live chat feature which is very helpful for you to find your perfect surfboard.
Whatever surfboard you wish to buy, keep your priorities aligned with your surfing style and local conditions.
While it may be tempting, we do not recommend purchasing a new surfboard for your next surf trip. The only exception is if you can find a board with nearly similar measurements to your favorite stick. Nobody wants to be out in an unfamiliar surf zone, on an unfamiliar surfboard, on strange waves.
Whether you’re a first-time surfer or a seasoned pro, getting the perfect board might mean the difference between a great session and a complex sequence of frustrations.
