When choosing your surfboard, there are a few things that you need to consider. Your skill level, how much time you spend in the water, the build of your body, and how the water behaves in the area you want to surf.
As a general rule of thumb, beginner surfers will require a thicker and longer board, one that is about 3 feet taller than they are. Beginner surfers will also want to look for a board with higher volume - boards with a higher volume are more buoyant so will float easier on the water line, making it easier to paddle. Having a higher volume board also means you won’t need steep waves in order to surf.
Boards come in all different shapes and volumes, so sometimes boards may be the same height and width but they don't have the same volume, so always make sure you check. Take a look at our range of boards here: https://bit.ly/3tGAo09
Volume to weight ratio
How heavy you are will of course have an impact on what volume you will need for your board. To find the right volume for you, you need to look at the volume to weight ratio.
The easiest way to explain this is to give an example using a percentage:
If the board has a volume of 35 litres and the surfer weighs 70kg, the percentage ratio will be at 50%.
If the board has a volume of 70 litres and the surfer weighs 70kg the percentage ratio will be 100%.
For beginners you want to get a surfboard with a high volume (as close to 100% as possible) as it keeps you afloat easier.
As your skill levels increase, you may want to get a board with less volume to allow you to maneuvre more and advance your abilities further.
Longboards
Longboards are great for beginners as they allow you to find your feet and master your footwork.
They are great for long rides and also work well on smaller waves, but they don't have the same maneuvrability as a short board.
Funboards
This shape of board almost acts as an introduction to the shorter boards.
Funboards are great for those that are new to surfing as well as intermediates, offering stability and easy paddling, but they will allow you to learn more about manoeuvring and faster turns letting you become a bit more adventurous on the wave.
Shortboards
If you’ve mastered your pop up, paddling, and manoeuvres then you might be ready to move on to a shortboard.
These boards are lighter and faster, allowing you to catch steeper and more powerful waves. They are more responsive than larger boards and you can do a lot more on them.
If you really don’t know where to start, it might be worth booking in a lesson to get a feel for the boards first. Check out our blog post about the different surf schools available to you to help you begin.
There are a lot of different boards out there, so take the time to do your research and be patient and honest with yourself. Nail which board is right for you and you’ll be riding the waves in no time.