Surf Boards, what do I really need?

Surf boards and surfboard design have changed so much in the last five years that regardsless if you are a season veteran or a newbie to the surfing world, and still haven’t had your first surf lesson, choosing a board is not simple.  There are many types of surfboards available. Anyone can buy a surfboard and obtain reasonable success in riding it if they put enough time and effort into it. The secret to fast tracking yourself to surfing success and lets face it, having as much fun in the water as you can get, is to choose the surfboard thats right for you in between all the types available. Easier said than done if you dont know where to start.

Today we are going to dispel some of the myths of surf boards. Correct choice comes down to correct use. What does that mean you say. What we’re going to do is tell you which board is the best for you for your expereince level and style of surfing. Lets face it, we’re not all Kelly Slaters and are on the ASP tour.

Considerations for surf boards

The most important factors to consider when choosing a board is your height,weight, level of fitness and style of surfing will determine which board is best suited for you. If your just learning to surf or just had your first lesson then a large board is better. On the other hand you’ve been surfing for a while and want a board that can turn and cut-back like a pro then something 10ft long and 3inches wide will not be the one you want to spend your money on.

If you follow the basic ideas in this article I believe that within two minutes you can decide which board type is the one for you.

Types of surf boards

There are as many surf boards out there as types of waves and locations to ride them. Dont consider that just because you havent seen a type of board in your location it doesnt exist somewhere else. There are a myriad of surf board designs out there with custom surfboards popping up every second day.

We’re only really going to be touching the surface in the this article. You could read a whole book of board types, designs and uses let alone cram it all in one article. The basic rules still apply for surf board choice; height, weight, level of skill and intended use. These are really the big four.

Surf boards can be classified into 4 basic categories. Beginner boards, longboard surf surfboards, mini mal surfboards and shortboards. For ease of understanding we are going to divide the 4 board classes into longboards and shortboards.

Beginner surf boards and longboards

Longboards are instantly recognised by their sheer size. These boards are typically seen and originated from Hawaii. You’ve seen the movies where they hang ten and walk along the board. In this category are also beginner surf boards and arguably mini mal surfboards, albeit at the small end of the scale.  These are the boards that are recommended for learning to surf, if your body weight is typically greater than 200lb or the waves are smaller.

Longboard typically range from 8ft to 10 plus feet and range anywhere from 2 to 4 inches thich. The volume of board gives you the buoyancy and stability that you need for when you are learning, heavier bodyweight or surfing smaller waves with less energy/speed to keep you floating. for those of you who dont think wave speed is important in not sinking thenjust try and stand up on your board in a pool or no waves. You literally sink. The speed/kinetic energy of the wave gives you the increased buoyancy you need to stand up on the board.

Performance and shortboards

If your a big wave surfer then this is the board for you with narrow noses and tail. The big wave boards are much larger and more powerful. Board size ranges from 7-9ft in length. These boards need to have the stability and buyoancy to be picked up by a large wave (15-20 plus feet) and accelerate down the face witout losing balance, ability to turn and sinking the rider. They’re like a performance board on steroids.

Fish surfboards are identified by their distinct tail. The V tail gives better performance and handling, tighter and faster turning ability while also having the ability of the board to be thicker catering for heavier bodies and those with less paddling power. These are the boards that paddle like a longboard but turn like a shortboard.

Choose a board in this category if you are an accomplished surfer who has no trouble getting up and on waves and wants more than just a straight ride. These are the boards where you want tighter turns, crisper cut backs or the speed and acceleration to pull away from large dumping barrels.

Basic surf board selection comes down to your ability, weight and intended use. Once you have a clear idea where you fit into this equation you have just saved yourself tens of hours of frustration and potentially thousands of dollars that could have been better spent on the right board.

Longboard Surfing and its evolution

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