To really get off to a good start, to have the most fun and to progress as rapidly as possible the beginner surfer should choose their first surfboard carefully.
RENT IN THE BEGINNING - When you are at the very beginning of your surfing experience I suggest renting for a while if that's possible where you live. By renting you can try out some different shapes and size of boards. As you work up to buying your first surfboard you will be better prepared and have some practical experience to understand what kind of will works best for the kind of surfing you want to do.
The Long Board - The long board is the father of surfboards, in the beginning that's what people rode. I am turning 60 this year and I started surfing at the age of 12, we exclusively rode long boards. At that time in the 60's we did have various shapes for different purposes. There were boards with concave nose's for nose riding, hanging 5 and 10. The surfboards were wider and heavier than what's common today.
If you decide you'd like to ride a long board then you will need to select the right size for your weight and for the speed and maneuverability you want. With a thinner, narrower and lighter long one you will be able to stay up with faster breaking waves. But you will also will not be able to catch waves as easily or earlier before the wave moves closer to breaking. Long boards have their specific place in surfing and they are very popular. They are much easier to learn on.
THE SHORT BOARD - With a short board you can control the wave better and exert a lot more speed than a long board. You can maneuver, turn and cutback more rapidly and stay ahead of the wave. With a short board you will have to catch the waves later when they are much closer to breaking. Short boards replaced long boards for quite a while until long board made a resurgence in the late eighties or early nineties.
THE FUN BOARD The fun board falls somewhere in between the long board and the short board. It has some of the attributes of the long board, being wider and longer than a traditional style short board. It also has attributes of the short board because it is generally lighter and more maneuverable. The fun board also has it's place, but is less popular than the traditional long board design or the short board.
There are die hard long boarders who only ride long boards and confirmed short boarders. There are also people like me who have ridden both styles over the years and prefer to own and ride both long and shorts according to the type of wave.
Surf boards can cost a lot for custom built boards or special signature models. A good new quality long board well designed and well built can cost from $800.00 to as much as $1500.00 or more. The higher quality short boards a bit less. For the beginner I recommend that after you have determined the type of surfing you want to do and the right style of board, then look for a reasonable used board to start with. You may find that as you learn and get better you will ding and scratch up your board. A good used long board in reasonable condition will cost anywhere from $300.00 to $600.00. A used short board will be a bit less expensive. The fun board styles are even less.
Choosing the right surfboard can make a lot of difference in your fun and your progress.
The quicker you are up, turning and riding waves the more likely you will bond with surfing and really have fun. The right surfboard can be a critical component for the beginning surfer.
Michael writes about many subjects including health and well being as well as water sports and outdoor activities. He has been writing and submitting articles online for years. Check out his website all about wetsuits, for cold water sports. Learn about the different, wetsuit brands.
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