Comments on: 2 – Getting The Right Surfboard

By: R

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:57:10 +0000

Good information! Board advice is spot on (though I might steer a beginner towards an epoxy longboard over standard construction – re: longevity – if they get hooked, they’ll get another board, have a trusty back up, and the beginning of a quiver!)

As a 30yr SoCal vet, I do have 3 additions:
1. Learn lineup etiquette. (SAFETY & manners)
2. Take an experienced surfer / get lessons.
3. Learn lineup etiquette.

When a beginner shows that they understand lineup etiquette (trust me, experienced surfers KNOW you’re a beginner) it goes A LONG WAY towards acceptance at any break. My best bud’s daughter recently apologized for getting in the way of a really good local while we were out. His response was to tell her to paddle for any wave she saw him on. He was actually screaming “Paddle, paddle, PADDLE!!!” to her every time she was around him!

Learn your manners.
Following that – HAVE FUN!
http://www.surfinghandbook.com/knowledge/surfing-etiquette/

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:27:28 +0000

Hi,
I am a 5’11″ girl, not much in the muscle department and get injured easily due to a medical condition. i live in new zealand so i’m not sure how this affects the board type i should go for. i just had my first surf lesson this weekend and want to start it up properly. I was wondering if i should start off with a foam board but the one i was learning on was very heavy and also i don’t wanna get laughed at by the more experienced surfers. any ideas on what i should go for?

By: drawers

drawers — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:21:05 +0000

Nuts. If you want to learn, guys go over 8′, most girls between 7’6″ and 8 will do. It’s all about paddling. Longboarding is an entirely different art- they are weapons in the water under the wrong feet. Thrusters only. Don’t bother with the foamies, and blue surfboards and mctavish and walden (all that global surf industries) all have really thin glass jobs and ding easily. For the teen boys, nice shiny surfboards look cool but you’ll never stand up on one.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:58:34 +0000

I’m 10 and would love to try surfing. Great information! I can’t wait to give it a try. But what size board would I use? I’m quite small form my age. Almost the smallest in my grade! I weight about 60 pounds and I’m 4 foot 5. Thanks

By: lola

lola — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:19:41 +0000

hey im 5’6 and weigh about 130. i took a 2 day surf camp and was catching waves no problem on a 7’8 foam board. i really want to get into surfing and start competing eventually. so what size would you recomend if i want to go shorter so i can duck dive but still catch waves. also should i stay with the foam boards or try something else?

Thanks!

By: josh

josh — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:35:15 +0000

Hi, im a beginner and looking at getting a board. I did 3 days at a surf camp but was catching waves in the first 10 mins, we were using 7″8 foam boards. my question is what sort of board should i look at because the boards we were on i felt were huge, slow and didn’t turn well and i wanted to actually ride along a face(plus i got sick of only catching waves straight to shore) cheers

By: John

John — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 01:16:09 +0000

Romi,
I would go a little bit smaller than a 7,8. With your size in the big surf it will be very difficult to get to the lineup. Maybe try a 7,2 or 7,4. The ride is almost the same and it will be easier to duck dive. It’ll be harder to duck dive on a fun board than a short board, but you will still be able to get under the wave.

By: FroekenDK

FroekenDK — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:12:14 +0000

Hi, I’ve already learned to catch smaller waves on a beginner board (foamie).

I’m feeling this is the time to get my own board and dedicate some more time to surfing. I was thinking of getting a funboard, even though I’ve heard I’ll be a beginner again

My questions is the size. I’m 5″8 girl and weigh 144 lbs – what size of a funboard am I looking at?

Thanks!

By: RicJorge

RicJorge — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:22:10 +0000

Awesome site! From the beginner’s guide to all the surf tips (especially the one about looking down the line) this site is awesome. Thanks a lot for your work.

Just thought I would give some info as I am a beginner surfer and there are a lot of questions here about boards. I have been surfing about 5 days a week for just over 6 months now. I first bought a soft board simply because it was $100, but i quickly outgrew it and started using one of my friends’ 8ft Blue Funboard. I’m 5’7 130lbs and decently athletic. This board is relatively cheap to buy online and is a good board to grow on. The difference between this board and my soft board are night and day, much more responsive. I wouldn’t waste my time with a soft board if your going to take surfing seriously. After continually borrowing my buddy’s board I decided it was time to get my own. I found a used but in mint condition 7’6 McTavish Carver. Wow, its a great board! My friend has used it and says it maneuvers almost like a shortboard. That being said I can see how this board can be a little harder to learn on than the Blue Funboard simply because it is more responsive and makes tighter turns. However, if you are taking surfing seriously and are decently athletic I highly recommend it. It is a bit pricey new ($600-800) but you will never outgrow this board, its great fun for small days.

I know I’m a beginner and don’t have years of experience under my board but I have gone through the same process as many of you have in regards to finding the right board. I’ve had the chance to try a few other boards (mostly long boards) and I am glad I came across the Carver, huge wave count and very maneuverable compared to similar boards I have tried. Also, both Blue Funboards and McTavish Carver’s come in bigger and smaller sizes so there are options.
Hope this helps

By: Ted602

Ted602 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:17:04 +0000

I bought a Teedeekay 8’6″ longboard used for $350, near perfect condition, I’m 6’2″ 165lbs. It’s been great so far, gotten a lot of great rides, i’m a beginner, first board. I’ve just been questioning whether it is too short? the salesman assured me that it will give me more control in terms of turning etc, but do you feel I may miss out on something in terms of riding the nose or catching waves? I’ve heard you can have your nose go underwater while catching a wave which has only really happend once to me. Ive gotten pretty far on the nose but not hang 10, im hoping because of my low skill level. Any thoughts? Great info thank you