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Summer will be here in just months, so get yourself ready. And you know that the summer season involves a lot of fun and outdoor activities. This is the best season to savor hiking trails, cycling, camping, and go to the beach to bask under the sun. In relation to the beach, you can also try surfing. Because riding the waves is such a fun activity. Of course, you will need to have one of the best surfboards to learn on and do some basic tricks.
So, if you are a beginner and you consider buying your ideal surfboards to learn more, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to look at some of the best surfboards. In addition to that, we also have included buying guides and tips to make your newfound surfing interest worthwhile and fun.
Choosing the right surfing boards to learn on
Now that you are really into surfing and decided that you are going to buy your first surfboard for your surfing lessons, first things first, you need to choose the right surfboard in order as if it’s your best weapon. But choosing the “right” one for you is never been easy for a beginner. With over 400 different types of surfboards out there, you can’t help but ponder, what really is the right one for me?
Riding the waves is cool very cool to imagine but choosing your first surfboard can be overwhelming. Good thing we have listed some of the useful tips just to give you some insights and narrow down your selection process. And here are some of them.
Consider the buoyancy level
As a beginner surfer, you will need a surfboard with high volume. It’s important to know that your goal is to catch as many waves as you can. Because as a newbie surfer, the more you catch waves, the quicker your progress will be. This is where the level of volume comes into play. Because if you have more volume, it will be easy for you to practice and eventually ride the waves effortlessly.
Just keep in mind, the thicker your board is, the easier your balance will be. Thicker boards usually appear on surface water quicker and these surfing boards are great when you are a newbie. That said, the volume will greatly affect the buoyancy level of the surfing board.
So, pay attention to this factor for your newly found surfing hobby. Also, the volume of your surfing board will solely depend on weight. You can ask your local surfing store to get an accurate measurement based on your weight to get the appropriate volume level for your ideal surfing board.
Get advice from experienced surfers
Getting pieces of advice from different experienced surfer is the most invaluable lesson you can get from beside your instructor in your surfing lessons. It would be great if you have some experienced surfers that you know and get to teach you based on their experience and it’s completely free and an added insight to help you progress on your surfing skills.
Besides giving you some of their best tips and tricks, you can seek help from them if you are in the selection process of picking your first surfboards to learn on. This will also give you the leverage to learn surfing much easier and guarantee that you will have the best surfing experience from being a beginner level up to an advanced level.
If ever you know someone who surfs, don’t waste the opportunity to get help from them be it tips, tricks, techniques, and even buying your first surfing board.
The surfboard nose shapes matters
The surfboard’s nose shape is not just for aesthetic purposes but with additional benefits. Just like the car’s spoiler which affects the car’s aerodynamic, in the surfboards, it has something to do with the performance. This, in particular, are the maneuverability and how it can cut through the waves.
There are many variations when it comes to the surfboard’s shape and among them are these two main designs.
Pointed Nose
A pointed nose decreases the lift and buoyancy. This will also lessen the paddle speed and it’s likely to lower the speed. That said, it will be easier to hold on to a full trial. In addition to it, pointed noise makes it easy to maneuver and become responsive because there’s less swing mass. In a nutshell, pointed noise reduces the drag and lowers the swing height.
Rounded Nose
A rounded nose has more lift and buoyancy compared to a pointed nose design. This means that it is much easier for you to get up forward on the surfboard. In addition, you can easily execute a nose ride with this type of surfboard. A rounded nose increases the paddling speed.
Types of surfboards to learn on
As this article previously mentioned, there are lots of surfboard types, and each of those models has its advantages and disadvantages. Some are great for big waves while others are intended for small waves. There are also designed for beginners, intermediate, up to professional. Below are the common types of surfboards which you can find almost in any sports shop.
Foam Board
Foam boards are among the ideal candidate for all beginners. It’s basically the most affordable surfboard you can get. Most surfing instructors will recommend this board because it’s soft which is safe if ever you get hit by your surfboard. The usual length of foam boards is 7 to 9 feet. With this type of foam board, it’s much easier for you to catch mos waves.
That’s why foam boards are ideal for people who are new to surfing.
But, foam surfboards will not be the best option for a long period of time. Because there are some downsides, some of them are, not easy to paddle on bigger surfs, it’s heavy, and not great if you want to surf high waves. All in all, this is still among the Surfboards to learn on.
Mini-mal Surfboards
Mini-mal is great because of its lightweight feature which allows you to carry it around without straining your shoulder. The usual length of surfboards ranges from 7 feet to 8 feet. Paddling this board is easier especially in bigger surfs. If you want speed and enhance your paddle fitness, this should be your best option.
Minim-mal surfboards are great for lighter kids, women, and kids.
Although, there are some disadvantages such as they are slower compared to smaller boards, they are usually hard, and it’s a little hard to catch waves here than longboards or foam surfboards. That said, these are among the best surfboards to learn.
Epoxy or Fiberglass Surfboard
Epoxy or Fiberglass Surfboard is among the favorite type of boards of all levels. You probably recognize this surfboard because they are extremely popular. This type of surfboard is great if you want to learn some moves such as cross stepping, hanging 5, etc.
It’s also easy to maneuver and faster when using the epoxy or fiberglass surfboard. In addition to that, most of the resale value of this board is great in case you want to sell some of these.
Another perfect selection for people who never experienced surfing before. The fact that this is great for surfing lessons and it’s easy to learn most of the surfing fundamentals with this kind of surfing board. Moreover, most people love the feel and glide of the fiberglass surfboard. Who knows, you can kickstart your surfing career if you get used to this.
But, there are still downsides to this surfboard. Among those are, it’s definitely long considering the length is 8ft long and above. Moreover, this seems pretty hard if you want to catch some waves compared to foam surfboards. Also, most airlines will not accept these because of their length.
Short Surfboards
Similar to mini-mal, they are much easier to maneuver and very light. This means you can also carry these around without straining your arm. They are great if you want to duck dive the waves while you are paddling out. This is also an excellent option if you are taking an airline flight because they are small to be able to consider in most airlines.
That said, short surfboards are great for experienced surfers and beginners who are progressing quickly. Although it’s not entirely wrong if you really want a shortboard given if you have lighter weight, but expect that you will struggle a lot when learning the basics.
Furthermore, the most downside with this is the difficulty of learning the basics of surfing for beginners. In addition to that, beginners might only catch few waves. Short surfboards can be unstable even in small waves. That’s why you will need some luck and more time to get used to this type of surfboard.
Fun Shapes
This type of surfboard is just a smaller version of a long surfboard. Most of this has fins and thrusters options. The advantage of this is it’s easier to carry like mini-mal and short surfboard and lighter to carry compared to long surfboards and foam surfboards. This is easy to much easier to paddle out particularly if the surf is bigger. You easily put this in most cars. Fun shapes also gained wide popularity among surfers regardless of level because this has good resale value.
Even though it’s lightweight and easy to carry around, for a beginner, it’s difficult to progress in this kind of surfing board. Fun shapes might catch fewer waves and you will have a shorter span of rides compared to the ones listed above. Although these are types of surfboards where you can surf in any conditions.
There are quite downsides to this fun shape. It’s difficult to learn from this board than on a long surfing board. Fun shapes don’t offer much buoyancy and it is harder for beginner surfers to catch waves with this one. That said, this kind of surfing board may not be suitable for beginners or people who never used a surfing board before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 7ft surfboard good for beginners?
The most common surfboard that beginners should use is an 8 or 9-foot surfboard. Although there are some instances that you will need to use the 7 feet. If you are experienced in other board sports such as snowboarding or wakeboarding, you will get a good grip with 7 feet size surfboard which is considered a shortboard.
Also, people who have lighter built should prefer 7 feet surfboard and you can easily get used to it given your weight and built for it. These type of Surfboards are better to learn on.
Is a short surfboard board suitable for a beginner?
Short surfboards may not be an ideal surfing board for beginners or people who haven’t touch any surfing boards. Some might suggest that it’s good to at least begin with a fun board or a longboard just to get used to the basics of surfing.
Although there is no definitive rule as to what really should a beginner should pick when it comes to a surfboard, you can still try to pick it up if you really want it. But, expect that you will have more time and difficulties in learning while using this.
Are long surfboards ideal for beginners?
Absolutely! Although most of the listed above are great for beginners. Most experienced surfers and instructors will probably tell you that long surfboards are a great start for learning surfing. That said, longboards have more buoyance and have a great balance which is crucial to learn. Also, these boards are easy in paddling out and in catching waves.
Final Thoughts
With that in mind, don’t be afraid to learn something especially this coming summer. You must grab the opportunity and learning something, particularly surfing. Also, it’s cool to picture yourself riding along with the waves and even cutting through the waves of the ocean. But first and foremost, you need to learn some of the fundamentals just to completely turn that wonderful picture into reality.
Above all, before you take your surfing lessons, it’s important to know your surfboard well especially if you are going to consider buying one. After all, these are the best surfboards to learn on, and reading this will definitely increase your knowledge in surfing.
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