What Is A Good Board To Get For Someone Learning To Surf?

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 10:52 am

Im a 5′10 female and I want to learn to surf. What board should I be looking for? What literature can I pick up to help me?

Category: Learn to Surf

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10 Responses to “What Is A Good Board To Get For Someone Learning To Surf?”

  1. John F Says:
    June 10th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Surfing is an ocean sport, that should only be practiced by persons who are already competent ocean swimmers. Swimming in a pool is neat, but it’s not ocean swimming, with undertows, rip tides and sometimes BIG waves. I have seen lots of great pool swimmers get rescued. So, I hope you are already at home in the ocean.
    Lessons are the best way to start, unless you are a young adult or adolescent with surfing pals who can teach you. If you have been borrowing your pal’s board, get him to help you along. You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up don’t want to drown you), how to paddle and take off on a wave, and how to ride a wave. There are already way too many dangerous people in the water. A danger to themselves and other surfers. Don’t join their ranks.
    Go to a real surf shop. The folks there can hook you up with lessons, and even rent you a board to learn on.). Just work on your basics, and after you feel good, think about buying a board, but don’t rush into anything. And, please don’t waste your time (or money) buying something on line. Don’t be in a rush to buy a board! TRY before you BUY. Rent a variety of types of surfboards, or borrow them from your friends who surf. A surfboard is a big investment.
    Be careful of what you read here on line. After I found this site, I figured that I could answer a few questions, and spread the ‘good news’ of surfing. Get your REAL advice from a surf shop. However, if they think you are just a ‘kook’ tourist out to rent a board, you won’t necessarily get the best attention.
    Most people learn best on long boards, although I have seen lots of surfers start on a short board and master it. In the long run, there are NO RULES on what type of board you have to learn on. Long boards are ideal for learners. There are also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals and some hybrids. That is why instructors use long boards or fun boards (or even softtops).
    If you are fairly athletic, after a couple lessons (either formal or from pals who surf), you should be able get a good grasp on the basics. I remember Although surfing is extremely different for other board sports (you have to paddle out, paddle to catch waves etc.), most of the board sports (snow, skate, indo) that improve balance are good supplemental workouts. It is starting to get COLD where I live. I don’t have a clue where you live, you didn’t tell us.. You might be best just getting into condition, with winter time coming.
    THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. I have been surfing since 1966 and I get my surfboard advice at good local shops at the places where I surf. The pros there can give you the right answers!!
    Good luck. Once you try surfing (and learn the ‘right way’) you’ll have fun for life.

  2. Chris F Says:
    June 10th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Well, if transportation isn’t a problem, I would go for something in the 9-10 foot range. Bigger boards are much more stable, and as a beginner you should be practicing in small waves and its easier to catch small waves with a small board (its sometimes impossible to catch small waves with a short board). Its also much easier to stand up!
    If transportation is an issue, i would just go as close to 9 foot as possible. I answer this as someone who has been learning for a few months. I was trying to learn on a 7′6 board and it was just too difficult!
    Also the wider and thicker the better . . .
    And if your out there and see a big wave coming, leave it for the more experienced crowd for now :O I had an intense wipeout on a small day just last week when a big set came in, luckily I didn’t catch any coral

  3. YoMutha Says:
    June 10th, 2009 at 11:57 pm

    Yup, big as you can get. Foam is also helpful for stability and also for safety. It’s also a good idea to get a cheap one as it’s likely that you’ll progress really quickly on it.
    When you’re capable of standing up quickly and riding the unbroken part of the wave, you’re next step to progress furthur is to get a fibreglass shortboard, preferably 6′8 and above as the transition from a longboard to a shortboard is very hard (make sure the board has thick rails as this will help with catching waves). Once you find the board a bit slow and boring, try out a shorter shortboard and go rip!
    Of course, you can just ignore all of this and just surf with a longboard, no problem with that. It’s all about having fun!
    I’m not sure if they have it in America, but Nat Youngs guide to surfing or Taj Burrows Book of Hot surfing really helped me out. Good luck!

  4. Ed Atun Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 12:26 am

    The problem in learning to surf is to “catch” the wave. If the board is too short, you paddle and paddle but you don’t get going fast enuf to catch the wave. On a long board, you may only have to paddle 2 strokes and you are surfing. Get the absolute longest board you can get. Make it wide, too.
    Once you get the hang of catching every wave, you won’t need to paddle so long and so hard. That is when you go to a medium board. Make it wide so you float high in the water.
    There are some fun magazines but none will really help you. Ask the other surfers what helped them in the beginning..

  5. Matt B Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 6:11 am

    as for board, go to a local shop and ask them. your weight would be important factor, as are the size of waves you’ll surf, the type of waves, the frequency you’ll surf, etc.
    as for literature, there’s a really good book (don’t laugh!) I read at barnes and nobles called like “surfing for girls” or something. its in the sports section.
    out of all the surfing books i’ve read it was actually the best and had the best explanations, which is great if you don’t really have a whole lot of buddies that are going to teach or help you along.

  6. sqiudhea Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 9:06 am

    First I would recommend getting into shape because surfing uses very specific muscles you may not be using now.
    You need to do push-ups and bench presses to build your chest muscles, (pecs), so you can push yourself up to stand.
    Next you need to do pull-ups or lat pull-downs to work the muscles along your sides, (lats), that you will use to paddle.
    A little running will build your cardio and legs muscles.
    Then I would take a couple of lessons to get the basics down.
    After that it’s just going to take time in the water.
    I always recommend that beginners get a longboard, (at least 9′ long), as these are the easiest to catch waves with and balance on to stand up.
    And finally this site has a great article called ‘Learn How to Surf in One Day’ that I think is terrific:http://www.BeachTrading.com
    Good luck and have fun!! :-)

  7. Anonymous Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 9:39 am

    A fun board (fat and round) . . . around 8 feet. For extra measure get something with three fins on that fat board so you don’t slide when you start learning how to ride the face, but you’ll probably be riding white water. You could get a regular long board, but they can be harder to crank around out in the water.
    Something like these boards . . .

  8. The Surfboard Man Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 11:01 am

    If you are new to surfing check out my site:http://www.thesurfboardman.com/

  9. vac33com Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Go buy (or rent) a soft top ask some of the guys who work in the surf shop what size would be good for you…. Lessons would not hurt XD!

  10. Bobatron Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Get a cheap spongy long board (Often called a doyle). They are bouyant, slow, stable, and tons of fun.