Surfboards

Whether you are a total novice or an experienced surfer it can be overwhelming when you go to purchase a new surfboard. Choices are endless and with the ever increasing level of technology it can be an intimidating task finding the right one for you. So where do you start?

First off there are certain things you need to take into consideration when you are choosing a surfboard and here are the most important:

What is your level of experience?

How experienced you are will dictate the type and style of board that you will be most comfortable with. Early on when you are starting out and surfing is something you want to have fun with, it is better to choose a board that is wider and longer. Wider and longer boards offer more stability and make it easier for someone at the beginning of the learning curve to make the most of each wave - building confidence and experience in control. Beginners might be better starting with a board that is around 9ft long even though they are slower and harder to maneuver from side to side. A larger board provides more buoyancy.

If you are an accomplished surfer you will probably want to check out the shorter, more narrow boards. You will more than likely want to go with a board that is between 5'6" and 7', with a width of 16"-19". These kind of boards are faster, high performance boards that pivot much more easily but require a good level of skill to use.

If you are somewhere between these two extremes there is another type of board you can look at. These are called "fun boards" or "mini mals" and offer a better chance at "catching the wave" whether it is in a good surf or a small surf and they also make it easy to paddle. They handle like a short board with maneuverability but catch the waves like a long board.

What is your height and weight?

This is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration when choosing a surfboard. If you are 6'5" tall and weigh 250lbs, you are not going to choose the 5'6" board with a width of 16". Younger people, pre -teens, are going to want a board that offers stability and buoyancy while they are learning, to enable them to start out in the smaller surf and ride through the whitewater, catching a wave earlier on.

As a general guide, the wider and longer the board the easier it is going to be to stand up. Larger boards have more stability and the thicker the board is the more buoyancy it will provide. However you don't want a board that is too large for you as it will make it difficult in the initial stages of paddling past the white water.

Browse our surf shop selection of surfboards by experience level:

Beginner - Long board
Intermediate level - Fun board
Advanced level - Short board

You can find a large selection of surfboards in our girls surf shop.

Learn more about choosing a surfboard.