Learning to surf can be a scary and daunting sport to learn. You want to be sure you give yourself every advantage when trying to learn. Picking the right kind of a surfboard, especially if you are a beginner is crucial. You want one that will help you learn with ease help you be as safe as possible. Whether you are a adult or child learning for the first time having the proper equipment is essential. Below you will find some tips on choosing the best surfboard if you are a beginner and just learning. It is probably a good idea to avoid a short board or “Thruster” which is better suited for experienced surfers. These boards are not wide, long or thick enough for a novice surfer to catch waves properly.
Some of the best surfboard choices for the beginners are soft boards or “Foamies”. These are widely used when you go to a surf school or take surf lessons. These boards are ideal for a novice since they are made out of soft foam and are very buoyant. Their size is good for the beginner to be able to stand up in the waves, and the buoyancy helps a inexperienced surfer catch waves easier. Since they are softer they also help minimize any injuries if you are banged by them. When choosing a length a good rule of thumb is 8 feet for a adult, and 6 feet for a child. One note to remember once you become more advanced you will outgrow your beginner soft board and need to move on to a more advance board. The lines of soft boards below are all made of quality products and are durable, unlike some cheap foam boards you may run across.
Liquid Shredder – Element Series
Protected by a one year warranty these surfboards are ideal for novices, but are also suitable for more advanced surfers. Made with quality materials like a closed cell foam, aircraft quality vinyl covering and a full length Peruvian Hardwood Stringer. Their surfboards are all hand shaped and resemble shiny fiberglass surfboards but are softer.Here you can see the different sizes they come in ranging from 4ft 2 inches up to 10 feet. They can hold weights starting as low as 50 pounds for children and as much as 250 for adults. You will also see the prices of their line starting at $139 up to $439, and right now they are featuring free shipping.
Shredder Soft Boards –
This brand of soft surfboards is made with the beginner surfer in mind. This line of surfboards are perfect for a parent searching for a surfboard for their inexperienced child. They are less dangerous and expensive than traditional fiberglass or wood surfboards. Made also with a air craft grade vinyl cover, cell core and sturdy wooden stringer down the center of the surfboard. They are the perfect board for a novice, you can see more details about the surfboardshere. Their prices are a affordable $129 starting price going up $389.
Surface Surfboards –
They feature a few different models in their line of beginner surfboards. Their Surface “Water Angel” Surfboards are designed for girls, seen here. They offer a 6 foot for $169.95, and a 7 foot for $189.95. Made with a XEPE Deck, Dual Stringers and EPS Core they are quality boards for novices. The Surface Soft Top Surfboards are also made with the same quality materials. Seen here they come in 6 foot for $189.95 and 7 foot for $227.95. This line is still appropriate for beginners, but can be used by expert surfers. The next up in their surfboards is the Surface Elite. This board has the same quality materials as the Soft Top surfboards, but it also features interchangeable fins to accommodate any size surf or riding style. Here you can see the description, the 6 foot is $199.95, the 7 foot is $229.95.
I recommend for any beginner or novice to take some kind of surfing lessons or classes to help prepare you and help you learn proper technique. And when surfing and any other water sport please remember to use all safety precautions so you will stay safe while enjoying the water.
