Surfboard Buying Guide

Nothing is more important to the new surfer than choosing their first board. Those thin, narrow rockets the big names are riding sure look exciting, but they are a disaster for surfers learning initial techniques. Therefore, keep these tips in mind when choosing your first surfboard.

Your First Surfboard Should Be Cheap

While learning how to surf, you’re most likely going to ding and scratch a board if you really putting it to good use – so don’t spend too much cash. A €700 surfboard will ding as easy as a €300 surfboard. It’s not about looks, so ignore this initially.

If you purchase a second hand board be aware that dings which show foam or any removal of lamination should be avoided. Therefore unless you are buying a good quality second hand board we always recommend buying new. The Sportsway surfboards are durable and built to last.

Your First Surfboard Should Be Big And Thick

All the cool guys and girls have small, narrow surfboards, right? So what! You’re not cool yet, you’re still learning! Get a board that will give flotation and allow for easy paddling – it’ll make learning easier.

A good size board for a beginner surfer would be around 7/8 feet long and 19-21 inches wide and at least 2-3 inches thick. This all depends on your size, so be sure you can comfortably carry and wield the surfboard in the water. Just make sure your surfboard stands at least a foot taller than you.

Generally, an 8 – 10 stone surfer should look towards a 7 foot board. After this, the 8ft board is best suited. The Sportsway 8ft foam boards support surfers up to a weight of 100kg.

Don’t Worry About Surfboard Shape

Don’t worry about the tail shape or number of fins on your surfboard.

These parts of a surfboard don’t matter for the time being. For the first 3-6 months, you really shouldn’t worry about turning or doing manoeuvres, so whether your surfboard is a swallow tail, pintail or only has one fin is really pointless.

For the record, 3-fin boards are the easiest to turn and the most functional fin set up for the advanced and intermediate surfer.

Final Thoughts…

These are the most basic rules for choosing your first surfboard. It’s always best to ask someone who can help, and all of the staff at Sportsway are fully trained and ready to help with any queries. This is why we always recommend calling and having a chat with us – we have a large range of boards and can guide you through which boards would suit you best.