Surfing Waves

Hey guys. I'm a beginner surfer, at the level that I can regularly catch waves and stand up fine. Obviously got techniques to work on, but I'm looking to buy a board of my own.

I'm 6 ft 2 and weigh around 80kg, so I'm not very heavy and quite tall.

Just wondering if anyone can provide any info on what length and design board I should start with until I get more experienced.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

Hi GJ, and welcome, a genuine beginner's question so I put your question among the surfboard advice questions, there is a lot of information here that will help you !
Have a good read!

What size, make and model of board that you're riding that "can regularly catch waves and stand up fine" on ? Is it a soft board ? Is it 8, 9, 10 feet ?

waikikikichan wrote:What size, make and model of board that you're riding that "can regularly catch waves and stand up fine" on ? Is it a soft board ? Is it 8, 9, 10 feet ?

I'm not even 100% sure, I used the same one for a week at an activity centre in Newquay, Cornwall.

It was clearly a very basic and foamy beginner board, I'd guess it was around 9 ft or so..

As someone who is 6’3 and 83kg, let me warn you that we are both quite heavy as surfers go! Well, there are plenty of surfers heavier than us of course, but those 6ft chip boards are not designed for us types

Is there any reason you would be against the usual recommendation for a beginner level surfer, namely a 9ft or so longboard?

dtc wrote:As someone who is 6’3 and 83kg, let me warn you that we are both quite heavy as surfers go! Well, there are plenty of surfers heavier than us of course, but those 6ft chip boards are not designed for us types

Is there any reason you would be against the usual recommendation for a beginner level surfer, namely a 9ft or so longboard?

That's not surprising, I assumed that the smaller boards would be a lot harder to learn on, due to height and ability level!

I'm not against any suggestions or advice; if that's the kind of board I would need that suits me best to learn with, then I'd have no issue with any kind

Most places around here hire out 8ft swellies (yellow and blue foam boards) I learnt on a 9'2 which would do you well especially this time of year as it has been fairly flat for a good few weeks now but can handle it when it eventually gets bigger.

The usual (and almost always correct) advice for a beginner level surfer is a long board that is around 9ft long, 22 inches wide and (given your size) 2 5/8 thick. You can go very slightly smaller on length and width, but can also go bigger (probably wouldnt go past 9'6); dont go thinner.

This provides you with a board that is easier to paddle, easier to catch waves and has a big margin for error (pop up speed and timing, foot placement etc). You can't duck dive it, but you wont be able to surf a board you can duck dive anyway. So this maximises your time in the water (before you get exhausted) and your ability to catch waves. If you cant catch waves, you know its you not the board (which is fine, of course you need to develop the skills)

The above measurements are a pretty standard longboard length so there are many many options. As to materials, epoxy is tougher so perhaps better for a beginner, but a standard PU is perfectly fine ( http://www.boardcave.com/the-surfers-co ... e-is-best/ ). Second hand is ideal, if you can find one. Three fins rather than a single fin; dont go for a board that is designed as a nose rider. Just a regular all round longboard is what you want.

Dont stress too much about your first board. Its a learning board, it will get dinged, it may not be a board you keep for more than a year (depending on how often you surf); its a board for you to get some skills and start learning what works and doesnt work for you in terms of surf equipment. Just make sure its big enough and in good condition.