Buying first surfboard vs renting, and board progression

[wearpants]

Recently started my surf journey with a friend teaching me on her foamie, but I'd now like to practice more frequently without the need for her and her board. Enter: renting or buying.

I'm wondering what a good option would be with renting or buying a board, and what typical board progression time looks like.
I don't want to be spending hundreds of dollars on a foam longboard that I'll swap out quickly for a smaller board, but on the flip side I don't want to sink money into renting a board if I'll need to be staying on it for a long time.

I feel like it comes down to how long I'll need to stay on the foam longboard for while learning the basics and whether buying is a worthy investment, but I have no reference for how long that may be! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(for reference, I'm currently looking at a Softlite CHOP STICK if purchasing. Any insight on this choice would also be appreciated )

Thanks!

[waikikikichan]

I don't want to be spending hundreds of dollars on a foam longboard that I'll swap out quickly for a smaller board, but on the flip side I don't want to sink money into renting a board if I'll need to be staying on it for a long time.

I feel like it comes down to how long I'll need to stay on the foam longboard for while learning the basics and whether buying is a worthy investment, but I have no reference for how long that may be!

Why don't you ask you friend how long he/she took to progress down to a shorter board. IMO, it'll take most beginners a full 2 years to learn the basics and getting the paddling technique, speed and strength down before you can move down in size.

1) what size board does your friend let you borrow ?

2) Are you catching "green" waves and doing turn ups and turn downs ?

3) What size Soflite Chop stick are you interested in ? Since they have sizing from 6 feet to 9 feet.

[wearpants]

She started when she was quite young, so started on a foamie shortboard. I've asked her my question, but as she's never dealt with it she's unsure!
I feel like I should have noted that I swam competitively for 10years, and while my swim-strength isn't what it used to be, I'm still a strong swimmer and paddle well. Definitely room to improve, but food for thought.

1) Her foam board was the same shortboard she learnt on, at about 6ft. Was definitely a struggle learning to pop-up on, and is more to the reason I want to buy/rent a longer board to continue.

2) Not that far at all yet, I'm only riding broken waves to the shore.

3) Probably the 8ft (70L) board, but I think with extra effort the 7ft6 (59L) board could work for me as well.

[jaffa1949]

Just short answer, it is really hard to think what you need when you don‘know!
At this stage you are a wash ashore surfer, your swimming skills will help marginally!
You don‘t tell us your weight or height!
Short ain‘t necessarily better , catch enough waves to ride is the name of the game, being able to catch waves easily, turn ride across the wave backhand and forehand making adjusting turns and being able to generate speed.

Speed a little money renting a few boards in the range you might be thinking about, base your purchase of your first board on what your experiences tell you!

Going short is a myth for beginners, staying for a while on a board you find suitable teaches both board and wave skills floundering between boards in deluded hope doesn‘t.
Learning is a longer journey than beginners expect