Surfboards! The most important bit of kit of any surfer. A tool that, without being obtained by the user, will render any poor sod in the water into a useless clump of atoms, taking the form of a surfboardless surfer, bobbing around in the lineup like a shit that just won’t flush. In an attempt to prevent you from falling into the same category as the aforementioned individual, I have compiled a few different beginner surfboard options that I think you could benefit from owning, and use to begin your journey in becoming the new Kelly Slater… Or just to have some fun with in the waves and not have to use those humongous, slow, yellow Swell boards and risk looking like a complete novice (trust me, I’ve been there).
So, you’ve recently joined the club and you want all the gear, but just hold up. There’s a few things you should know before you throw yourself into the breakers and imitate your favorite point break scenes…
1. It’s probably wise to surf with a friend on a lifeguarded beach if you’re new to the sport.
2. You might want to hire a board and see if you enjoy it before chucking hundreds of quid at your new deck.
3. Use Vaseline… surfing is no fun when your privates are on fire, (again trust me, I’ve been there… Goddamn wetsuits).
4. the front of the board is the nose, the sides are called the rails, the back is called the tail, the top is called the deck, the line down the middle is called the stringer, and the dangly thing at the back that wraps itself around your legs when you catch waves and makes you want to punch a dolphin, that’s the leash… Handy stuff.
5. Ignore anyone taking the piss out of you for being a newbie, they’re knobs. You’ve gotta start out somewhere.
Enough chat! Here are the best beginner surfboards you should look for, try for a novice surfer!
Longboards
These surfboards are the elite of smaller wave surfing. Longboards have an uncanny ability of catching small, almost nonexistent waves! This is due to having a very large volume which provides ample buoyancy for the surfer, this makes Longboards fantastic beginner surfboards and really provide you with a stable, big board to learn and progress on.
The Longboard surfboard is a brilliant board for progressing your skills on as they are used by people going from complete novices all the way up to intermediate and professional surfers, like Joel Tudor. And… They are my personal favourite style of board, so you should trust me when I say that the Longboard is a very good option for a beginner to advanced surfer and makes a fantastic beginner surfboard.
So what constitutes a longboard surfboard then? Usually, a longboard is a single or tri-finned surfboard with a length of 9 to 12 feet and a big round nose (the front of the board) to allow for full range of mobility across the deck (top) of the surfboard. A Malibu surfboard is a variation of the Longboard which allows the user to get up to the front quarter of the surfboard and ‘nose ride’, A trick that takes a long time to master and is well respected among surfers, and only really possible on Malibu Longboards.
What size should I get then? That all depends on your stature and what you plan to do with the board. If you’re a lanky bastard like me, You’ll probably be better off with a longer board. This is also true if you’re a heavier person as the added buoyancy will keep you stable, and the added volume will help you catch smaller waves. If you’re a smaller dude, you can still surf the bigger boards, but you’ve got more choice on being able to more easily surf smaller boards.
Longboards also paddle very quickly, this is due to their immense size and weight. The inertia caused when paddling helps the surfboard to glide through the water effortlessly! This is an especially useful aspect for catching waves as you tend to match the speed of the wave very quickly, making it easier to pop up to your feet!
There are 2 main breeds of longboard you can acquire. As mentioned earlier, you can get Malibu’s or “nose-rider’s”, which are built for riding on the nose (obviously). The nose rider style boards tend to be wide through the middle and nose, to allow the user on to the front third of the deck, or “the nose”. They tend to have a large single fin that is used to slow the board down in the water and provide more stability for board walking. Board walking is a trick performed by longboard surfers where you would pop up and cross step along the centre of the board, moving your weight towards the front in order to pick up speed (and look cool doing it).
High performance Longboards, which are built similarly to a shortboard, taking all the technology for great maneuverability and speed and placing it into a bigger board. These tend to be slightly slimmer, lighter and have either a tri or quad fin configuration, and are better for larger, faster and steeper wave types. These boards are built for speed and maneuverability and are definitely a good investment if you’re an experienced surfer, looking to get on some bigger waves.
As with most boards, you can get a soft top variation, but with the longboard I feel it’s not really necessary. The size and volume of the board provide ample buoyancy, however, a soft top might be a better option for a learner as you’ll be better off in the white water waves, the added buoyancy will give you an extra helping hand in catching waves!
I own a fantastic 9’2, single fin Malibu longboard made by a fantastic shaper called Graeme Bunt from Local hero surfboards, based in Wadebridge, Cornwall. Cannot recommend his work enough, take a look at his shapes on his website. I’ve owned it for 2 years and it’s a wave catching machine! And for that I have to say that a longboard surfboard would be a brilliant beginner surfboard just for the amount of waves you can catch, even when it’s tiny out in the lineup.
So where can I get one? Well, you’ll struggle finding any decent ones online, bar maybe EBay, but then again, you’ll be extremely lucky to find someone willing to send it to your address. In my opinion, you’re much better off going down to a surf shop and talking with the professionals, plus you’ll get to learn a bit more about the sport by looking at all the different board styles for sale.
Are longboards a good beginner surfboard? Yes, definitely! Just have a look round to find your perfect shape and size depending on your experience level and what you want to do with it!
Funboards
Funboards range from 7 to 9 feet in length, also known as mini Malibu’s. They take the shape of a smaller version of the classic longboard shape and allow for a very smooth, stable ride and lots of buoyancy. Fantastic for any beginner surfer looking for a nice, easy board to learn on. They are brilliant for most wave types, ranging from your sloppy white water waves that are ideal for learning on, all the way to your glassy, clean unbroken waves.
The ability to be so versatile in different wave conditions is a fantastic attribute to have because it means that this particular board can be used at different levels of progression. I mean, I learned on a 7’2 Osprey mini-mal and had it for 9 years, an absolute fucking workhorse! And the great thing about a mini-mal or funboard, is that it allows you to get comfortable in the water and learn all the basics which then gives you more of a choice when it comes to choosing your next board. I now surf a longboard, like I said earlier, but having the mini mal gave me the choice to upsize to a longboard or downsize to a shortboard or fish. A very handy bit of kit indeed.
So, would I advise buying a Mini-mal as your first beginner surfboard? Absolutely I would! But just hold up. There are a few different types of Mini-mal surfboards, each with their own features, advantages and disadvantages. So which one should you get?
Soft tops
The perfect beginner surfboard. Very low density and high buoyancy. This provides ample stability, so even the most clumsy bastard in the world (…me), can be steady and planted well on this board. The soft top is also a master of catching white water waves. You know whenever you’ve gone to the beach and you see a group of kids in colourful bibs, they are going to be on those big yellow swell boards, hogging the breakers… There’s a reason for that. They are the best conditions and boards for the complete novice and are well worth buying or hiring a board from a local surf shop.
I learned on a board very similar to the swell boards. A tri-fin Osprey foam mini-mal (7’2). It served me well, but didn’t really work as well towards the later years. Something about the previous 9 years of abuse hindered the performance in the water, but it did the job and gave me the tools to progress on to bigger boards. I can’t recommend it more, it was my pride and joy!Another aspect about soft tops are that they are practically indestructible… Unless you’re going out in 20ft swells, but for a beginner, I’d like to see you try.The best place to buy a soft top board then?
Hard tops
So, you’ve seen the soft top and thought, nah, I want a proper one. And trust me, I know the feeling. In my opinion, there is no better beginner surfboard than a BIC board. They are extremely durable, so even if you’re a “walking disaster area” like me, (a name kindly given to me by my friends and family), you’ll really struggle to damage this board.
The Bic boards are brilliant for a beginner, you can feel the power in the board as you pop up! But as the old saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. What do I mean by this..? Well, there are a few little things that you MUST know when you’re riding a hard top. Number one, you’ve gotta keep control of your board.
As you can imagine, getting Twatted in the temple by a big lump of fiberglass and sex wax will hurt, so to be mindful of your fellow surfers in the lineup, and the kids in the breakers, Don’t kick your board out from under you when you wipe out. It’s one thing hitting another individual with your board, it’s a whole different ball game when that same individual does the same to you… with his clenched fist.
Controlling the board on the wave is another trick to master, dodging people paddling to the lineup is a game very similar to bowling… Oh no wait, it’s the complete opposite, unless you’re a deranged psychopath who enjoys running over surfers, in which case, carry on pal! In all seriousness, a hard board can be a bit of a hazard in the water, so in an effort to keep you and your other waterborne brethren safe, make sure you can control your board in the waves.
Would I recommend a hard topped mini-mal as a beginner surfboard then? Yes I would, just be careful using it 😉
The pros of having a mini-malibu surfboard, especially a soft top, they make catching waves look easy, and in fact, make catching waves very easy. This is because their massive amount of buoyancy allows for the rider to catch anything from sloppy, broken waves, all the way up to clean, glassy, green waves.
Where’s the best place to buy a Mini-mal then Josh? Glad you asked, it al depends where you are. If you live relatively close to the coast or you are on holiday, I would definitely recommend going to a local surf shop and speaking to the staff, who really know what they are doing. On the other hand, If you’re just a beginner and you want a board right this second, there are loads on amazon.
My personal recommendation for a soft top Mini-mal beginner surfboard would have to be the Osprey foam surfboard. It’s a good all rounder beginner board that you can get 6 ft and 8 ft in length. It’s bright yellow, so there’s not a chance in hell you’re going to lose it. The board comes complete with three rubber fins, a leash, and summons Neptune, the Roman God of the sea, and appeases him to bring good surf to whomever owns the aforementioned board… That last one wasn’t entirely true, but it would be cool wouldn’t it? The prices range from £159.99 to £189.99, which is a pretty good price for a brand new board. With free delivery between 3-4 days, it’s a good beginner surfboard option, gets the Going coastal seal of approval!
If you’re after a hard topped mini-mal, again, go to a surf shop and speak to the staff about getting you your perfect size. If you’re lazy… Like me, there are a few decent options on Amazon and EBay, the hard toped Mini-mals are sightly more individual and take a bit more time to find your perfect beginner surfboard. The BIC surfboard is a very safe option to go for! Around £15.50 for delivery in the UK, they make for a good all round beginner surfboard for someone who wants it NOW! The impulse buyers dream.
Fish
Fish tail surfboards are pretty similar to Shortboards, but tend to be slightly wider and more fishy. There are quite a few different variations of the fish style of surfboards, all with one similar feature, they have a ‘swallow tail’ cut into the rear of the board. This ‘Vee’ is to allow for better control when the board is going in and out of turns, handy shit if you’re a clumsy bastard like me and slip off waves like a banana peel. It’s weird, it kinda looks like a fis… Never mind.
Fish are good for progressing from a bigger board down to a smaller board and is a good middle ground between mini Malibu and shortboard, in the sense that you can hone your skills on controlling a smaller board and help you to learn more tricks that would be nearly impossible on a bigger board.
So, they are a much better choice for a beginner surfboard than a shortboard, but would I recommend a fish as your first? I mean, I wouldn’t say it is the best choice, but it’s not impossible. If you’ve got plenty of patience and a spot with consistent good surf to practice on. You can learn on a fish, but you’d have a much better chance learning quicker and easier on a mini-mal or longboard, but more on those later.
What are the pro’s of having a Fish surfboard? They are very agile and quick, they make a good step from mini-mal to a smaller board on your progression to a shorter board, if that’s what you want to do. They are almost like having a very very very compact mini-mal due to their ability to catch and hold waves, a good bit of kit if you ask me!
Where should I get my fish then? well, avoid the chippy, Cod and Haddock don’t surf well, especially beer battered ones. Other than that, visit a local surf shop for the best size and speak to a professional, instead of relying on some stranger from the internet. Ideally for a Fish, you’ll want a board that is the correct size for your stature. In essence, the larger you are, the wider, longer and thicker your fish needs to be, and no, that is NOT what she said!
Alternatively, sites like Ebay are a good place to find old surfboards after a new home. The only downside to this is the fact that most are collection only, and the few that are delivery can cost you loads! …You don’t need both kidneys, right?
Shortboards.
You may have seen a few people down your local spot with a shortboard, absolutely ripping it up. While they may look fantastic and have some brilliant attributes, allowing surfers ample mobility to perform intricate tricks like cutbacks, floaters and airs, but don’t be fooled, these surfers have been honing their skills for years and almost certainly didn’t start off on a shortboard.
These surfboards are very difficult to master, especially if you haven’t found your sea legs yet. Shortboards range in sizes between 5 and 7 feet on average, their small size and volume make for a very unsteady and unstable ride. It is technically possible to learn to surf on a shortboard, but it’s going to take you ages and, lets face it, there’s nothing more infuriating than trying to catch a wave and failing, while everyone else round you catches them one after the other.
So what about foam shortboards? Yes, believe it or not there are soft top shortboards out there. They are created for beginner surfers to learn to catch waves. These differ from their fiberglass siblings by allowing more stability and increasing buoyancy. The only issue with this is there is a massive decrease in mobility, they’re a bit pointless and clunky, and I think you’re much better off looking at a larger boardlike a Mini-mal or even hybrid.
I suppose if you have your heart set on surfing a shortboard, you’ll be way better off starting off with a soft top as a beginner surfboard just to get used to catching waves with a shorter board and staying on your feet in the white water. Failing this, you should invest in a teacher to show you the ropes and make sure you don’t pick up any bad habits… Or snap your board out of pure rage and frustration when you miss wave after wave.
So you want a shortboard then eh? As with most boards, I would usually recommend going to a surf shop and speaking to a professional about the shape ans size you’re After. You can pick up some fairly cheap second hand boards in surf shops or on EBay. For soft top shortboard however, take a look either in a surf shop or on surfdome.com for a wide variety of foam shortboard designs.
Is a shortboard a good beginner surfboard then?… In my humble opinion, they’re better for intermediate to experienced surfers, I wouldn’t advise getting one as your first board. That being said, if you’ve got more patience, time and balls than I do, you may just get away with having a shortboard as your first deck. But generally you should avoid shortboards and maybe take a look at some of the other options, like the hybrid surfboard or fish.
Hybrids
Hybrid surfboards are a kind of Frankenstein mix of a shortboard and a fish. They have more width than a traditional shortboard and a small swallow tail cut into the rear of the board for stability and traction in bigger surf. They are a happy medium between the two and are a much better idea for someone who has their heart set on a smaller board! The goal of the hybrid surfboard is to have the speed and stability of a fish, and the performance and maneuverability of a shortboard. I actually recently bought a hybrid from the brilliant people from Aggie surf shop, in St Agnes, West Cornwall. It surfs fantastically, however I look like a right melon trying to get used to it, coming from my longboard!
This style of board is perfect for anyone looking do downsize from a mini-mal to a shortboard or fish. This is due to the fact that it literally a half step down from a mini-mal and will give you all the necessary tools for getting used to a smaller board. Perfect for intermediate surfers and surfers of a larger build. It is also a very good wave catcher, it is surfable in most conditions but requires a bit of skill and know- how on actually catching waves to master.
For complete beginners, you’ll probably find that the hybrid style surfboard is quite difficult to paddle and match speed with waves, this is due to it’s short size, the weight of the rider will create drag in the water (No, I’m not calling you fat!). This is one of the reasons I would always recommend a larger board for beginner surfers. To be completely honest, I don’t think the Hybrid style surfboard is all that bad as a beginner surfboard, but I think that you’ll have much more fun and a much easier time catching waves if you go for a longer board, like the mini-mals or longboards that I mentioned earlier…
If you truly have your heart set on the hybrid style as a beginner surfboard, the best place to grab one is to go to a surf shop and have a look around their selection of boards and try to find one that is the perfect size for you. I know I sound like a broken record but I genuinely think nothing can beat going into a board shop and talking to the pro’s. Generally you’re going to want a beginner surfboard to be between 6 inches to 1 foot taller than you are, that will give you enough stability and buoyancy to get used to surfing on those smaller boards.
At the end of the day, surfing is not for everyone, but you’ll never know if you never try it out, and who knows, it may just become one of your new passions. For me, surfing has become my pride and joy because of the complete sense of freedom that the sport provides. In my opinion, there are very few other activities that are so humbling, liberating and damn right addictive at the same time. It all stemmed from that Osprey soft top board my dad got for me when I was a kid, that fed into a deep desire to ride waves for the rest of my life. There is an old quote that reads, “you can’t control the waves, but you can learn to surf”, that would sum up the general feelings around surfing most people hold, but I’m not arsed about all that sappy shite, I just think it’s fun as f*ck!
I hope that helped you pick out your first surfboard and join us out in the lineup, see you at the beach!
Cheers for reading~ Josh
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