How to choose the best surfboard for your level
Whether it's time to get your very first board or if you want to expand your quiver with a new beauty, knowing which board to choose is important. This guide will help you to understand the surfboard size and volume, which type of surfboards to choose between and everything else you need to know to choose a surfboard for every level.
There are countless boards to choose between, whether you order one online, go to your local surf shop or buy a custom board directly from a shaper. Many advanced surfers have a good knowledge of which boards to get, while it can be a trickier process for beginners.
When picking a surfboard there are many factors that come into play and a bunch of questions may pop up. What size? Which type? And what about volume?
Let’s dive into that!
What you need to know when choosing a surfboard
There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a board that's right for you. Here are four questions you should ask yourself to know which board to choose:
Question 1: What is your skill level?
It’s important that you choose a board that isn't too hard for you. So, which is your current surfing level? Beginner, intermediate or advanced? If you're not sure then you can ask an experienced friend or surf coach to watch you catch some waves and give their opinion. Put your ego to the side here, you don't want to buy a board that's too hard and just ends up collecting dust in your quiver.
Question 2: What are your height and weight?
These are key factors in determining your board's size and volume, but we'll get back to that further down the post.
Question 3: What is your fitness level?
As you know, surfing is a physically challenging sport and requires a lot from the surfer. If your fitness level is on the weaker side, then a board with more volume will help to make the paddling easier. As you get stronger at paddling, you can advance to a smaller board.
Question 4: Which wave types do you want to catch?
What types of waves you want to surf should be taken into consideration when you choose aboard. What conditions do you enjoy surfing in? Relaxed cruising or fast rides? Bigger or smaller waves? Unfortunately, the perfect all-waves-and-condition-surfboard doesn't exist.
Thus, as you progress and want to surf different styles it could be a good idea to build a quiver with different boards.