What you should know when you learn to surf – we answer the 5 most common questions
How long does it take to learn to surf? What size waves are good for beginner surfers? And what does a board cost? We answer five of the most commonly asked questions beginners may have when they are starting to surf!
If you are new to surfing, you probably have a ton of questions about it. That’s the reason you clicked on this post, right? Well, you’re not alone! Most beginner surfers ask the same questions as they learn to surf, here we answer five of the most common ones.
We recommend you to check out this post about things to know as a beginner surfer and this post where we give 20 tips for learning to surf. Check them out to get a wider understanding of surfing for beginners.
Question 1: What kind of board should you use as a beginner?
As a beginner you want a board with a lot of volume, this will help you to float in the water and make the paddling and catching waves easier. Foam surfboards, called foamies, are perfect boards to use when you start surfing. A board between 8 and 9 feet is normally good for beginners. When you, later on, advance to an intermediate surfer you can switch out your foamie to a funboard.
However, don’t try to advance too quickly. You should stay on a bigger board until you really feel ready to level up.
Some of the main factors to consider when picking a board is your surfing style and level. The basic information you should give your surf instructor or the crew member in the surf shop are:
Your height
Your weight
Your skill level
Your fitness level
How often you’re going to surf
What kind of waves do you want to catch
The best advice we can give you before getting a beginner's board is to ask the experts, your coach or the crew at the surf shop. Again, stay humble about your level and get a board that isn’t too advanced for you. It's a good idea to try out different boards before you decide which one to buy. Check out this post for more tips on how to choose the best board for your level.
It may be tempting to buy one of the shortboards that you see in the surf shops, but you’re simply not there just yet. They may look cool, but they don’t contain enough volume for beginners and will make your time in the waves more difficult than it needs to be.
Be patient on the beginner board and you'll get there in time!