Top 3 Best Surfboards Reviewed in 2025

Surf’s Up! You want to find a surfboard to get out and hang 10, get barreled and feel the force of nature in the process without getting totally rocked.

You need to start somewhere though with a board that meets your needs, style, and experience level. Maybe you’ve got some snowboarding and skating under your belt. If so, you’ve got a leg up.

Depending on the conditions in which you are planning on surfing, variables like wind direction and speed, swell height and the material and length of the board come into play when choosing the right surfboard.

Purchasing one can either make or break your surfing experience. It can make you fall in love with the activity or hate it for the rest of your life without wanting to give it a second chance.

To choose the right surfboard that will satisfy your needs and bring you joy, we have prepared a list of the best equipment available on the market at the moment.

Learn more about Surfboards here:

• How to Choose a Surfboard: 3 Specs to Consider
• How to Surf?  A Beginner’s Guide to Surfing
• What is the Most Durable Surfboard?
• Best Beginner Surfboards – What to Consider?

How to Choose a Surfboard: 3 Specs to Consider

No matter how skilled a surfer you are, it is important to know what to look for in a surfboard. Having the right board for your skill level is crucial to ensure you’re catching waves and improving with every session. The most important specs to look for in a surfboard are:

• Volume

• Material

• Length 

Surfboard Volume

Surfboard volume is really the basis for deciding what kind of board to get. The general rule for beginners is:

Your board volume should be at least 100% of your weight in kilograms. If you weigh 70 kilograms, your board should have a volume of at least 70 liters.

More advanced surfers may prefer a higher ratio.

I cannot overstate how important volume is. For a beginner, a high volume board will give you more buoyancy. This will allow you to paddle more easily. Easier paddling means you can stay in the water longer before you get tired, which means more time to improve. Greater volume also equals greater stability and balance, which is important once you finally catch that wave.

A more advanced surfer looking for a shorter board will appreciate less volume, because the lack of stability makes the board more responsive to small movements, making turns and cutbacks easier. Less volume also allows the surfer to duck dive (pushing the board under a breaking wave to get past it when paddling out), which gets you into the lineup in bigger surf faster.

You probably won’t be able to duck dive a high volume board, but you can still get outside by learning how to turtle (getting off the board, flipping it over, and clutching the rails for dear life while the wave breaks over you).

Learning how to surf is challenging enough as it is. Don’t make it harder by having a board with way less volume than you need.

Surfboard Material

The most common materials for surfboards are foam (soft tops), polyurethane, and epoxy. Polyurethane and epoxy boards have similar uses and performance. If you’re getting your board from a shaper, it is most likely going to be polyurethane, which is made up of polyurethane, fiberglass, and resin.

Epoxy boards are going to have a similar look and feel to a polyurethane board, with the added benefit of being a bit lighter. Hand-shaped epoxy boards tend to have a bigger price tag, but you can also find more budget-friendly mass produced epoxy boards from outlets such as Degree33 and  Global Surf Industries.

If you’re a beginner, ignore the poly vs. epoxy debate and look for a soft top. A soft top is a foam board without those fiberglass and resin coatings. Soft tops are the most beginner friendly boards for a host of reasons. They are affordable, high volume, and, yes, soft. You can find soft top surfboards from popular brands like Wavestorm and Catch Surf for under $300, which you’d be hard pressed to find for a new poly or epoxy board. There are many companies that make soft tops, so shop around for a board that fits your budget.

As we’ve noted, the high volume of soft tops is important for a beginner. Another beginner-friendly component is the fact that they’re soft. As a beginner, you have to accept that you’re going to take some falls. If you don’t eat it at least a few times a session, did you even surf? Getting caught in a closeout or losing your balance on a wave means you’re probably getting separated from your board. This leads to the potential for a collision.

Having a soft top come down on your head is still going to hurt, but the risk of serious injury from a soft top is far lower than with a board made of a harder material (speaking from experience).

Safety first – if you aren’t yet confident in your surfing ability, go for a soft top. Do not fall prey to the mindset that to be a “real surfer” you have to have a poly or epoxy board. It may make you feel more reassured in your soft top to know that Jamie O’Brien absolutely rips on foamies at famous breaks like Pipeline. If he’s not too good for a soft top, no one is.

Surfboard Length

The last main spec to take into consideration when choosing a surfboard is board length. Beginners are going to want a longer board, and I would recommend an 8-9 foot soft top. The primary reason for this is our friend volume. The longer the board, the higher the volume. Longer boards also perform better in small surf, which is hopefully what you’ll be surfing as a beginner.

As you develop your skills, you may find that you want to graduate to a shorter board to begin learning how to make turns. Shorter boards allow for more maneuverability, making turns and cutbacks easier. A word of warning, it can be easy to feel confident on your longboard and assume you’re ready for a really short board (in the 5-6 foot range). There is a drastic difference in the way a shortboard rides compared to a longboard, and if you don’t yet have the skills required to shortboard, it can feel like you’re learning how to surf all over again.

Bonus: Fins

Fins are another spec to consider when choosing a surfboard. The most common fin setups are single fin, thruster, and quad. If you’re a beginner looking for your first soft top, your board will most likely come with a thruster setup. The thruster setup is three fins, arranged in a triangular shape. Having three fins adds some extra stability to the board.

Single fins create less drag than a thruster setup. Single fin setups are most commonly found on poly or epoxy longboards, though thrusters are not uncommon on longboards. Quad fin setups are mostly found on shortboards and help the board generate speed.

For your first board, don’t worry about fins too much. Just ride the fins the board came with and focus on improving your skills.

Takeaway

My advice is to take it slow, hone your skills on a high volume soft top, and gradually reduce the volume and length of the board you’re riding. As you develop your skills, there are other factors that you will begin to consider, like board shape and fin setup.

Start with the basics and focus on board volume, material, and length. Learning how to surf is challenging, and it’s important that you have a board that works with you.

Learn more about Surfboards:

• How much do Surfboards cost?
• Types of Surfboards

How to Surf?  A Beginner’s Guide to Surfing

Surfing can be intimidating if you’re just getting started. It’s hard to learn how to surf and let’s be honest, surfers are scary.

Whether you’re looking to take lessons or figure it out on your own, you’ll want to know the basics of what equipment you need, where you should learn, and what to do when you’re actually out in the water. Having this knowledge before even paddling out should give you a bit more confidence as you embark on your surfing journey.

Choosing Your Board

For starters, you’ll need a board. A beginner should be riding an 8-9 foot soft top surfboard. Longer soft tops have more volume than other types of surfboards. This volume gives the board more buoyancy, which makes the board easier to paddle and more stable to stand on.

Another important thing about soft tops is that they’re soft. You’re going to take a lot of falls as a beginner, and it is much better to get whacked by a soft top than a hard top. It’s also safer for those around you, should your board hit another surfer (but let’s hope that never happens).

You may be tempted as a beginner to get a super cool shortboard. Don’t do this. Trying to learn how to surf on a shortboard is like trying to learn how to ski on a black diamond. You won’t have a good time. Shortboards have way less volume than a soft top longboard, which makes them more difficult to paddle and more unstable. As a beginner, you won’t have the paddle strength or balance to ride a shortboard. You will improve much faster if you start out on a board that’s right for you because you’ll be able to catch and stand up on more waves.

Wetsuits

Depending on where you’re surfing, you may want to find yourself a wetsuit. In cold water, a wetsuit is going to make you much more comfortable and allow you to stay out longer.

The type of wetsuit will depend on how cold the water is. If you’re surfing in water that is 75 degrees fahrenheit or warmer, you’ll be fine without one. For water that is 63-70 degrees, a 3/2 millimeter wetsuit is probably your best bet. A 4/3 millimeter wetsuit is suitable for water that is in the 55-63 degree range. If the water is on the colder end of that range, you may want to add booties and/or a hood.

These are general guidelines, and what type of wetsuit you choose will depend on your personal preferences. I generally surf in water that is 57-63 degrees, and I always go for a 4/3 millimeter wetsuit with 2 millimeter booties.

In warmer climates, many surfers opt for surf bikinis. These surf gear is designed to stay secure in the waves, giving you the freedom to move comfortably. When choosing one, consider quality materials that provide comfort and flexibility, as well as the essential coverage and sun protection.

Leashes

A leash attaches you to your board. You should always wear your leash on the ankle of your back leg. You need a leash as a beginner. You may see more advanced surfers on longboards without a leash, but that’s because they are skilled enough to not lose their board (or at least confident enough in their swimming ability to chase after it).

Leashes are important for beginners because it keeps you from losing your board in the water. It also will prevent your board from hitting other surfers as it washes onto the beach. Generally, the length of your leash should be about the same length as your board.

Where to Surf

There are beaches that are beginner friendly, and there are beaches that are not. Do some research before paddling out to determine if the break is beginner friendly. If you live in an area where surfing is popular, you can probably determine this simply by doing an online search for something along the lines of “Best beginner surf spots in ___.”

If you’re looking to surf in an area where surfing is less popular, you may have to do some recon of your own. Go to the beach you’re considering learning at and take mental notes of some of its features.

As a beginner, you want to learn at a beach that has a sandy bottom and good whitewater. A sandy beach is going to be much safer for you. When you wipeout, you won’t run the risk of colliding with rocks or reefs, which can be extremely dangerous for beginners.

Your first few times out, you’ll be surfing whitewater on the inside. Whitewater is the foam created after a wave has broken.

Learning in whitewater allows you to focus on the basics – paddling and popping up. It’s much easier to catch whitewater than a breaking wave. You’ll get more opportunities to catch and pop up in whitewater. It is also easier to access, because you won’t have to navigate breaking waves paddling to the outside, which can be very challenging as a beginner. This is why you want to find a beach that has consistent, knee-high whitewater.

You also want to evaluate the other surfers in the water. If the only surfers in the water are on the outside ripping on shortboards, it may not be a very beginner-friendly beach. If you see some beginners working on their pop up in the whitewater, that’s a pretty good indication it’s a beach that is beginner-friendly.

Beginner Surfing Technique

As a beginner, you’ll mostly be focused on paddling and popping up.

Paddling

Paddling sounds simple, but there are a few nuances you want to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure you’re in the right position on your board.

To find the right position horizontally, imagine a line running straight down the middle of your board, from nose to tail. You want to center your body directly over that line to prevent tipping your board over.

Finding the right paddling position vertically can require more trial and error. You want to be forward enough to ensure you are paddling efficiently, but not so far forward that you are driving the nose down into the water. Generally, you want the nose of your board to be 1-2 inches out of the water while paddling. It will probably take some time to find the right position, so make note of where you are on the board once you’ve found it.

Once you’ve found the right paddling position, you can focus on paddling technique. Keep your back arched with your chest up, extend one arm far out in front of you, scoop straight down, and repeat with your other arm. Do this over and over again, and you’re paddling. Your arms should be going through the full range of motion to maximize paddling power.  Perfect practice makes perfect, so always keep paddling technique in mind to learn good habits.

Popping up

Popping up is the thing beginners struggle the most with. The pop up is the transition from lying down to standing up on your board once you’ve caught the wave. To make things more complicated, everyone has a slightly different method of popping up.

Some people tell beginners to get to their knees, then stand up. Personally, I don’t like this method, even for beginners. Transitioning from lying down, to your knees, to your feet is going to make for a much slower pop up. You can take your time popping up in the whitewater, but once you get outside and start surfing waves before they break, you’ll want to pop up fast. It’s best not to get into the habit of going to your knees during your pop up.

So if you can’t transition to your knees to pop up, how do you do it?

Once you’ve caught the wave, place your hands on your board on either side of your chest. Then, push down on your palms to lift your chest and shoulders up.

Lift the knee of your back leg and center your back foot on the board.

Now, your back foot should be centered on the tail of your board. Using your palms and your back foot, push your body up, bring your front leg forward, and place your front foot in the center of the board, a couple inches lower than your hands.

Then, take your palms off your board and stand up, but don’t shoot straight up. You want to keep your center of gravity low, so make sure you have some bend in your knees and hips.

The thing that was the most beneficial in my learning how to pop up was practicing at home. Using something like a yoga mat as your “board,” do some pop up reps, and focus on proper technique and not using your knees. Practicing on land will make popping up come more easily in the water, and help you build more confidence in your pop up.

Scary Locals, Kooks, and Etiquette

My advice to beginners is to not let other surfers intimidate you, but also be respectful of other people in the water. If you’ve found yourself a good, beginner-friendly beach, you shouldn’t have much of a problem.

It’s important to understand some basic surf etiquette before paddling out. First and foremost, stay out of other surfers’ ways. As a beginner spending most of your time in the whitewater, you shouldn’t have too much of an issue with this.

Once you get past the whitewater and start surfing outside, you’ll want to understand who has priority in the lineup.

The surfer that is deeper always has the right of way. This means that they are closer to where the wave is breaking. If you and another surfer to your right are paddling for a wave, and the wave is breaking next to the other surfer’s right shoulder, then she has the right of way and you should pull out of the wave to get out of her way. An easy way to think about it is to ask yourself: who would have the longest ride on this wave? That surfer would have priority.

Don’t be a wave-hog. Let others take their turn and slowly move into position to get priority. Back-paddling is when a surfer paddles around another surfer to get into priority position. It’s basically cutting the line. As a beginner, you may find that people back-paddle you, especially if you aren’t catching many waves. It’s rude, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced surfer.

If someone is consistently back-paddling you, don’t pick a fight. Most breaks have multiple takeoff spots, so your best course of action may be to paddle to a less-crowded area.

You may have heard the term “kook” before. A kook is a surfer who doesn’t know what they’re doing. If you’re just starting out surfing, you’re probably a kook. That’s okay!

Accept that you have a lot to learn, and embrace the learning curve as part of the fun. The great thing about trying something new is the satisfaction of progressing rapidly. Maybe last time you paddled out you couldn’t catch a wave, but today you’re catching waves and popping up consistently – progress!

You may clearly be a kook, but as long as you keep surf etiquette in mind and respect other surfers, no one should give you a hard time. Everyone was a beginner at one point, maybe even more recently than you realize.

Takeaway

Now you’re armed with the knowledge of what equipment you need, where you should learn to surf, some basic beginner surfing techniques, and how to behave in the water.

I said it in the beginning of the article and I’ll say it again: surfing is hard. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t ripping within your first session.

Surfing is a skill that takes time to develop, and the best way to improve is by paddling out consistently. If you can’t make it to the water as often as you’d like, you can still improve by practicing skills like popping up on land.

Find the right beaches for surfing near you and get out there.

Be safe, have fun, and go shred.

Learn more about Surfboards:

• How much do Surfboards cost?
• Why are Surfboards so Expensive?

What is the Most Durable Surfboard?

If you’ve ever grimaced feeling the bottom of your surfboard scrape a reef or watched it go over the falls of a closeout, you may wonder just how much of a beating your board can take. The durability of your board depends mostly on what material it is made of. In general, epoxy surfboards are considered the most durable. That said, not every board will be surfed in the same impact zones where they will get tested and creased.

The material of the board will impact its durability, and how susceptible it is to:

• Pressure dents 

• Cracks

• Snapping

Pressure dents

Pressure dents are indentations left on the board from pressure caused by your hands, feet, and knees. Most heavily used surfboards will have some pressure dents. Pressure dents are the least serious form of surfboard damage as they generally do not impact how watertight the board is.

Cracks

Cracks are generally caused by unfortunate events like hitting rocks or dropping your board. Small cracks in the outer layer of your board are usually no big deal. Deep cracks can compromise your board’s integrity and lead to waterlogging.

Snapping

Snapping your board is not good, but if you’re carrying a snapped surfboard down the beach, at least you’ll look cool. It’s rare but surfboards do get snapped sometimes.

Snapping is most commonly caused by the lip of a wave coming down hard on the board when you’ve become separated from it.

It’s expensive and difficult to Frankenstein a snapped board back together. In most cases, you’re better off cutting your losses and looking for a new one.

Surfboard material

Construction material will impact how susceptible the board is to pressure dents, cracks, and snapping. Some common board materials are:

• Foam

• Polyurethane

• Epoxy

Foam boards (soft tops)

Foam boards with a soft top tend to be the most popular for beginners. The price is a factor, but so is weight and the more forgiving soft top. Soft top boards are made of polystyrene foam with an outer layer of ethylene vinyl acetate.

If you’re not a materials engineer and those words don’t mean much to you, just know that soft tops have a foam core with a soft outer layer.

The Wavestorm Classic is an 8-foot soft top that’s a good candidate for beginners. With a bigger volume, riders will find it more stable when climbing up and getting ready to rise into a stance. It’s also a great example of a soft top foamie.

Soft tops tend to be pretty durable. The soft outer layer makes them less prone to dents and cracks than poly or epoxy boards.

Soft tops can take a beating, but they generally won’t last as long as poly or epoxy boards. This is because there is no hard resin exterior to protect the foam. If you’ve had your soft top for years, you may notice chunks of foam coming off your board. There is also a plastic layer on the bottom of the board that tends to become detached over time.

Polyurethane (poly) Boards

Polyurethane boards consist of a polyurethane foam core with a fiberglass cloth layer and an outer coating of polyester resin. The outer coating of polyester resin makes these boards hard, differentiating them from soft tops. Poly boards are considered the standard surfboard.

A 7-foot foamie like Thurso Surf’s Aero has a longer body with an EPS core and laminated top. It’s designed to bring beginners to intermediate surfing.

Poly boards are unfortunately prone to dents, dings, and cracks. I can attest to this, on all my poly boards there are two dents where I place my palms when I pop up.

Dents generally aren’t a big issue, but cracks can be. Whether caused by hitting a rock or just loading your board in your car, you don’t want to ignore cracks. Cracks can allow water to get into the center of the board, waterlogging that foam core.

Poly boards are more durable than soft tops in the sense that they will last longer and maintain their integrity due to the hard resin coating, but they are more prone to cracks caused by accidents.

Epoxy Boards

Epoxy boards are considered to be the most durable. They are made of a polystyrene core with an epoxy resin coating. Because shaping epoxy boards require more craftsmanship, they’re also more expensive than foamies and poly boards.

Creative Army’s Huevo SLX is a newish, double-duty board that blends longboard stability with some performance aspects of shortboards. It comes in at a higher price for all the reasons just stated.

Epoxy resin is less fragile than the polyester resin used on poly boards. The durability does make them last longer and helps you avoid repairs, which can save you money in the long run.

Other Durability Factors

The construction material of the board isn’t the only thing contributing to the durability of the board. Other factors affecting surfboard durability are:

• Board dimensions

• Wave type

• Break type

• Frequency of use

Board Dimensions

The dimensions of the board will also impact how fragile it is. Light, thin performance shortboards are generally more fragile. This is one of the reasons why pro surfers often break boards. Not only are they surfing hard in bigger surf, but they’re also riding more fragile boards.

Wave type

Bigger waves are more powerful, and that can lead to board damage. If you become separated from your board in big surf, you’re more likely to get it damaged by the lip of the wave or a collision with the bottom.

Break type

Sandy beach breaks are easier on your board than rocky points or reef breaks. You should always be aware of how rocky or reefy the break is, for your safety and your board’s. Admittedly, I’ve had my board scrape reefs while paddling out, and it is not a good feeling.

Frequency of use

As with any other piece of gear, the more you use your surfboard the more damage it will endure. If you’re using your board often, you can mitigate some of the wear and tear by taking good care of it.

Try not to store your boards in direct sunlight. This can degrade the resin, making it more prone to cracking. Some boards have UV protective coatings, but it’s best to keep it out of the sun when not riding or ripping.

You should also be extra careful when transporting your board. I recommend investing in a good, protective board bag. Having your board in a bag during transport will save it from damage caused by things like bumping your board into your car (it’ll also protect your car).

Takeaway

With all of the above factors taken into consideration, the most durable type of surfboard would be a thicker epoxy board. If you don’t want to shell out the extra money for an epoxy board or prefer ripping on a thin performance shortboard, make sure you’re taking good care of your board. Also always be aware of any hazards like rocks or reefs present at the breaks you surf.

Best Beginner Surfboards – What to Consider?

Learning how to surf is hard. No matter what level of physical fitness you have when you begin to surf, you’re going to struggle. It’s important to get a board that works with you when you’re learning how to surf. The best surfboard for a beginner is going to be a:

• Soft top

• High volume

• Longboard

Soft Tops

Surfboards come in an array of shapes, sizes, and materials. When you think of a stereotypical surfboard, a hard top, polyurethane board is likely what comes to mind. These boards are great once you’ve developed some basic skills. For those starting out, a soft top is the way to go.

Soft tops are foam surfboards without a hard resin exterior. Instead, the outer layer is made of ethylene vinyl acetate. That probably doesn’t mean anything to you, but just know it’s a soft, flexible material.

So what makes soft tops so great for beginners? First of all, they’re soft (obviously). Because they’re soft, they are much safer for those who don’t exactly know what they’re doing yet. If you’re learning how to surf, you’re going to take some (probably a lot) of falls. This is part of learning, and actually part of the fun.

Learning how to fall is really a skill in itself. Because this is probably a skill you don’t yet have, there is a higher risk of being injured from taking a fall as a beginner. This is why having a soft top is beneficial. If you take a fall and become separated from your board, you might collide with it. Even worse, your board might hit another surfer.

If you are learning how to surf on a hard top and get hit by your board, there is risk of being seriously injured, especially if you take a hard top to the head. I pride myself on being skilled at wiping out, but still I’ve suffered black eyes and busted lips from getting smacked by my hard top surfboard. Don’t take that risk as a beginner. Stick with a soft top until you know how to safely navigate your board during a wipeout. It will be safer for you and everyone else in the lineup.

Volume

Safety aside, there are other reasons why learning on a soft top is ideal. Because soft tops tend to have high volume, they are very buoyant. More volume will make paddling much easier. Easier paddling means you’re more likely to actually catch waves. The more waves you catch as a beginner, the faster you will improve.

That extra volume will also help you once you catch a wave. Higher volume surfboards also provide more stability. Once you’re on the wave, you’ll find it easier to keep your balance and stay on the wave. This will allow you to have longer rides. More time actually standing up on a wave will also help you improve faster.

As a beginner, the general rule is that you want your board volume to be at least 100% of your weight in kilograms. If you’re a 65 kg beginner, you want to find a board that has a volume of at least 65 liters. You can find surfboard volume calculators online that will tell you what volume you want based on skill level, weight, and wave type.

Length

Hopefully you’ve been convinced that you should get a soft top for your first surfboard. But what length should your soft top be? Today you can find soft tops in all different shapes and lengths. But for your first surfboard, you want to keep it simple and go for a classic soft top longboard.

Longer surfboards (8-9 feet) are ideal for beginners because extra length means extra volume. As we’ve covered, more volume will help you progress faster as you’re learning because you’ll be able to catch and stay on more waves.

Longboards also perform better in small, weak surf. You may be able to guess why – volume. Small, weak waves are harder to paddle into. More volume makes paddling easier, getting you into those small waves with less effort. Hopefully, you’ll only be surfing small waves as a beginner.

What About Fins?

As you look for your first surfboard, you may notice that there are different types of fin setups. The most common fin setups are single fin, thruster, and quad.

Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about the fin setup on your first board. Fins are an important feature that affect the way your board surfs, but as a beginner you probably won’t be able to feel the difference between a thruster setup and a quad fin setup. Most surfboards that are marketed toward beginners come with a thruster setup. A thruster setup is going to provide a bit more stability to your board, which is why it is the go-to for beginners.

Don’t concern yourself too much with the fin setup of your first board. Your board will likely come with a thruster setup that will do just fine as you learn.

Will I Look Like a Kook?

If you’re familiar with surf culture, you’ve probably heard the term “kook.” A kook is a surfer who doesn’t know what they’re doing in and out of the water. Some people worry that paddling out on a soft top will immediately identify them as a kook.

If it’s your first time surfing, you’re probably a kook. Embrace it! Don’t think that to be a “real surfer” you need a “real board.” A real surfer knows how to choose a board that will work with them. If anything, it’s kookier to try to learn how to surf on a board that you aren’t ready for. Know your skill level, choose a board that’s appropriate, learn some surf etiquette and no one is going to give you a hard time for being a kook.

Bottom Line

Keep it simple for your first surfboard and get a soft top longboard. This type of board will keep you safer and make it easier for you to catch more waves. Catching more waves safely will allow you to progress more with every session. Surfing is hard. You want your board to make it easier. A soft top longboard will work with you as a beginner.

Learn more about Surfboards:

• How much do Surfboards cost?
• Why are Surfboards so Expensive?

Questions & Answers:

Which surfboard is the best for beginners?

It is true when they say you will never forget your first surfboard. You will rely on it to learn how to ride waves and conquer the ocean’s unpredictable nature. To have a pleasant experience with just a few falls along the way, you ought to pay attention to two factors – weight and height.

Your first surfboard must have a high level of buoyancy for you to be free to make mistakes while surfing. The stringer technology should also be there in order to provide the surfboard with rigidity and stiffness required to prolong its life.

Another important criterion to look for is the soft top. Surfboards with soft tops allow beginners to catch as many waves as they can while the water is still white. This encourages you to keep going snd not give up in the face of adversity.

Surfboards made from foam are known to last longer than the non-foam ones due to their low weight and qualitative construction. This means that if you are just starting out surfing, a foam-based surfboard might be your best bet.

Lastly, the longer your surfboard is, the easier it will be for you to practice surfing. Invest in an affordable surfboard that is at least 8-9 inches long and you will learn how to surf in no time.

How thick should a surfboard be?

As a general rule, the thicker the surfboard is, the easier it is to paddle it. And, the faster you can paddle, the more waves you will be able to ride. For this reason, professionals recommend purchasing thick surfboards if you are new to the sport or are at the intermediate level. Thick surfboards won’t make you sink too much and most likely to let you catch soft waves.

With that said, thick surfboards won’t turn you into a pro surfer. They hinder your performance and limit the control you have over the board. The thinner your board is, the less complicated it is to maneuver the board and allow it to ‘delve’ into the water. It won’t float as much and will abide you significantly more than a thicker board would. If your surfing skills are ready to be advanced further or you are planning on taking a more serious approach to surfing, you might want to look into a thin surfboard.

Does the length of the surfboard affect its stability?

The short answer to this question is yes, the length of the surfboard does, in fact, affect its stability. Although shortboards are easier to maneuver due to them creating less water-resistance, they do not provide you with the most stability. They are great for riding small-scale waves and having full control of the board but are not the best at keeping you stable when surfing.

Due to the longer boards’ ability to hold a longer waterline, you can keep your balance in check for longer. The additional surface of the longboard also plays a role in making it less shaky when you are speeding up in pursuit of a wave.

Can you learn surfing by yourself?

It is normal to be wondering whether you can learn surfing by yourself – surfing lessons are not cheap. An instructor has sufficient knowledge to teach you how to surf in less time and with fewer injuries. This is not to say that you can’t teach yourself – it is possible.

It, however, is much more feasible if you satisfy some of the requirements. You have to be somewhat fit and have enough leg and arm muscle strength along with some basic balance skills. You must also know how to swim, be persistent and be ready to take it one step at a time when getting familiarized with the wild waters of the ocean of your choice. A beginner-friendly beach is also a must – you don’t want to be starting out with big waves and high currents.

Before venturing out to surf, do your research and know what to expect. For instance, how much do you know about the tides and dangerous animals present in the ocean you chose to surf in? You have to know the answers to these and other questions before you enter the water with your surfboard.

Choosing the right beach (there are plenty of beaches in California suitable for surfers of all levels) and surfboard is just as crucial as learning the surfing rules and etiquette. Learn how to paddle and stand before you ride green waves. And most importantly, stay safe (and ask your friends or family members to come with you if there is such a possibility).

Why are surfboards so expensive?

To find out why surfboards have become so expensive in the last years, we have to go back in time and look at the production changes that have been made. Originally constructed from wood, surfboards were built to last. Their cost was low due to the wood’s affordability, while their assembling took more time because the boards were handcrafted.

As more surfboard-friendly materials like Polyurethane and fiberglass started to emerge, manufacturers started incorporating them more often due to their low weight and quicker assembling. The ones that have become available to the masses have increased in price but have stayed somewhat affordable compared to those made by Hawaiian local surf shops, for instance.

The more authentic the surfboard is, the more it will cost you. For beginners, a surfboard made from Polyurethane makes the most sense because of its low cost and relatively high level of durability. If, however, you want to stand out in the crowd with a one-of-a-kind surfboard, be prepared to pay a couple more hundred bucks for it.

Surfing Equipment

Depending on where you are surfing, the temperature and terrain can vary quite a bit. You might want to check out surfing equipment like wetsuits and water shoes.

Got a new board or been surfing lately? Share your experience with us in the comments below.