There are lots of different sizes and shapes of surfboards, almost all of which can be boiled down into 3 main classes. The kind of board you select will dictate how you are going to catch a wave, and thus should be selected primarily based on your experience level and the dimensions of the waves you will be riding.

For beginners, usually the first stop is the longboard (7 to 12 feet). One of the longboards commonly used by beginners is a soft-foam construction, as opposed to fiberglass or epoxy. This increases buoyancy and helps the surfer catch his or her first waves. Longboards are generally good for smaller waves and their volume allows surfers to ride these waves much longer.

The next style is a fun shape, or often called a fun board or a fun stick ( seven to nine feet ). This board mixes the stability of a bigger long board with the maneuverability of a smaller shape, and is sometimes used by newbie to intermediate surfers on all sorts of waves.

Short boards (5 to 7 feet) are the most maneuverable of all board types, but are also the hardest to ride and therefore are usually reserved for intermediate to expert surfers. They’re faster, less stable and offer surfers more control over how they want to move in the wave.

There aren’t any rules that say you have to learn on a longboard. There are some surfers who begin with a shortboard and master it. However, the general public begin with the longboard and learn quicker that way as the thickness permits you to float more and gives you more stability. A shortboard is harder to paddle and you may have more issues catching waves as it is tough to catch a wave early with a shortboard. A longboard will allow you to catch waves and stand up easier.

If you do start with the shortboard, try not to go with something too small or thin. You also want to make sure the board is wide enough to float you. There are some good intermediate length boards that you can learn on, such as fun shapes and other hybrids. But in order to turn with more quickness, you’ll want something that is not as wide.

Tags: Surfing

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