Picking the Best Surfboard for Beginners
Kids
If you're looking to buy a board for little one, first off you're an awesome parent. Secondly, we acknowledge this isn't always easy, and there's a lot of options out there.
We like to break down board buying for kid's by this, simple rule of thumb -
If your kid is learning to surf and is:
- 5-6 years old: Consider something 4'11 in length that can be used to surf or be used as a boogie board as they become more comfortable in the water. A reasonable price range for this kind of board should be $175-$195
- 7-11 years old: Consider something 6'0 or 7'0 in length like a junior longboard. This will give them the stability and paddle strength to catch waves easily, but will be easier for them to carry. A reasonable price range for this kind of board is $230-$280 depending on the make and model.
- 12-18 years old: Consider an 8'0 longboard. These boards are the most prolific platform for learning to surf, and for good reason! These are also the most widely manufactured shape, so you should expect to pay as little as $185 for an economy brand and up to $330 for a premium brand.
Adult learners
If you're picking up surfing for the first time as an adult, you''ll need a little extra foam to help you paddle and catch waves. Many people ask us, what's the best length surfboard for a beginner? Here's a couple tips from our experience:
- Sizing: If you are a pure beginner, the best bet for most folks is an 8ft longboard, period. A couple caveats - If you have some experience surfing, have significant athletic experience, or expect to pick up surfing quickly, you may want to go for a 7'0 funboard that will help you transition to intermediate level more smoothly. Alternatively, if you're taller (6'1 and above) or heavier (200 and above) or you have consistently small surfing conditions, you might consider a 9'0
- Pricing: You don't need to go out and pay $400 or more for a high performance board when you're just starting. We suggest that you should look for something either in the economy or premium category which should run you $200 for an economy brand or $285 for a premium brand. For examples on boards we recommend in each of these categories see our guide "How We Evaluate Soft Top Surfboard Quality"
Hopefully this helps! Let me know how these suggestions work for you and if you have any questions, hit the contact us button and let me know how we can help.
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