When embarking on the exciting journey of becoming a surfer, your first step should be selecting the perfect beginner surfboard. The choice of a beginner surfboard is paramount, as it can significantly impact your learning curve. It’s important to understand that beginner surfboards are tailored for stability, safety, and ease of use, which sets them apart from advanced boards designed for speed and agility.
In your quest for the ideal beginner surfboard, don’t be solely swayed by low prices. Surfboards are crafted with an artful precision, and it’s imperative to opt for reputable surfboard brands to ensure quality and performance. Before diving into the top 10 beginner surfboards available, let’s first delve into the key characteristics that will help you pinpoint the perfect board for your surfing journey.
Beginner Surfboard Dimensions:
The dimensions of a surfboard are the initial aspect to consider when seeking the perfect beginner board. These dimensions are influenced by factors like your size, weight, and height. Generally, the best beginner surfboards are characterized by stability and buoyancy, which facilitate the learning process, particularly when it comes to paddling and popping up. The four primary dimensions to scrutinize are length, width, thickness, and volume.
- Length: For beginners, longer boards (around 7 feet or longer) are preferred. Longer boards provide increased surface area and mass, enhancing buoyancy and stability, which in turn makes it easier for beginners to catch smaller waves. Longboards are particularly suitable for those who have never surfed before. If you’ve grasped the basics but still consider yourself a beginner, fun shapes may offer a better option, allowing for more progression and skill development.
- Width: Wider boards offer greater stability while paddling and standing on the board. Beginner surfboards typically range from 22 to 24 inches in width.
- Thickness: Avoid surfboards that are overly thick (over 3 inches) or too thin (below 2.5 inches). Extremely thick boards can be challenging to maneuver, while overly thin ones may lack the necessary buoyancy.
- Volume: Measured in liters, volume affects the space your board occupies in the water. As a beginner, you need not dwell on this measurement, as other dimensions already determine the volume. Longboards designed for beginners typically have higher volume compared to shortboards favored by advanced surfers.
Beginner Surfboard Types:
There are two primary types of surfboards for beginners: longboards and fun shapes. The choice between these two depends on your skill level, as each has distinct advantages.
- Longboards: These boards, owing to their size and shape, are ideal for complete novices. They are heavy and provide the utmost stability, making them perfect for learning the fundamentals of surfing. However, once you’ve mastered the basics, you may find it challenging to maneuver these large boards or ride larger waves, as it requires more board control knowledge and experience.
- Fun Shapes: Fun Shapes resemble longboards in size and shape but offer more versatility in terms of what you can do on them. While they may be a bit trickier to paddle and stand up on, they compensate for this by allowing you to explore a wider range of skills and tackle slightly larger waves. Fun Shapes are suitable for surfers who have mastered the fundamentals.
Now, let’s dive into the top 10 beginner surfboards, each catering to different preferences and needs.
Top 10 Beginner Surfboards for San Diego Surf School:
- Catch Surf: Log 8′
- Price: ~$400
- Length: 8′
- Width: 23″
- Thickness: 3.375″
- Volume: 86L
- Weight Range: Up to 200 lbs
- Features excellent buoyancy and ease of use, ideal for catching waves with ease. This surfboard offers a perfect blend of performance and style for beginners.
- Wavestorm 8′ Classic
- Price: ~$250
- Length: 8′
- Width: 22.4″
- Thickness: 3.25″
- Volume: 86L
- Weight Range: Up to 200 lbs
- The Wavestorm 8′ Classic is the best-selling surfboard in the United States, known for its affordability, size, and rugged design, suitable for surfers of all ages and sizes.
- Wave Bandit: Easy Rider 9′
- Price: ~$470
- Length: 9′
- Width: 24″
- Thickness: 3.5″
- Volume: 98L
- Weight Range: Up to 230 lbs
- The Easy Rider 9′ offers immense size and volume, making it an easy choice for beginners, including larger surfers. Its affordability adds to its appeal.
- Softech: Roller 7’6″
- Price: ~$440
- Length: 7’6″
- Width: 22.25″
- Thickness: 3.15″
- Volume: 71L
- Weight Range: Up to 175 lbs
- The Softech Roller is renowned for its affordability and expert design, making it comfortable for novice surfers. It features a waterproof X-density EPS foam core and a triple-fin setup.
- South Bay Board Co. Ruccus 7′
- Price: ~$439
- Length: 7′
- Width: 22″
- Thickness: 2.85″
- Volume: 49L
- Weight Range: Up to 170 lbs
- Ideal for slimmer and lighter surfers, this board offers maneuverability and comes with fins and a leash.
- South Bay Board Co. Verve 8′
- Price: ~$449
- Length: 8′
- Width: 23″
- Thickness: 3″
- Volume: 74L
- Weight Range: Up to 190 lbs
- The Verve 8′ comes with valuable accessories, including customization pens, a traction pad, a travel bag, a leash, and a thruster fin setup, making it a quality choice for beginners.
- South Bay Board Co. Heritage 8’8″
- Price: ~$530
- Length: 9′
- Width: 23″
- Thickness: 3″
- Volume: 86L
- Weight Range: Up to 220 lbs
- Perfect for bulkier surfers, offering stability and rigidity with a waterproof EPS foam core and an HDPE double concave hull.
- Kona Surf Co. 7’6″
- Price: ~$439
- Length: 7’6″
- Width: 22″
- Thickness: 4″
- Volume: 80L
- Weight Range: Up to 180 lbs
- A superb beginner surfboard designed for surfers up to 180 lbs, featuring durable construction and stylish designs.
- South Bay Board Co. Guppy 8′
- Price: ~$309
- Length: 8′
- Width: 22″
- Thickness: 3″
- Volume: 80L
- Weight Range: Up to 180 lbs
- An affordable option suitable for lighter and shorter surfers, also available in smaller sizes for kids.
- Rock-It 8′ Big Softy
- Price: ~$390
- Length: 8′
- Width: 22.7″
- Thickness: 3.3″
- Volume: 81L
- Weight Range: Up to 190 lbs
- A beloved beginner surfboard known for its buoyancy and ease of use, offering an excellent platform for learning the art of surfing.
Selecting the right beginner surfboard is essential, and the choice should align with your skill level, size, and preferences. San Diego Surf School offers a variety of these top-rated boards to ensure a fantastic surfing experience for newcomers.