- Start out with a used surfboard.
- Don't go too small to learn on.
- The best board size depends on your body size.
Start with a used board
It can be tempting to go out and buy the coolest surf board you can find but as a beginner that is a huge mistake. When you are learning to catch waves for the first time you are very likely to damage your board. There is no point in spending $400 on a pristine board just to go out and ding it up on the first day. Go with a used board to learn on.
Start with a funboard
A funboard is a good place for a lot of beginners to start. It is large enough to get up on with ease but small enough to learn to manoeuvre once you can ride a wave.
Size
There are some basic rules of thumb when choosing the right size surf board you. It is different for every surfer because it depends on your body size.
Length
For a beginner surf board, a little longer is better. You want your board to be a minimum of a foot taller than you are when you're first learning to surf.
Width-
When you first start surfing, a wider board will be easier to stand up on. A wider board is going to be a lot more stable, allowing you to focus on finding your spot on the wave and doing basic turns and maneuvers.
Thickness-
How thick your board should be depends on your body weight. For a beginner, thicker is good because the board will float better in the water, allowing you to stand up more easily. It will also make it easier for you to catch the smaller, less powerful waves that most people learn on. However, if you go too thick it will be difficult to paddle. Stay between 2 and 3 inches for your first board.
Don't stress about the board shape and fin set up
When you are learning to surf, board shape and fin set up are not critical.
Those things will come with time. Typically, a non- aggressive board with a 3 or 4 fin setup is ideal for beginners. Concentrate on learning to stand up and then riding the full wave. After you cover the basics like when to paddle and how to be in the right position on the wave then you can start to experiment with different board styles.
As a beginner surfer, selecting the correct board to learn on can make or break your experience. Going for that stylish short board that all the pros ride won't make you look cool if you can't ride it. When you are learning to surf, a bigger board is generally better. Just remember that the most important part is to have a good time and learn at your own pace.