How to Find the Correct Surfboard

There are many types of surfboards to choose from on the market, and to select the correct surfboard, it is important to understand what you want to do with that surfboard and what your level is. Types of surfboards include longboards, funboards, retro fish, shortboards as well as a bunch of other specialty shapes.

Longboards are what the majority of surfers learn on and many continue with even after becoming solid surfers or experts at the sport. A Softop longboard can be great for learning as it is wide, stable, and easy to paddle. Performance longboards can be made for nose riding or cruising.

Funboards are surfboards that are in between shortboards and longboards in size. Many intermediates who do not want to longboard forever will purchase a funboard as a stepping stone to get into a smaller board. I own many surfboards, but I do not personally enjoy the funboard as it doesn't have the glide and ease of paddle as a longboard and it also does not perform like a shortboard.

Retro fish have made a comeback in the past years. These boards are short in nature and perform well but typically are wider and thicker than your standard shortboard. They also typically have very little rocker or are more flat and have a wide swallow tail which looks like a fish tail. These boards are great in small to medium sized conditions in softer surf. Since they are flat and are high in volume, they glide much better than a shortboard in softer waves. Of course, a longboard is going to glide and perform well in these softer conditions as well.

Shortboards come in many varieties, The standard thruster is what most people think of as a shortboard. It has three fins and is shorter, thinner, and narrower than any of the other board types mentioned above. The shortboard has the most performance of all the surfboards mentioned above. Other types of shortboards would include the hybrid fish, the quad fin, the step up and many more.

A surf shop is a good place to start looking for a surfboard. When buying from a surf shop, make sure to get someone knowledgeable to help you. Don't overstate your experience and let them know where you surf as they will probably know what board is best for that wave. Most people at the shop are going to help you into the correct decision.

Finding a used surfboard is a good way for many to start and a way for many experienced surfers to enhance their surfboard quiver. There are a variety of resources online to find a used surfboards. Some of these websites selling surfboards own the surfboards and ship used boards to the buyer. Other websites have surfboards for sale from many different sellers and you need to contact the seller and arrange to come look at it and exchange money directly with them.

Good luck and don't be intimidated by how many surfboards shapes and sizes there are to choose from. Ask an experienced person to help you make your decision.