Surfboard Guide
Welcome to our basic guide to buy a surfboard whether a new one or a second hand surfboard. There is
no doubt that finding the right surfboard can be confusing. You will need to consider the following factors
to start your hunt; your weight and height, ability, kind of waves you will be in, and most importantly your personal preference of what you are looking to get out of your new board. The budget will also be a factor, and more expensive does not translate as being easier or even better to use. As a result it would be impossible to make a definite buyers guide, indicating exactly what you need. What it will do is open your mind to possibilities and will enable you to make a better decision on what surf board “stick” will be best for your surfing career to start.
Introduction to Basic Shapes
We will start by introducing and explaining the different types of surfboard shapes available and their characteristics. There are three main categories of surfboards shapes available on the market. The Short board, The mini Malibu (mini-mal) and the Malibu (Longboard).
Basic Surfboard Rules of Thumb
The general rule of thumb to buy the first surfboard is generally, the bigger the better to start. The reason being that the bigger board will spread the weight of the rider therefore making easier to paddle as it will sit on the water higher and with less resistance. The larger board, because of its width will also make it more stable and therefore easier to stand up on it! The thicker it is again the better it will float easing the paddling and the getting into waves some more. The bigger board however can be harder to turn and manage on and off the beach and because of the extra materials can be a fair bit more expensive. One main advantage will be for the traveling surfer is that the longboard will enable you to ride those waves in whatever conditions and especially the small waves. The Mini Mal is however a really good alternative as it is a scale down version of the Malibu, still fairly wide and with a relaxed rocker i.e. a little flatter making it nice and easy to paddle. The Mini Mal is not too big and not too small and better still generally much more affordable.
Surf Board Tails
Again size will matter and will affect stability and performance. To start the wider the tail (square tail) the more stable it will be, however the slower it will be to turn. So it goes without saying that the more pointy a tail (pin tail) the quicker it is to turn but the less stable it will be. The starter Mini Mal will always come with an in between tail (squash tail) giving you the best of both worlds. Some boards are known as Fishes because of their tail which is designed out of generally a wide square tail with a large swallow cut out of it leaving two pin tails or points at each corner. This will make the board just as stable as a squaretail but much more directional due to the pintails on each corner. Again the fish tail can be reduced in width therefore reducing stability but giving it more performance to turn.
The Short board
This should be reserved for the more experienced rider and is not recommended for the beginner. These boards are usually under the 6’10’’ region. They will normally have an accentuated rocker for performance and will be narrow and thin.
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Retro fish/big boy fish
These are based on the 70’s designs of those days, however these have been updated to allow easier and more forgiving uses. These are typically thicker and wider than their cousins the shortboard, and come with a large swallowtail. They can be used as Thrusters (3 fins) or twinnies (two larger fins) or even Quads (four fins). All these shapes have been reviewed and revamped and can be used in almost all conditions, also they have survived the test of times as they are proven and tested to work. Their wide tails allow for better stability and are infract ideal for our typical Onshore mushy conditions. There template and relaxed rocker as already pointed out, help for ease of entry to waves and are great on small days too, their shape make the board very loose and directional. These boards make an excellent step down board for the surfer looking to go eventually to a short board. They in return make an excellent board for the short boarders wanting a nice easy summer small wave board.
Can be even recommended for beginners with skate boarding and showboarding background depending on the size adopted.
Also as stated recommended for shortboaders wanting the summer shortboard, however the template
will be adapted to conform more towards a shortboard template (shortboard on “steroids”). They can be knows as Big Boy short board, Fishcuits, Retro Fishes, Piranhas to name but a few.
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The Funshape or Funboard
Like above these are more shortboards, which are somehow adapted and give a larger area to ease paddling and handling in small onshore or mushy summer conditions. They can be known as Eggs, Biscuits, Pods, Pumpkin seeds, fat arse Wombats.
These can also be single fin retro boards, very much taken from the 70’s.
The main and only objective of these is to enface the fun in surfing, when the conditions for your everyday surf are not conducive to using your normal board.
This does not stop one of these boards to be your one and only board, as they will work in almost any conditions.
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The Mini-Mal (Mini Malibu or Mini Longboard)
Ideal for the person, who likes that longboard ease to get into waves and a little more maneuverability? Most Mini-Mals carry a lot of foam and will ease the paddling and float of the board; they remain wide
and therefore stable and easier to get up on. These are a lot smaller to carry around and ease the storage problems longboards can cause. No board sport experience needed to start on one of these although a surf lesson by a recognized trained surf teaching body is definitively recommended.
These are also used by longboarders as a good alternative for a winter board therefore easier to handle
in larger surf conditions.These can be known as Mini Mals, Magic carpets, Afghan Rugs, Glides.
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The Classic Longboard Or Malibu
Back to the roots of surfing with most of them being replicas of early boards if not mostly based upon the original shapes.These as stated earlier will enable you to paddle into any wave size whether small or large. Most are ridden for fun and to experience that gliding feeling and if you want to take it more seriously and back to the roots designed to “Hot Dog” hang ten and style whilst going along the wave towards the beach.Paddle into what ever you want and hang ten all the way to the beach. These will be the most popular boards you will see in the water as they make it the most fun.
Anybody can ride one from any age to the oldest and widest . Beware not many do it in Style!!!! These will make great beginner boards too but tend to be more expensive.
These are classics, and some of the original names have even survived like the Bing, Velzy, Dewey Webber, Greg Noll, to name but a few and some anyone will recognized as icon of surf like Bear Surfboards because of legend of the films like Big Wednesday. Some of these are almost works of surf arts with Resin tints, cloth inlays even balsa wood boards !!!
