An Introduction to buying a surfboard
We've complied a small, but concise introductory guide, documenting the wide range of boards available today. The choice for surfers can be very bewildering. This guide aims to resolve some of this confusion and hopefully can be used to make an informed decision on your next or first steps to buying a surfboard.
The Long board: is normally around 9 – 10 ft in length. They are very easy boards to learn on as they are very stable and wide, but they are cumbersome due to their size. This board has a wide rounded nose making it easy to paddle. They are ideal for small summer waves or for recreating that classic surfing style.
(The Longboard – approx £449 - upwards)
The Mini Mal: this is also a good board to learn on, having very similar properties to the long board but are between 7 – 9 ft in length. These boards have a rounded nose which makes them easy to paddle, they are between 20 – 23 inches wide which also makes them very stable. The mini mal is a very good platform from which to learn and progress on, stable and easy to use, but maneuverable.
(A Mini Mal approx £379 - £399)
The Shortboard: this is more of a high performance board being smaller and lighter (between 5'10'' – 7'0'' ft in length). These boards are generally much narrower than the mini mal and are very responsive boards. They have a pointed nose which makes them less buoyant but easier to dive under waves with when paddling out to behind the breaking waves.
(A Shortboard – approx £349 - £389)
The Fish: is a variation of the shortboard but is a very similar width but generally speaking will have a greater thickness. They are wide and stable and very easy to turn and very direct boards. The Fish is suitable for nearly all conditions that we get on these shores, except for really big waves (6ft+). They are usually sized between 5'8'' and 6'6''. Some also come with only two fins, these are usually referred to as Twin Fin Fishes. These boards are excellent fun and are considered a retro board, first conceived by Steve Lis.
(A Fish - Approx £389 - £499)
The BIC Board Range: These boards are available in similar shapes to the above boards but are made as a shell and then injection molded. These are much cheaper than the custom surfboard with prices starting around £160 for a brand new board. They are heavier than the custom surfboards but they are very robust.
All of the above boards come with a form of removable fins which are ideal for traveling and storage.