A “hard” surfboard, either polyester or epoxy is what we would recommend for a beginner wanting to progress. A surfboard of this construction will last a long time if kept in good condition and will allow progression further down the line.
Building great boards is part science, and part art. And while much of what board design is about is based on some pretty simple scientific principles, a large part of what we do as shapers is subjective, personal and qualitative, rather than objective, universal, and quantitative. In other words, everybody has their own personal preferences, and every designer/shaper has their own vision and reason for doing what they do, how they do it. Ultimately, we do what feels right in our hands, looks beautiful to our eyes, and works well under our feet. And that is what it's all about.
There's no formula for the magic board, or everybody would be riding the same thing, and factories would be pumping out millions of "Magic Boards."
It's the search... the journey... the process of creating and learning and moving endlessly forward that drives us all - novice and expert alike.
The Greenlight Surfboard Design Guide is a compilation of information about some basic (& some advanced) design aspects of surfboards. We hope to improve your understanding so your personal shapes will continue to improve your surfing experience.
So you’ve had a couple of surf lessons and well and truly caught the surfing bug! Welcome to the club! A good next step if you are looking to improve and get into the water as much as possible is to buy your own beginners surfboard. You can save money on expensive surf hire and have the flexibility to go surfing whenever you want. But there are so many surfboards out there so which is the best surfboard for beginners? And how do you know which surfboard is right for you?
At Circle One, we supply surf schools and outdoor centres across the UK and Ireland, so know exactly what surfboards are best for beginners. We have designed many of our surfboard ranges with beginners in mind and made them ideal for progressing your surf technique. All our surfboards are hand finished and made from quality materials and design. We’ve been at the forefront of UK surfboard design and innovation since 1969 and use our experience in all our boards from beginners to experts.
So the first question is would you prefer to keep learning on a soft top foamie surfboard as you find in most surf schools so may be what you are used to? Many people would say for better progression you should move straight onto a hard surfboard made from epoxy resin or polyester, but we don’t necessarily agree. More and more surfers of all abilities are opting to surf soft top surfboards now, and there is a growing range of well built, technical soft top surfboards on the market. Our Performance Soft Top range by the Australian Board Company is a great example as they are constructed the same as a technical hard surfboard underneath, but with a soft foamie top. They surf the same as a hard surfboard but are more forgiving if you fall onto them. For kids learning in particular soft surfboards are safer and offer good grip.
Or if you like the look of a hard epoxy surfboard, choose a lightweight board with generous volume like our Southern Swells or Pulse surfboard ranges. Learn how to wax your surfboard correctly to ensure you have enough grip all over the board to help you pop up.
The length of your surfboard can depend on a number of factors such as your own height and weight, and what length you would be comfortable with. In general as a beginner you should choose a surfboard longer than your height, and with plenty of width and volume to aid buoyancy. This helps you to catch waves and balance better on the board. A mini mal surfboard of around 7′ 6″ – 8′ in length is a popular choice for adults and families looking for a versatile surfboard anyone can enjoy. For kids, teenagers and smaller or lighter adults, you could go shorter and opt for either a funboard of around 7′ or 7′ 2″ or even shorter for kids between 6′ and 7′.
Surfboards come in many different shapes as well as sizes. On a beginner surfboard it is best to go for a board with a rounded nose as that increases buoyancy on the front of the board, improving the ability to paddle into waves. Width is generally important all the way down the board including in the tail to make sure you have plenty of buoyancy when you are up and riding waves. Aim for a surfboard with at least a width of 20″.
Your optimum surfboard volume depends on your weight and ability primarily, but also the size of the waves you are surfing. See the below chart for a guide to the minimum surfboard volume in litres you should look for based on your weight and ability.
Welcome my watery friends to my ‘Surfboard Buying Guide 2023’. If you’re here, you must be after some guidance for the sick new stick you’re thinking of buying!
In this post we’ll be looking at all the major things you need to consider when doing your surfboard buying research. This buying guide is aimed at those new to surfing but can help those of all surfing abilities find their next surfboard.
Well, the answer to this great question is quite hard to determine. That is because everyone reading this blog post will have different levels of surfing ability.
Surfers come in many shapes and sizes, but measuring ability has always been tricky. The standard ‘beginner, intermediate, advanced’ is not super descriptive – so I went ahead and created my own surfing ability levels…
Hopefully, these make what surfing ability level you are a bit more obvious. Knowing this will make the next part of this surfboard buying guide more relevant to you.
Let me start by saying…picking the wrong first surfboard is one of the most common mistakes new surfers make. I’ve seen so many beginner surfers trying to surf on boards that are either too short and/or have little to no volume.
But that’s not going to happen here. Below are the two surfboard types that every beginner surfer should start with before moving onto anything else.
Spyder Surfboard reviewsFoam surfboards – The best way to start is to start with the best. Foam surfboards are designed specifically for never surfed before beginners and are perfect for a number of reasons. They hold loads of volume, they’re very durable and typically low cost. If you’ve ever seen a surf school at the beach, this is what they’ll be using. You cannot go wrong with a foam surfboard as a Level 1 surfer.
Mini mals – A more adventurous choice for a Level 1 would be the mini mal. Having never surfed before these might be a stretch at first but are a great investment if you know surfing is a long term deal. The majority of mini mals still offer great volume and more progression than a foam surfboard.
Those at this ability level can stand up on a wave most of the time and are trying to really nail down their basic techniques. Level 2’s will also want to start trying out some bottom turns once the basics start to become second nature.
Mini mals – The perfect choice for a Level 2. Having experienced the surfing basics on a foam surfboard, a mini mal will help that progression for those first turns. High amounts of volume helps keep you catching lots of waves whilst more manoeuvrability will help you start progressing that bottom turn.
Longboards – The longboard is another worthy choice for a Level 2 surfer. With more volume and straight line speed than a mini mal this is another good option for surfers wanting to progress. This is the longest surfboard though so keep storage and transportation in mind.
Funboards – The ‘out there’ choice for a Level 2. With less volume then both the longboard and the mini mal, a funboard offers less in stability. However, in return this surfboard type is much more manoeuvrable and so is great for offering long term surfing progression.
Most Level 3 surfers will probably have owned their own surfboard by this time as well. The pop-up technique is solid and the bottom turns are starting to progress.
Most Level 3 surfers will probably have owned their own surfboard by this time as well. The pop-up technique is solid and the bottom turns are starting to progress.
Funboards – Offering a great balance between wave catching ability and manoeuvrability is the funboard. The safer choice for a Level 3 but great for keeping that wave count up to continue improving those bottom turns. These surfboards perform well in a wide range of conditions so are a great addition to any surfboard quiver.
0 تعليقات