| Purchasing your first surfboard can be a confusing | | | | New or Used? |
| experience. | | | | The answer to this will largely depend on your |
| What sort of board do I buy? | | | | budget. Something else to take into consideration |
| How much should I spend? | | | | is how often you will be using the board. |
| Soft or Hard? | | | | Someone who uses it regularly is going to |
| The choices are endless! With well over half a | | | | progress faster and will outgrow a soft surfboard |
| century of surfboard development behind us, | | | | very quickly. Due to the hard wearing construction |
| surfing technology has come a long way. Modern | | | | of the soft surfboard there are plenty of used |
| surfboards make learning to surf a much more | | | | ones in good enough condition to learn on. A |
| pleasurable experience. Beginners Surfboards | | | | resource for finding used soft Surfboards can be |
| these days are lighter, safer and tougher than | | | | found here |
| their ancestors. | | | | Should I get lessons? |
| The Soft Board | | | | To put it simply, YES! Just because you have |
| Soft Boards are the most popular type of | | | | friends that surf doesn't mean that they are good |
| beginner Surfboard and with good reason too. | | | | surf instructors. Surfing is an individual thing, you |
| They are extremely buoyant so paddling is easy | | | | need to learn a few basic techniques and skill first |
| as it gets. Soft Surfboards have increased | | | | but once you have them down you can begin to |
| buoyancy, grip and stability to that of a regular | | | | refine it into your own and unique style. So go |
| fibreglass board. Their length is usually between 7 | | | | and get yourself a proper lesson and have an |
| & 10 feet, this is due to the simple fact that | | | | instructor teach you those all important basics. |
| the larger the board is the easier it is to balance. | | | | Having a good quality instructional DVD or book is |
| The soft, rubber-like material that makes up the | | | | also a handy thing to have around. |
| top surface of the surfboard gives it a great deal | | | | An instructor will also take you through all the |
| of stability. The foam material will hold up to the | | | | safety procedures. Things like, where is it safe to |
| toughest of treatment. At the same time it's safe | | | | surf? And how to spot a rip or undertow? These |
| enough that if you lose your board into a crowd | | | | are incredibly important things to know. An |
| of swimmers, you won't go hurting anyone. The | | | | instructor will also teach you the rules of the surf. |
| Base of the board consists of a smooth, yet still | | | | When surfing, there is a globally recognised set of |
| soft skin. It is this skin that reduces friction with | | | | rules that governs who has "right of way" in |
| the surface of the water and allows you to glide | | | | different situations. Learning these rules is a must |
| with some of the speed of a fibreglass board. | | | | if you want to survive in the crowds. |
| What height Surfboard should I buy? | | | | The most important thing to remember when |
| If you are looking at getting a Surfboard then | | | | learning to surf is "be patient". Surfing is a tricky |
| length will be something to consider. Most people | | | | sport to get the hang of. Each ride only last's a |
| will learn on a board that is a few feet longer than | | | | few seconds so the time spent actually standing |
| them. Just remember, the longer the board the | | | | up is much less than that of say, snowboarding or |
| more stability you will have. If you are a heavier | | | | skateboarding. It is for this reason it can take a |
| person then perhaps something a little thicker | | | | little more time to get to that next level but trust |
| than normal would be a good idea. For a fantastic | | | | me on this, it's worth it. |
| height and weight matrix, visit this site. | | | | |