Knowing what surfboard to buy can be overwhelming. There are so many options on the market, and living somewhere like San Diego, we have so many different waves to surf! Here are our recommendations to help you get one step closer to finding that dream board.
Buying your Beginner Board
As a beginner you likely don’t know much about different kinds of surfboards, what size board is right for you, or what brand to buy.
At San Diego Surf School, we always recommend starting with a ‘foamie’ or soft top surfboard. They float really well, making them easier to paddle and stand up on, and you don’t have to worry about damaging them like you do a fiberglass or epoxy surfboard.
Buying your Intermediate Board
As you progress from beginner to intermediate, this is a good opportunity to think about what kind of surfer you want to be, and what kind of boards you want to ride.
If you want to be a cruisy longboarder, and you want something easy to ride, maybe stick with a foamie (soft top) until you feel pretty comfortable on it. Then graduate to a fiberglass longboard.
If you think someday you want to ride a shortboard, it might still help to start with a foamie, but something on the smaller side (between 6 or 7 ft). Otherwise, it may be a good idea to buy a fish or a groveller that is a bigger size with a bit more volume than you hope to surf one day.
Buying your Expert Board
As an expert, you likely know whether you’re looking for a longboard, shortboard, fish, etc. You probably have a good idea of your ideal surfboard dimensions as well. Now, you can start thinking about what waves you most often surf and what kind of boards work best for those waves.
Our San Diego Surf School instructors prefer single fin longboards, mid lengths, and twin fin fishes for the mushy days, and they ride shortboards that are a little shorter and wider than the typical high performance shortboard because those work best in our average daily conditions.
For any questions, use your local resources, such as your local surf school, surf shop, or ask a local surfer at your home break for their advice. They should have good knowledge to share. Hopefully all of these things help you understand what surfboard to buy for you!