Whats a good surf board for a BEGINNER?

Question

I am 5'5 and kinda in the heavy side, I never surfed before, what surf board should i get?

Answer 1

a longboard

Answer 2

I'm quite big and I learnt on a 7'10"

Mini-mals are good because you can learn on them and when you get a bit better you can try fancy stuff on them which you can't do with most longboards.

Mini-mals are also a lot easier to get through to the lineup than longboards are when the waves are big.

Answer 3

Try a NSP board (New surf project) i havnt tried one myself, but they are supposed to be pretty good.

Answer 4

well it dependes i learnt on a shortboard, but i am a twig and very hevy, i would say a longboard because they are easier to stabalise but when you get a bit better go for a shortboard

Answer 5

"kinda in the heavy side" (under 200 lbs) I'd recommend a longboard, or funboard 8ft- 9feet.

http://surfammo.com

Answer 6

To surf, you have to be at home in the ocean, good ocean swimming (not pool swimming) skills are essential. I don't know how old you are, or whether or not you have friends who surf. I recommend lessons for folks who don't have surfer pals to teach them. You need to learn surfing etiquette as well as technique

You need a board that will float you well enough for you to take off (paddle and catch a wave). Most people learn best on long boards, although I have seen lots of surfers start on a short board and master it. Long boards are ideal for learners. There are also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals and some hybrids. You can always trade in a board and by a new one when you are ready for a change (or keep your long board. I bought a new long board about 6/7 years ago, and there are some days that it's the perfect board for the conditions).

I started surfing in '66 on a 9'6", but that's what we all rode back then. Like most of the guys I surfed with during the 'short board revolution' we traded in for shorter boards every summer. I ended up with a custom made 6'4' twin fin (that's as small as I went, but I had lots of friends riding boards in the 5' range). Today I four have boards from 9'4" to 7'8" that I ride all the time. I change up depending on conditions or my mood.

I suggest you go to a local surf shop (a real surf shop, not a bathing suit store that sells some surfboards). The folks there will help you pick a beginner board that is right for your weight, skill level (beginner) and the type of surf you have at you local break. If you have never surfed before, they can help hook you up with lessons.

By the way, I'm 5'10, 220, so I'm not sure what kind of heavy is for you. But be advised, your weight is far more important in choosing a board than how tall you are (but the folks in the surf shop will help you with that).