Discover The Basics To Surfing, Class 1 – The Right Surfboard
You must cover the basics when starting out, the first few steps you will need to cover are…
1: Start with the right surfboard
2: 2nd learn to paddle
3: 3rd learn how to duck dive or roll
4: Next learning how to catch a wave
5: And finally how to pop up, or stand up
I would like to cover these steps in a few different articles, so in this article I will start at the beginning, how to choose the perfect surfboard for a beginner. Now unless you got money and time to burn, don’t go out and buy the best looking board in the shop, start out with a low quality board you can ding up.
Once you have mastered the basics, then you can invest in a brand new board. But first you’re going to need something big… the bigger it is, the better it will float, and the easier it will be to paddle. Also the larger you are the more flotation you will need.
I suggest starting out on a big board first, you will be able to get your balance faster, and then move to a smaller board sooner. Look for something above 6ft 8inches long, 7ft to 8ft is a good starting size. If you intend to ride long boards then you can go much longer look for a Malibu up to around 12 ft.
So you got your eyes on a big old board around 7 to 8ft, what’s it look like… who cares? If it can hold you up that’s all that matters, dings will not affect you because you wont be doing anything to tricky or tackling large waves. However while the board can look crappy, you don’t want the fiberglass peeling away from the foam, if water can reach the foam, it will soak into it and weigh you down. Then you will never get the speed to catch a wave.
The biggest factor in choosing the right board is size, shape and number of fins do not matter at all. These things affect people who will be turning the board more, and you just want to stand up and get your balance, so take no notice of them. Just make sure your surfboard is at least 2 to 3 inches in thickness, and anywhere from 20 inches in width.
Next make sure you get a good leg rope. You have to have a leg rope, it will save your life. Stay away from big surf until you get used to your board, and have some experience. The leg rope can fling the board back at you in big swells, but you really should not be out there when starting out anyway.
Don’t even try risking it with no leg rope, or an old one that could snap. You might try to grab your board whenever you fall off, but it will get away from you. Then you have to try and swim in with the waves crashing on you, it takes a lot more energy swimming in the ocean then in a pool.
The many elements of the ocean could have you swimming as hard as you can, while you feel like your going nowhere. You might even be able to see your board drifting towards you, but just before you can reach it a wave will pick it up and carry it away, yet you will have to much drag for the wave to pick you up. Even if you are a strong enough swimmer, it will take a lot of time and energy just to get your board every time.
When choosing a leg rope, get something reliable and strong. Unlike your first board you want quality, this is your life saver. You can keep this, and transfer it to your new board once you get it, so don’t worry about it being wasted on an old board. Also don’t get something to long, the longer the rope the more tension it can build up to spring the board back at you with force. Stay under 8ft.
Now you should have a surfboard picked out, big, old, and cheap. So it’s time to practice, read the next few articles in the series, then head out with your mates.
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