The Beginner's Guide to Choosing Your First Surfboard

Walking into a surf shop for the first time can be overwhelming. Hundreds of boards in dozens of shapes and sizes, a wall of fins, and terminology that means nothing to a beginner. This guide will help you make sense of it.

The short version: bigger is almost always better for beginners. Here’s why — and how to choose.

Why Board Size Matters So Much

The two things that determine how quickly a beginner progresses are wave count and stability. Board size directly controls both.

A larger board:

• Floats you higher in the water, making paddling more efficient

• Catches waves earlier and easier — meaning more rides per session

• Provides a wider, more stable platform to stand on

• Forgives technical mistakes that would cause a smaller board to flip or stall

A beginner on a large foam board will catch five to ten times more waves per session than a beginner on a shortboard. More waves = more practice = faster progression. It’s that simple.

The Foam Board (Soft-Top): The Best Choice for Beginners

Also called a “foamie” or soft-top, foam boards have a soft outer layer rather than the hard fibreglass of a traditional surfboard. For beginners, they offer several significant advantages:

Safety: When a foam board hits you — and in early sessions, it will — it hurts considerably less than a fibreglass board. This matters both for you and for anyone nearby.

Stability: The wide, thick shape of most foam boards makes them exceptionally stable underfoot. Beginners can focus on their pop-up and wave-reading rather than simply trying to stay upright.

Durability: Foam boards handle the inevitable knocks of learning without chipping or delaminating the way fibreglass boards do.

For all of these reasons, foam boards are what accredited surf schools across Australia use for instruction — and they’re what most coaches recommend for the first six to twelve months of surfing.

What Size Foam Board?

As a rough guide:

Height	Recommended board length
Under 160cm	7–8 feet
160–175cm	8–9 feet
Over 175cm	9 feet +

Heavier body weight also means you need more volume (thickness and width). When in doubt, go longer. You can always move to a smaller board as your skills develop.

Understanding Volume

Volume is measured in litres and gives you a sense of how much flotation a board provides. For beginners, a board with 70–100+ litres of volume is appropriate, depending on body weight. Your surf school or local surf shop can advise on the right volume for your weight.

The Longboard: A Beautiful Alternative

Traditional fibreglass longboards (9 feet and above) are another excellent option for beginners who progress quickly past the foam board stage. They provide similar stability and wave-catching ability to foam boards, but with a cleaner, more traditional surfing feel. Cross-stepping to the nose of a longboard is one of surfing’s most elegant manoeuvres and doesn’t require you to ever graduate to a shortboard if that’s not your goal.

What to Avoid

Shortboards — the narrow, pointed boards you see professionals riding. These require significant skill to catch waves on and will frustrate a beginner enormously. Save these for when you’re consistently riding green waves.

Fish or hybrid boards — these are intermediate boards that sit between longboards and shortboards. Better than a shortboard for a beginner, but not as effective as a foam board for early learning.

Old, damaged boards — secondhand boards can be excellent value but check carefully for delamination (where the fibreglass separates from the foam), dings, and fin damage. A board with structural damage can be unpredictable in the water.

The Leash (Leg Rope): Non-Negotiable

A leash attaches your ankle to the board and prevents it from washing away when you wipe out. This protects both you (the board is your flotation device) and other surfers. Always surf with a leash. Match the leash length to the board length — an 8-foot board needs a leash of approximately 8 feet.

Rent Before You Buy

If you’re just starting out, there’s no need to buy a board immediately. Many surf schools and hire shops offer board hire by the hour or day. Rent for your first few sessions to confirm you’re going to stick with it before investing.

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Ready to get started?

Find accredited surf experiences and lessons across Australia at LearnSurfing.com.au