Forget the colors, the logos, the drawings, and the dramatic shapes. Surfboards serve a purpose. They were built to provide joy and fun to people.
They are the key to wave riding. Therefore, we don't buy them to look cool and endorse a lifestyle sold by media outlets.
Surfboards are a means to an end. If you buy a new surfboard without running through a checklist first, you'll rapidly regret your impulsive decision.
Surfboards were made to glide, and there are too many elements and variables at stake - construction types and techniques, materials, styles, and designs.
So, next time you enter a surf shop to purchase a new plank, make sure you know the answers to the following questions:
A new surfboard doesn't necessarily mean the first surfboard. And the board of your dreams might not suit your universe at all.
Don't get fooled by brands, logos, or fascinating signatures. Always compare identical surfboards, and ask for advice at your local surf shop.
Will you stick to the old foam, or will you take the risk and go for new and environmentally friendly cores such as polystyrene and balsa?
Are you into quads, or do you play it safe and buy a five-fin model? Need to know more about surf fins?
If you're definitely into a surf shaper's philosophy, or if you follow a strict shaping method, you might want to pay extra cash to have his name on your new board.
There's a huge difference between going surfing only once a year, catching waves every weekend, and hitting the surf nearly every day.
There are four types of waves. What are the average conditions at your local beach? Do you prefer mushy waves or punchy rollers?
Do you need to compensate for extra weight with a larger board? Have you got enough arm power to paddle out on a shortboard in bigger surf?
Can you handle a two-hour winter surfing session, or do you just hit the lineup for a couple of rides in the summertime?
This one is often forgotten, but it can be critical. As a rule of thumb, keep in mind that a 7' surfboard usually fits inside a car.
Buying a surfboard can be a pretty daunting, considering all of the options you have available nowadays. That’s why we’ve condensed everything that you’ll need to know.
The first thing that you should know when looking to purchase a new surfboard is what you want from it. There are a million different shapes and sizes, all of which serve different purposes. You want to narrow it down as much as possible in terms of preference so that the market doesn’t overwhelm you.
At the dawn of the surf, it was pretty easy. It was just a plank that you got on to and did your best not to fall over, but today, creating a surfboard is bordering art.
There is the utilitarian side of it, sure, but there’s also the aesthetic side. In a perfect world, you don’t want to sacrifice one for the other, and with a bit of luck, you’ll never have to.
Spyder Surfboard reviewsIf you want to be picky about it, then you have to take every little detail into account. And we mean everything. Your weight, your expertise, your age... Your body type, skill set, fitness, injury record, etc. However, in most cases, you won’t be turning pro anytime soon, so start with the big things.
The worst thing you can do as a beginner is get the wrong board for you and keep going with it. You don’t want your love for surfing to fade because of your equipment—set yourself up for success. Don’t go for a shortboard because that’s what you’ve seen in amazing videos.
But, how do you know when you’ve found the right board for you? Take our word for it: you’ll definitely know. It will fit like a glove and feel like an extension of your body. If your board doesn’t feel that way, then we hate to break it to you, but you’re probably surfing the wrong board, and it’s time for a switch.
Either way, there are three main things to consider when buying a new surfboard, and they come down to the dimensions, volume, and build.
The first and most obvious thing that you’ll want to consider when starting your journey towards a new surfboard is the dimensions.
You have to take a close look at the length, thickness, and width of a board in order to get a good estimate if it’s cut out to do the job that you’ll be asking it to do.
Are you surfing shallow waters? Will you need a board that can do sharp turns? What about stability? More? Always more, right? Well, it’s not that simple. The sweet spot of a board lies in the details.
Are you surfing shallow waters? Will you need a board that can do sharp turns? What about stability? More? Always more, right? Well, it’s not that simple. The sweet spot of a board lies in the details.
In most cases, as a beginner, you will want to gravitate towards bigger surfboards. This is not ideal for quick and sharp turns, but it will provide a lot more stability, which will directly go towards your confidence.