How to choose a surfboard? Main types of boards and their differences

Soft Top
And we will start with the very first board for any novice surfer, this is a soft top.
A special board is made for safety and easy raking. It is soft on top and usually has soft fins placed on it.
All this is done for safety, because a novice surfer does not yet know how to handle a board, he can injure himself, injure someone, or simply break it. This board is made to make it as easy as possible to catch your first waves.
Due to the fact that the board is covered with a special material that does not slip, it does not need to be waxed before each ride; this board can rub the skin, so it is recommended to wear special lycra to avoid sores.

Longboard
After people have learned to catch their first waves on softs, they usually move on to longboards.
These are long boards, which are also easy to take waves on, but they no longer have soft material, they can be easily punched, they need to be waxed. In general, this is a whole direction in skating.
Due to the fact that the board is long and large, it travels easily and easily picks up speed not due to the movements of the surfer, but due to its buoyancy. Therefore, riding on such boards is distinguished by grace and elegance.
And the basic maneuver on it is to reach the nose.

If we fundamentally divide longboards into types, there are two types of longboards:
Classic longboards, people ride them on their noses. And performance longboards, which are characterized by more aggressive, radical skating.
On classic longboards there is one large central fin, which will stabilize the board, but it is very difficult to turn on it. And on performance longboards there is a large fin, but narrower, and two side stabilizers, which allow the board to turn better.

Funboard
If a person gets bored with riding a longboard, he wants more radical maneuvers, he needs to make the board smaller, and the next choice should fall on midlands. These are medium-sized boards.
They usually have a round nose, which allows you to easily take waves, and a tail, which allows you to make radical maneuvers. The number of fins here can be from 1 to 2, 3, 4, 5 and as many as you like.
Basically, this is a large shortboard. The task of this board will allow you to easily take waves and at the same time make maneuvers.
These boards are also called funboards, because riding on them is easy, you take a lot of waves, and you can learn to make your first maneuvers. I would recommend riding these boards for a long time to all beginner surfers.

Shortboard
And finally, my favorite style of surfing is shortboarding. These are the shortest boards.
They are small, narrow, designed for riding sharp waves, riding in pipes, to cut the wave as efficiently as possible and attack vertical, the most radical sections. In order to ride a shortboard, you will need at least a year of experience.
One longboard can fit, if you count the volume, three or even more small shortboards. These boards are so tiny.
If you sit on a shortboard in the water, you go chest-deep under water. This board does not move on its own.
It is small and designed for maneuvers. You have to generate speed with your body.
You can find any number of fins on short boards. The classic option is three fins.
This is called the Thruster system. But there can be from one to five of them.
Usually, a mat is glued to the tail of such a board. This is done to put as much pressure on the back foot as possible, as these boards are designed to be steered with the back foot.

Fish
And the last type of boards is a type of short board.
And it is called Fish. This is a board in the shape of a fish.
It has two fins on the tail. Steering a board with two fins is something special.
I would say it is similar to riding on an ice-slide. Some people like it, some don’t.
But, nevertheless, this is a very popular form of boards. Due to the fact that the board is flat and has a wide part under the chest, it is easy to take waves on it.
Mats are usually not glued to fishies. This is a kind of tribute to the old-school style of riding, which is inherent in riding on these boards.

So, how do you choose your board?
The most important criterion is the number of waves you take. If you are a beginner, you need a large board to make it easier to paddle the waves.
Aim for about 10 waves per session. I understand that many of you want to quickly switch to a shortboard.
It is comfortable to carry, it is comfortable to transport. And in general, it is so beautiful.
But please, reduce the volume and size of your boards gradually. In surfing, you need to take a lot of waves to progress.
If your surfing will consist of paddling and attempts, but you will not take waves, then you need to increase the size of the board. If you have learned to take more than 10 waves per session, you can gradually reduce the board.
Do not reduce the board too much. If you switch from a longboard to a shortboard right away, you will stop riding badly at all.
And the most important thing when choosing your board is to decide on your riding style. Watch videos on YouTube.
What inspires you? How do you want to ride yourself? Longboard and shortboard and fish and midlands are completely different riding styles. Find what inspires you.
And if you like riding a longboard, like a relaxed stance, then you don’t need to make the board smaller. But if you want to ride a shortboard, then, of course, you will have to go all this way.

Finally. How to choose surfboard size
Beginner surfers should choose a surfboard based on their height and weight. see photos with examples below.