There is much disagreement as to what a beginners surfboard needs to be. Should it be an expensive, premium quality surf board that can stand up to the serious wear & tear of a first-time surfer OR should it be a cheap foamboard which will get smashed up and discarded incredibly quick?

When you get right down to it, the type of board you get depends entirely on your preference and spending budget. Getting an extremely resilient beginners surfboard, which just costs a tad bit more, isn't really a bad plan -- and do not let anyone tell you differently. After all, if you can afford it, why not get a surf board which is extra resilient to scrapes & dents? Needless to say, not everybody has limitless sums of cash that may be spent on top-quality "ding resistant" surfboards. And if that's the situation for you, well, there isn't any shame in throwing down a little less for your board, especially if you believe you're just going to smash it up like crazy -- which is not unheard of for a new surfer. Just throw down $100, get yourself a simple board, and then paddle out to those glorious waves. Will this cheaper sort of surf board have to be replaced in the future? Well, yeah. However, this approach is WITHOUT A DOUBT better than trying to buy some MEGA board with money you don't likely have, don't you agree?

Selecting Beginner Surfboards - Vital Details To Know.

- Big And Thick. I know, I know -- all those sensational looking surfer dudes & dudets are shredding it up on super sleek, ultra smooth boards and you wish to be like them, right? It may be frustrating for you to hear, but you have still got to hear it: you're not an ultra cool surfer and you can NOT handle a small, narrow board, period. To be frank, you should be working with BIG, THICK boards if you intend to become better at surfing. Using a thicker, bigger board helps with buoyancy as well as paddling; two elements which are extremely important.
In regards to the basic principles of surfing, I would rather do things right (with a giant board) and look goofy than do things incorrectly (small, narrow board) and look "cool". And honestly, how cool will you look when you wipe out again & again?

- Soft Surfing Boards. As the name suggests, these are "soft" - which is the perfect choice for a beginners surfboard. Softboards can be found in local surf shops as well as on online surfing websites. With the increasing number of online surf board dealers popping up -- and their continuing pricing battles -- it's usually better to buy surfboards online instead of locally. Seriously, what is better than learning how to surf without worrying so much about getting injured?

- The Shape Doesn't Matter. At this early phase of learning how to surf, the shape and fins of your board matter little. Currently, you're likely NOT the most impressive surfer there is. The truth is, it may not be a stretch to say you stink. Then again, that's the point, isn't it? You're new and you are merely wanting to learn surfing fundamentals -- nothing more, nothing less. Trying to learn EVERYTHING regarding surfboards, instead of simply learning how to maintain your balance on one WITHOUT tipping over, is ill advised to say the least -- especially for somebody so new to the world of surfing.