Choosing the Right Type of Surfboard
The key to mastering the surf is matching a surfboard to your own surfing style and ability. There are many types of boards and here we profile some of the most popular.
Epoxy Surfboards
Because of its durability, epoxy is a highly useful material for surfboards. Epoxy is a type of resin that is resistant to dents and dings and is combined with foam in surfboards. Epoxy surfboards are usually compared with fiberglass boards but are a lighter and stronger type of surfboard. They often come as hand-shaped or molded epoxy boards.
Beginner’s Softboards
Softboards are the way to go for beginners who are just learning to catch a wave. Beginner’s softboards are flexible but sturdy enough to ride on the face of a wave. In fact, they are stronger than the traditional surfboard and usually have 3 fins. Often called “foamies,” these boards incorporate a foam construction, which makes the surfboard buoyant for the beginner. They are not only stable but they also reduce the amount of injuries for both adults and children. In other words, the softboard is the stepping stone for surfing.
Mini-Mals
The Mini-Mal is a longboard with plenty of buoyancy for a surfer who is just starting out. They are not only long, but also wide, making them excellent choices for catching a wave with stability. The Mini-Mal makes it easier for to turn than a traditional longboard.. Mini-Mals are also known to help beginners transition to intermediate surfers, which is something that softboards lack. Above all, the Mini-Mal offers more maneuverability in comparison to other beginner boards but also has the feel of a longboard.
Longboards
Longboards are designed for beginner surfers to more advanced and can range between 9 to 12 feet in length. They are the prime example of what surfing was back in the days when it first began. The longboard is perfect for just paddling into the water and riding out to the beach. What makes the longboard unique is that the nose is rounded and it tends to have just one fin. Beginners enjoy these boards as they are easy to handle yet fun to hang ten on.
Shortboards
The next step after mastering the longboard is the shortboard, which runs anywhere from 5 to 7 feet in length. It is recommended that beginners do not start out with shortboards as they are quick and more complex to ride. Shortboards are designed for making quick turns with better maneuverability. Compared with other boards short boards are clearly shorter as well as thinner with a pointed nose. They often come with a twin fin, tri fin and even quad fin, which gives advanced surfers more options.
Fish Surfboards
As the name suggests, fish surfboards are designed in the shape of a fish with a swallow tail and a sharp nose. Introduced in the 70s, they are a bit wider and shorter than Epoxy Surfboards and are made for the intermediate to advanced surfer. As a type of short board, the fish surfboard makes it easier to ride flat on a wave rather than vertically. It is easier to ride smaller waves with a fish but more difficult to tackle overhead waves. Those who have perfected their surfing skills fish boards offer great drive through the turn and lift as well as speed and maneuverability.
Gun Surfboards
Guns are surfboards made for those who want to ride the giant waves. Also known as big wave boards, Guns are designed with a pointed nose and tail which help with suction and control in order to hold on to the face of the wave. Guns are wide and designed to avoid spinning out on a waves over 15 feet high.
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