How To Choose A Surfboard

Edwin Hammond Meredith is a chef living in the Florida Keys. An outdoor enthusiast, he recently completed a stand up paddle boarding race from Key Largo, Florida, to Flamingo, Florida, a distance of 33.8 miles. Edwin Hammond Meredith maintains a number of additional outdoor interests, including horseback riding and surfing.

One of the many appeals of surfing is the minimal investment in equipment. This puts an added emphasis on selecting the correct surfboard, one that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but is also appropriate for the surfer’s height, weight, and skill level. While it may sound counterintuitive, the first board a rider buys should be relatively cheap. Minor accidents and board-breaking accidents can happen at any time to surfers in any skill bracket, so there is no sense in paying hundreds of dollars on equipment until a rider has more experience. Likewise, a long and thick board provides better balance for beginners, minimizing the risk of capsizing or falling off. Until the rider becomes more comfortable, it is best to ignore the rest of the board—fins and tails are only important for maneuvering capabilities, something beginning surfers won’t be attempting for at least up to half a year.