Selecting the right surf board is important for surfing progress. It is important to surf on the surf board that complements a surfers skill. This means that beginners should be on high volume soft top boards and experts will want boards that are fast and carve in their style.
Surfers can greatly impede their progress by selecting a surf board that prevents them from progressing or that is too advanced for their skills. The proper way to progress is start with high volume and gradually decrease the volume.
The Characteristics of Surf Boards
Volume on a surf board is calculated by multiplying the length by the width by the thickness. Beginners weight 100 pounds could start on an 8′ soft top. Beginners 125 pounds and over could start on a 9′ soft top. Beginners over 180 pounds should have a high volume 9′ soft top that is 24 inches wide and 3+ inches thick.
The characteristics of a soft top beginner board are that it floats on top of the water and allows easier paddling. Paddling is the most tiring aspect of surfing. Second, the soft top allows foam waves to push it. The beginner starts near the beach on small foam waves.
The third important characteristic of a soft top board is it is easier to do a pop up and get into the right posture. A beginner needs an extra amount of board forgiveness. The lower the volume of the board, the more perfect the pop up process and final posture have to be.
If a beginning surfer on a 9′ soft top under 160 pounds (just an estimate) is nailing the pop up and riding to the beach, they can consider moving to an 8′ soft top. Anytime a surfer wants to move to a longer surf board like a 9′ or 9’6″ hard board, there should be little problem.
Surfers who can’t visit the water often to practice should maintain high volume boards. Surfers should learn to ride real waves and perform basic maneuvers of catching, bottom turning, and cut backs on a foam board before moving to a shorter hard board.
Movement to shorter boards should be at a slow pace of 6″ at a time maintaining a width of 21+” and 2 3/4″ thick. A shorter hard board is harder to paddle because it sinks lower in the water. It is harder to catch waves because the surfer now has to be accomplished at catching real waves. It gets harder to stand up on if the volume is too low for the skill set.
It is much better to select a board that is easier to surf rather than one that makes you look cool. Falling off frequently is not cool. Once you get into the line up, if you miss waves or fall off, the line up will start blocking you from catching waves.
Move slowly and make fun the the priority.
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
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