How to Choose a Surfboard?

HOW TO CHOOSE A SURFBOARD?

Choosing the right surfboard can be tricky… And yet, choosing the right board is essential to enjoying the waves. You need to consider your skill level, weight, height, and wave conditions. To make it easier for you to choose on our website, we’ve put together three key points to help you pick the right board.

1. SURFING TASKS SUITABLE FOR YOUR SKILL LEVEL

You’ll be using your board, so it’s important to assess your skill level. You need to be humble, because if you overestimate your skill level, you’ll choose a board that will limit your progress.

There are 3 levels (Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert):

• IF YOU’RE A BEGINNER:

You’ve just started surfing or have only surfed a few times. You love being in the water and want to learn, but you keep falling during your sessions. It’s important to know that at this stage, it’s best to stay where you can touch the bottom; you can head out to the lineup if there are small waves, or otherwise stay in the whitewater.

We have a wide selection of beginner surfboards, suitable for all weights and sizes. These boards are perfect for making rapid progress and getting your first taste of surfing.

At this stage, we strongly recommend using foam boards. They have the perfect volume for paddling and catching waves easily. The stability of these boards makes it easy to find your balance and, most importantly, they’ll forgive minor mistakes. This way, you’ll learn quickly and safely how to stand up (your first takeoffs) and change direction.

• IF YOU ARE AN INTERMEDIARY:

You surf regularly or have a solid foundation from several surfing vacations. You paddle out to the lineup and can get past the break by doing the “duck dive” on a shortboard or the “turtle dive” on a longboard. Basically, you can surf waves under one meter, you’ve got the takeoff down most of the time, and you can ride the wave.

Once you start feeling comfortable in small waves, it’s time to switch to a mini-malibu. We have a range of to make your transition to shortboards easier. With a mini-Malibu, you’ll have plenty of volume and a shape that offers stability and is forgiving of your mistakes. Plus, this type of board is a pleasure to paddle. You’ll be able to catch as many waves as possible, even in small summer conditions, so you can improve quickly.

If you really want a shortboard, you can also surf high-volume shortboards. Our Torq lineup is perfect, and in our quiver—whether in-store or online—we’ll have a few other gems to show you, like the Seaside & Beyond from Firewire.

• IF YOU’RE AN EXPERT:

You’ve been surfing for years. You get out on the water frequently or very regularly. You paddle out to the open water with ease—the duck dive is your best friend. You’re not afraid, and you can surf both small waves and powerful waves over one meter. You’re able to make tight turns, long arcs, and even perform maneuvers. You don’t have to pull off every maneuver, but you manage to do so regularly.

At this point, we know you want high-performance boards. Whether it’s a longboard or a shortboard, you want a board that’s maneuverable and suited to the waves and your style.

You have your own preferences when it comes to board shapes and fins. That’s why we’ve put together a quiver featuring Firewires—ranging from the Go Fish to the Sci-Fi—as well as “performance” longboards. Whether you’re a skilled shortboarder or longboarder, we’ve got what you need.

2. A SURFBOARD THAT SUITS YOUR BODY TYPE

In addition to considering your skill level, you should also take your body type into account.

There is one exception: beginners. Whether you’re tall, short, slim, or stocky, if you’re just starting out in surfing, you should choose a board with plenty of volume. A high-volume board is easy to paddle, which means you’ll catch as many waves as possible and, as a result, improve quickly.

For the rest of you surfers, it’s important to know that your board’s dimensions are proportional to your height and weight. To put it more clearly, the heavier you are, the longer, wider, and thicker your board should be. Board lengths are measured in feet (1 foot = 30.48 cm), so don’t worry—a longboard isn’t going to be 9 meters long.

We’ve implemented an algorithm on our website to help you choose a board based on your body type. You can find our weight and height recommendations below each board on our website. Feel free to use it to find the perfect board in our Quiver.

Choosing a board based on your weight and height isn’t an exact science; the best way is to try out several boards until you find the perfect one. Don’t hesitate to try out a few. With Marty Surf Delivery, you can rent one and swap it out the next day or within the week to find the right board. Renting is also a great way to test out different boards to help you choose the right one for your future purchase.

3. SURFING BASED ON CONDITIONS (WAVES)

For all skill levels and body types, it’s essential to understand how to choose a surfboard based on the waves. The right choice is the one that will give you the most fun based on the size and type of wave you’ll be surfing. Today, there’s no single surfboard that’s perfectly suited for all wave conditions. However, there are different boards for different types of waves. In fact, if you want to surf every day, you’ll likely need to use different surfboards to adapt to the weather and different spots, so don’t hesitate to call us and switch boards.

Let’s take a closer look at the different conditions:

• FOR SMALL, GENTLE WAVES (NOT POWERFUL)

We don’t want to generalize, but these are often the summer conditions we see in France. In any case, to have fun in small, weak waves, you should choose a mini-Malibu (hybrid) or longboard to catch the wave easily. These are the perfect conditions for long turns and “noseride” sessions! You can also opt for voluminous shortboards or fish boards. The goal is to have a board that compensates for the lack of power with fast, efficient paddling—in other words, a board with length and/or volume.

• FOR HOLLOW WAVES

Winter means hollow waves, but sometimes in the summer, our sandbars in the Landes—as well as in places like Anglet and Biarritz—can surprise us. In any case, it’s best to choose a short board that isn’t too wide and has some rocker (a board that isn’t flat). Simply put, you need a shortboard. The ideal volume and size will depend on your preferences and body type, but if you want to get the most out of it, you should choose a shortboard—preferably a high-performance one. Rocker is important to keep the nose from diving into the bottom of the wave… Rocker also helps you execute maneuvers in sections where the wave has a sharp curve.

To choose the perfect board, it’s also a good idea to ask for advice. Feel free to pick out your gear with friends or give us a call so we can help you find the perfect board to rent! When it comes to buying, there’s nothing better than trying it out. Again, if we have the board you want to buy, don’t hesitate to come try it out in the store.

If you’re looking to buy a surfboard, check out Zeus Surf Boards!

Happy surfing,

Marty