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Learn to Surf Lesson 1 - Choosing The Perfect Surfboard

There a few steps you need to take when learning to surf.

1: Start with the right surfboard

2: 2nd learn to paddle

3: 3rd learn how to duck dive or roll

4: Next learning how to catch a wave

5: Last of all, you can now learn how to pop up or stand on your board

In this article we will cover the first step, how to choose the right surfboard. Most people like to go out and buy the best looking, and stylish board possible, but these are normally not for beginners.

You can get yourself a brand new surfboard after you got your balance on a big old board. So the first thing to look for is size, you want something with plenty of floatation. If the board is to small it will also sink and create more drag when paddling, the bigger the board, the more floataion you will have, and the bigger you are, the more floatation you will need.

You will be able to ride a small board sooner, if you start on a big board first. So if you plan to get into short boards look for something around 6ft 10inches up to 8ft long, but if you are looking at getting into long boarding try a Malibu of 10 or 12ft, make sure you can carry it.

The larger the board is, the harder it will be to turn, manoeuver, and get out past the breakers. So your first board should not necessairly be oversized, or cost a fortune. Get a cheap 7ft or 8ft board that has a few dings, this will just be to learn on, and once you've mastered the basics you can trade it in. When choosing your first board, dings don't mater, however you don't want the foam showing. If the fibreglass is peeling off, water will get into the foam, and weigh the board down. So don't choose anything too fancy, but make sure its going to float, and can be paddled easily.

The shape of the board should not worry you, if it has a swallow tail or is square, it wont matter, you will be going pretty much straight ahead anyway. Just like the number of fins wont bother you, 1 or 3 whatever. You will not be doing tight turns, so shape and fins don't matter, however whatever surfboard you choose remember it should be at least 2 to 3 inches thick and at least 19 inches wide.

Most importantly when you get your first board is to get a leg rope. You might hear horror stories of the board getting dragged under then getting pulled back towards you like a bungy and knocking you out, but this will only happen in huge swell, which I hope you will not be tackling when learning to surf.

If you go out without a legrope, or an old one that snaps, I can guarantee you will loose your board. Swimming in the ocean is dangerous, you have rips, gutters, sweeps and waves knocking you about, it is also hard to see anybody through the waves.

You may get stuck in a gutter, where you can swim as hard as you like and feel like your getting nowhere, the board could be only meters away and every time you just get within reach, a swell picks it up and pushes it further. Worse yet, you could get taken by a rip right out the back, even the sideways sweep will lead you into rip. This is essential, besides the danger of drowning, it is a real hassle having to swim to shore just to recover your board every time, trust me I've done this several times and it will ruin your session.

You will need a new legrope, this is something you can keep when trading in your surfboard, so it will not be wasted with an old board. Quality is best, but any new rope should be strong enough. Make sure you get a legrope that is long enough to reach you when standing forward on the board. But don't get anything too long, if the rope is too long it can act as a bungy, pulling your board right back at you.

Now you should have a surfboard picked out, big, old, and cheap. So it's time to practice, read the next few articles in the series, then head out with your mates.