Knowing when and what board to progress to in the early stages of your surfing experience can be a complex topic. There are plenty of factors to consider, including how you feel when riding your current surfboard, board volume, and the style of surfing you would like to pursue.
We want you to get the most out of your surfing at Wetsuit Centre. Our guide covers everything you need to know to reach your surfing potential, providing you with the proper guidance to lead you in the right direction when it comes to your surfboard progression.
WHEN ARE YOU READY TO PROGRESS FROM A FOAM SURFBOARD?
Let's start at the very beginning for those new to surfing. You may have your own foamie, also known as a soft-top surfboard, or have been hiring one every surf session. Either way, before you are ready to dedicate a purchase to a hardboard, some careful consideration will be needed.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BASICS COVERED
Foam surfboards are better suited for beginners. Their increased volume makes them more buoyant, making it easier to catch waves and more stable when it comes to popping up on your board. Fomies are also softer, so if you find yourself falling a lot, it’s a good idea to stick to one of these until you get to grips with riding waves for a longer period of time.
If you think you are ready to progress to a hardboard, it may be worth knowing you can do the following:
- - Paddle out back.
- - How to read the waves.
- - Catching green waves on your own and starting to surf down the line.
- - Pop up with both feet landing in the correct place.
- - Turtle roll through white water.
- - Follow good surf etiquette.
Feeling competent at these skills is especially important when progressing to a harder board, as it will feel a lot different from the extra float provided by a soft-top board. You may feel slightly wobbly and find it a little harder to paddle, which is perfectly normal and expected, but being able to do all of the above before making the switch will make your journey that much more enjoyable.
If you are just starting out on your surfing journey and would like some guidance on what size surfboard you should get, our previous blog below can help.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CURRENT SURFBOARD IS SUITABLE?
If you ride a hard surfboard and want to know if the board you currently use is suitable for your surfing abilities, you ideally should be able to do the following:
- EASILY PADDLE YOUR SURFBOARD
Ideally, you should find that after a few sessions in the water with a new board, you can paddle it more easily than not. You should be able to balance on the board as you paddle and, minus the odd few occasions, be able to sit up on it without too much trouble.
- YOU CATCH WAVES WITH EASE
When we refer to this, we mean that waves are not frequently disappearing under you. If this does happen, it could be your positioning. The nose shouldn’t be sticking too far out of the water; it should be resting on the surface.
If you’re lying too far back when trying to paddle into a wave, this will halt the board's speed and slow you down, preventing you from catching the wave. However, if you find you are struggling to catch waves despite this, it could mean that the board is currently too small for your ability.
- AVOID NOSE DIVING
On the other hand, if you’re too far back on your board, you may end up nose-diving. This is something that will happen throughout your surfing experience, especially at the beginning.
You need to adjust your position slightly back on your board or arch your back more - think of a banana shape when paddling! Remember, it can take a few attempts to find your ‘sweet spot’ when switching to a new board, so don’t give up after the first couple of sessions!
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR SURFBOARD IS TOO SMALL?
You may think walking down the beach with a shortboard looks cool, but if you find yourself struggling to paddle the board or catch waves, you may need to consider selecting a slightly bigger board. After all, the best surfer is the one who has the most fun, right? The last thing you want is to feel frustrated because you couldn’t catch any waves!
Be patient, believe in yourself, and work your way down to a smaller board slowly - if that’s your ultimate goal.
PROGRESS BEFORE YOU DECREASE THE SIZE OF YOUR SURFBOARD
If you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer, progression can be challenging on short boards that are too small. Not only may you struggle to paddle into waves, but the time on your feet is limited if you haven’t got the fundamentals down. This means you have less practice standing up on your board, hindering your surfing progression.
CONSIDER A MINI-MAL SURFBOARD
A much-loved in-between board tends to be a Mini-Mal. Once you have mastered this, you may want to consider moving on to another board.
If you’re aiming for a shorter board, it is recommended to decrease the length in stages and experiment with shorter boards throughout the process.
WHY ARE VOLUME, WIDTH AND THICKNESS IMPORTANT?
Length is not the only element to consider when choosing the right surfboard. The volume, width and thickness of a board also have an equal part to play in the advancement of your surfing.
The volume of the board is almost like the float of the board. Combined with the correct width and thickness, it can also stabilise the board, despite the length. Therefore, you could have a smaller-sized board while maintaining the balance usually associated with longer boards.
WHAT IS THE ROCKER AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE SURFBOARD?
The rocker affects the shape of the board. For example, if a board has ‘more rocker’, it means the board curves more. When looking at the board side-on, it will embody a more upward-bending shape. This design is usually found in shortboards, as they’re made to sit in steeper waves, allowing surfers to take off later whilst minimising the risk of nose-diving.
If you’re learning to surf, then you ideally want a flatter rocker as it steadies the board. Longboards and mini-mals tend to be shaped with a flat rocker, making it easier to catch the wave earlier, due to the increased surface area in contact with the water, giving you more time to stand up and navigate riding mellow, friendlier waves.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN PROGRESSING TO A LONGBOARD OR SHORTBOARD?
This question depends entirely on how you would like to personally progress your surfing. Longboards and shortboards offer different styles and experiences of surfing.
They can also be swell-dependent, as longboards work well in smaller and mellow waves, whilst shortboards will work better in bigger, steeper waves.
It’s worth noting that as you advance, there are also other types of surfboard options in between these two standard styles, such as funboards and fish surfboards.
SHORTBOARDS VS LONGBOARDS
In general, shortboards can offer:
- - A more snappy and quick style of surfing.
- - Light in weight which makes them easier to travel with.
- - Generally more suitable in powerful and bigger waves.
- - Easier to turn (but less stable if you're not used to it).
On the other hand, longboards can offer:
- - A smooth, chilled style of surfing.
- - More of a platform to ‘walk the board’ and ‘hang ten’.
- - Catching waves with ease (you can catch waves before other surfers because you’re further back in the surf).
- - Useful in smaller surf.
However, it is also relevant to point out that you don’t have to stick to one style, and you can surf between the two board styles! As you advance more and become used to one, why not challenge yourself with the other?
If you have any other questions concerning surfboard for progression, why not ask us on our social media channels? We would love to help you out!
So, now you have more of an idea of the type of surfboard you need, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared for the water by browsing our range of wetsuits and accessories.