Ultimate Surfboard Selection Guide: How to Choose a Surfboard with Confidence

One of the biggest mistakes I made learning to surf was riding the wrong board for years.

Not months.

Years.

I thought progression meant riding smaller boards.

Less volume.

More performance.

What it actually gave me was frustration.

Less waves.

And a lot of sessions wondering why everyone else seemed to be progressing faster.

The truth?

The right surfboard can completely change your surfing.

The wrong one can hold you back for years.

I’ve surfed everything from longboards and mini mals through to fishes, hybrids and performance shortboards.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that choosing a surfboard isn’t about buying the coolest board in the shop.

It’s about matching the board to your goals, skill level and the waves you actually surf.

This guide will help you do exactly that.

Jump to Section

Final Thoughts

What Type of Surfer Do You Want to Become?

The Biggest Surfboard Mistake I See

Surfboard Types Explained

How Much Volume Do You Really Need?

Understanding Surfboard Dimensions

Assess Your Current Skill Level

Match Your Surfboard to the Waves You Surf

Common Surfboard Mistakes

My Surfboard Recommendations

FAQs About Choosing a Surfboard

What Type of Surfer Do You Want to Become?

Before we talk about dimensions, volume and board shapes, there’s a more important question.

What kind of surfer do you actually want to become?

This is where I see a lot of surfers get stuck.

They jump between longboards, fishes, mid lengths and shortboards without ever deciding what experience they want from surfing.

Do you want:

• maximum wave count?
• stylish flowing turns?
• high-performance surfing?
• easy paddling?
• small wave fun?
• confidence in bigger surf?

There’s no wrong answer.

But different goals require different boards.

One of the hardest things I found was constantly switching between different styles of surfing.

Looking back, I think I would’ve progressed faster if I’d committed to a lane earlier and chosen boards that supported that style.

The Biggest Surfboard Mistake I See

Most surfers ask:

“What board should I buy?”

I think the better question is:

“What waves do I actually surf most often?”

Because the best surfboard in the world is useless if it doesn’t suit your local conditions.

A high-performance shortboard might look amazing in perfect waves.

But if you mostly surf average beach breaks, you’ll often catch more waves and have more fun on something with extra volume.

I spent years trying to ride boards that looked exciting rather than boards that suited the waves I surfed.

The result?

Less waves.

More frustration.

Slower progression.

Once I started matching boards to the conditions instead of my ego, surfing became a lot more enjoyable.

Matching Surfboard Types to Your Goals

Here’s how I think about different board types.

Not in terms of what’s “best.”

But in terms of what experience they create.

Shortboards

Best for:

• performance surfing
• steep waves
• experienced surfers
• surfers willing to sacrifice wave count for manoeuvrability

For many surfers, the shortboard is the dream.

Fast turns.

Critical manoeuvres.

Vertical surfing.

A good shortboard allows you to push harder, turn tighter and surf more aggressively than almost any other board type.

But there’s a trade-off.

Shortboards generally paddle slower, require more precise positioning and offer less forgiveness when your timing is off.

This is where a lot of surfers get stuck.

They move to a shortboard because they think that’s what progression looks like, only to find themselves catching fewer waves and having less fun.

I know because I’ve done exactly that.

A shortboard can be an incredible tool when your skill level, fitness and local conditions support it.

But if you’re still struggling with wave count, consistency or confidence, there’s a good chance a little more volume would actually help your surfing more.

Shortboards are best suited to surfers who are already:

• catching waves consistently
• generating speed down the line
• performing basic turns
• comfortable surfing independently

For the right surfer in the right conditions, nothing feels quite like a shortboard.

For everyone else, there is no shame in riding something with a bit more foam.

Mid Length Surfboards

If I could only recommend one category of surfboard to most adult surfers, it would probably be a mid length.

Mid lengths sit between a longboard and a shortboard.

They offer:

• easier paddling than a shortboard
• more wave count
• smoother turns
• enough performance to keep improving

This is why they’re so popular with:

• returning surfers
• intermediate surfers
• surfers looking for one board to handle a wide range of conditions

I’ve watched plenty of surfers transition onto them and immediately start catching more waves and surfing with more confidence.

Longboards

Best for:

• maximum wave count
• easy paddling
• confidence
• small waves
• learning faster

If your goal is to catch more waves, build confidence and spend more time actually surfing, it’s hard to go past a longboard.

Longboards paddle faster, catch waves earlier and forgive mistakes that would leave you struggling on a smaller board.

That’s why most surf schools start beginners on longboards and why many experienced surfers still keep one in their quiver.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that there is no shame in riding a bigger board.

In fact, some of the happiest surfers I know spend most of their time on longboards because they’re focused on having fun, not proving anything.

Longboards are ideal for:

• beginners
• returning surfers
• older surfers
• small wave conditions
• anyone wanting more waves and less frustration

If you’re currently wondering whether your surfboard is too small, moving to a longboard for a few sessions can be surprisingly eye-opening.

More waves often leads to more progression.

Fishes and Funboards

Best for:

• fun
• speed
• smaller waves
• surfers who don’t take themselves too seriously

Fishes and funboards sit in one of my favourite categories of surfboards.

They’re often the boards that remind people why they started surfing in the first place.

More waves.

More speed.

More smiles.

Less frustration.

While performance shortboards often demand perfect positioning and strong paddling, fishes and funboards are generally designed to make average conditions more enjoyable.

They usually carry a little more volume than a shortboard, helping you catch waves earlier and maintain speed through weaker sections.

This makes them a popular choice for:

• intermediate surfers
• weekend surfers
• smaller wave conditions
• surfers looking to maximise fun

I’ve found many surfers get stuck chasing performance when what they really need is a board that helps them enjoy surfing more often.

That’s where fishes and funboards shine.

They can still turn well, generate speed and perform manoeuvres, but they do it without demanding perfection from every take-off.

If most of your surfing happens in average beach breaks, weak summer waves or crowded conditions, a fish or funboard can often provide the perfect balance between wave count and performance.

For many surfers, they’re the boards that stay in the car the longest because they simply work in a wider range of everyday conditions.

How Much Volume Do You Really Need?

For years I thought volume didn’t matter.

Or at least I thought less volume automatically meant better surfing.

Now I think volume is one of the most misunderstood parts of surfboard selection.

More volume usually means:

• easier paddling
• earlier wave entry
• more stability
• more wave count

Less volume usually means:

• more responsiveness
• tighter turns
• less forgiveness

The trick isn’t riding the smallest board possible.

It’s finding the balance between performance and wave count.

For most surfers, especially beginners, intermediates and older surfers, more volume is often the answer.

Still unsure?

Read: Is My Surfboard Too Small? 7 Signs You’re Riding the Wrong Board

Understanding Surfboard Dimensions

One of the biggest mistakes surfers make is focusing on length alone.

You’ll often hear people ask:

“Should I ride a 6’6 or a 7’0?”

But length is only one part of the equation.

Volume, width and thickness are often just as important.

A longer board will generally paddle faster and catch waves earlier.

A wider board will usually feel more stable.

More volume often means more forgiveness and easier wave catching.

Less volume generally means more responsiveness, but it also requires better positioning, stronger paddling and more precise timing.

This is where many surfers get into trouble.

They buy the board they think they should be riding instead of the board that will help them catch the most waves.

In my experience, most surfers would improve faster by riding slightly more volume than they think they need.

More waves usually means more progression.

The tables below are general starting points only.

Your ideal surfboard will also depend on your fitness, experience, local conditions and the type of surfing you enjoy.

Here is a link to a surfboard calculator.

Assess Your Current Skill Level

One of the biggest mistakes surfers make is choosing a board for the surfer they want to become instead of the surfer they are today.

I know because I’ve done it myself.

I spent years trying to force boards to work because I thought they represented progression.

In reality, they were often slowing me down.

Being honest about your current ability is one of the fastest ways to choose the right board.

Not sure whether you’re a beginner, advanced beginner or intermediate surfer? I’ll be putting together a detailed surf skill assessment guide soon.

Beginner

You’re still learning:

• how to catch waves consistently
• how to pop up
• how to position yourself
• basic surf etiquette

Best board types:

• longboards
• mini mals
• soft tops
• high volume funboards

Your goal is wave count.

Advanced Beginner

You’re catching waves regularly and starting to angle across the face.

You may be attempting basic turns and feeling more comfortable in a variety of conditions.

Best board types:

• mini mals
• funboards
• forgiving mid lengths
• higher volume fishes

Your goal is confidence and consistency.

Want specific board recommendations? Read my guide to the Best Surfboard for Older Women.

Intermediate

You can catch your own waves, surf independently and perform basic manoeuvres.

You’re starting to develop your own style and preferences.

Best board types:

• fishes
• hybrids
• mid lengths
• performance funboards

Your goal is refining your surfing.

Advanced

You already know what kind of surfing you enjoy.

You’re choosing boards based on conditions rather than ability.

At this stage there are fewer rules.

Your goal is matching equipment to the waves and the experience you want.

Remember:

The best surfers aren’t always riding the most advanced boards.

They’re often riding the boards that help them surf the most.

Beginner Surfers

Your goal isn’t performance.

It’s wave count.

The more waves you catch, the faster you’ll learn.

This is why beginners usually do best on boards with plenty of volume, stability and paddle power.

Longboards, mini mals and larger funboards help you catch waves earlier and spend more time surfing instead of struggling.

If you want to find out the best surfboards for beginners, look at this in-depth article.

---

---

Weight	Recommended Volume (Liters)
50-60kg (110-132 lbs)	40-50 liters
60-70kg (132-154 lbs)	50-60 liters
70-80kg (154-176 lbs)	60-70 liters
80-90kg (176-198 lbs)	70-80 liters
90+kg (198+ lbs)	80+ liters

Intermediate Surfers

This is where things get interesting.

You’re no longer just trying to stand up.

You’re learning to generate speed, trim properly and perform basic turns.

Most surfers start experimenting with different board types at this stage.

The challenge is not downsizing too quickly.

A board should help you catch enough waves to keep improving while still allowing room for progression.

Weight	Recommended Volume (Liters)
50-60kg (110-132 lbs)	35-45 liters
60-70kg (132-154 lbs)	45-55 liters
70-80kg (154-176 lbs)	50-60 liters
80-90kg (176-198 lbs)	60-70 liters
90+kg (198+ lbs)	70+ liters

Advanced Surfers

At this stage, there are fewer rules.

You’re usually choosing boards based on conditions and the type of surfing you want to do rather than simply your ability level.

Performance becomes more important than forgiveness.

But even advanced surfers often ride more volume than people think, especially in average conditions.

Remember that these guidelines serve as general recommendations but can vary depending on personal preferences or specific conditions. Finding the right balance between stability and performance is crucial for an enjoyable and progressive surfing experience.

Weight	Recommended Volume (Liters)
50-60kg (110-132 lbs)	25-35 liters
60-70kg (132-154 lbs)	30-40 liters
70-80kg (154-176 lbs)	35-45 liters
80-90kg (176-198 lbs)	40-50 liters
90+kg (198+ lbs)	45-55 liters

Common Surfboard Mistakes

I’ve made most of these myself.

Some of them cost me years of progression.

Buying a Board for Your Ego

This is probably the biggest mistake in surfing.

You see better surfers riding high-performance shortboards and assume that’s what progression looks like.

I certainly did.

For years I thought smaller boards meant better surfing.

What it actually gave me was fewer waves, more frustration and slower improvement.

The best board isn’t the most impressive board.

It’s the board that gets you into the most waves.

---

Downsizing Too Early

Most surfers move to smaller boards long before they’re ready.

A smaller board won’t magically make you surf better.

If anything, it often exposes weaknesses in positioning, paddling and wave reading.

Before downsizing, ask yourself:

Am I consistently catching waves?

Am I generating speed?

Am I surfing confidently in a range of conditions?

If the answer is no, more volume is often the better choice.

---

Constantly Changing Boards

I’ve definitely been guilty of this one.

Longboard.

Fish.

Shortboard.

Twin fin.

Mid length.

Back to a fish.

Every new board felt like it might finally be the answer.

But constantly changing equipment makes it difficult to develop consistency.

Spend enough time on a board to actually learn what it does well before moving on to something else.

---

Copying Better Surfers

One of the worst ways to choose a surfboard is by copying someone else’s setup.

That surfer might weigh 20kg more than you.

Surf every day.

Live next to a perfect point break.

Or simply want something completely different from their surfing.

Choose boards based on your goals, your waves and your ability level.

Not someone else’s.

---

Focusing on Performance Instead of Wave Count

If there’s one theme running through this entire guide, it’s this:

Wave count matters.

The surfers who improve fastest are usually the surfers catching the most waves.

Before chasing performance, make sure your equipment is helping you spend as much time on waves as possible.

If you’re preparing for a surf trip or retreat, choosing the right board before you leave can make a huge difference to your progression.

Read: Preparing for a Surf Trip

Match Your Surfboard to the Waves You Actually Surf

One of the biggest surfboard mistakes isn’t choosing the wrong board.

It’s choosing the right board for the wrong waves.

I see this all the time.

A surfer falls in love with a board after watching someone rip on it in perfect waves, buys the same board, then spends the next year surfing average beach breaks wondering why it feels so difficult.

The reality is that your local conditions matter just as much as your skill level.

Small Waves

If you mostly surf small, weak or inconsistent waves, more volume is usually your friend.

Longboards, mid lengths, fishes and higher-volume hybrids will help you:

• catch waves earlier
• maintain speed through flat sections
• surf for longer with less effort
• have more fun on average days

Most of us spend far more time surfing average waves than perfect ones.

There’s no shame in choosing equipment that makes those sessions better.

Bigger Waves

As waves become steeper, faster and more powerful, manoeuvrability becomes increasingly important.

This is where shorter boards often start to shine.

A more responsive board allows you to:

• fit into steeper take-offs
• react faster
• make tighter turns
• handle critical sections more comfortably

That doesn’t mean you automatically need a tiny shortboard whenever the surf gets bigger.

Many experienced surfers still ride boards with plenty of volume in larger waves.

The goal is finding the balance between paddle power, control and confidence.

One of the things I love most about teaching women to surf is watching their relationship with the ocean change.

Many arrive focused on standing up or catching their first wave, but over time something deeper happens. They become calmer in the water, more confident in challenging conditions, and start trusting themselves in a way that often carries over into the rest of their lives.

For me, one of the biggest breakthroughs wasn’t a new surfboard or learning a new manoeuvre. It was learning how to control my breath.

Once I learnt how to recover faster between waves, stay underwater with more calm, and manage the mental side of getting caught inside, my confidence in the ocean grew dramatically.

The ocean didn’t change.

My relationship with it did.

If surf confidence, hold-downs or fear in the water are things you struggle with, you might find my guide on surf breath training helpful: Surf Apnea Training: Mastering Breath-Hold Techniques

Be Honest About What You Surf Most

If you’re lucky enough to surf perfect waves every day, your board choices will probably look very different from someone surfing average beach breaks a few times a week.

Choose your surfboard based on the waves you actually surf most often, not the waves you wish you surfed.

That simple shift can save years of frustration.

Wrapping Up and My Experience With Choosing Surfboards

Final Thoughts

If I could go back and give my younger surfing self one piece of advice, it would be this:

Choose the board that helps you catch the most waves.

When I first started surfing, I borrowed a friend’s board.

It was far too advanced for me.

But instead of admitting that, I convinced myself I just needed to get better.

So I stuck with it.

For years.

I thought struggling was part of the process.

I thought smaller boards meant faster progression.

In reality, I was making surfing much harder than it needed to be.

Looking back, I would have progressed far faster on a board with more volume, more forgiveness and more wave-catching ability.

That’s why this guide keeps coming back to the same idea.

Wave count matters.

The more waves you catch, the more opportunities you have to learn.

The more opportunities you have to learn, the faster you’ll improve.

So don’t choose a surfboard based on what looks impressive.

Choose the one that gets you into the most waves and keeps you excited to paddle out again tomorrow.

The ocean doesn’t care what board you’re riding.

It only cares whether you’re out there.

Surfboards I Recommend

Rather than recommending one “best” surfboard, I prefer matching boards to goals.

For Older Women

👉 Best Surfboard for Older Women

If You Want Maximum Wave Count

👉 Beach Cruiser

If You Want One Board for Almost Everything

👉 Mid Tide Review

If You Love Small Wave Fun

👉 Flounder Pounder Review

If You’re Ready for More Performance

👉 Falcon Review

FAQs About Choosing a Surfboard

---

Q: Is it worth buying a beginner surfboard?
A: Absolutely. Investing in a beginner surfboard tailored to your needs can significantly enhance your learning curve, provide better stability, and ensure safety as you get acquainted with the waves.

---

Q: What first surfboard should I buy?
A: For most beginners, a soft-top longboard in the range of 7 to 9 feet is recommended. They offer great stability, are forgiving during mistakes, and allow easy wave catching. However, individual preferences and physical attributes can influence the best choice, so consider consulting with local surf shops or instructors.

---

Q: How do I choose a surfboard for beginners?
A: When choosing a surfboard for beginners:

1. Volume & Stability: Opt for boards with good volume and width, ensuring stability.
2. Material: Soft-top boards are generally recommended for their safety and durability.
3. Length: A longer board, often a longboard, helps in catching waves easily and provides a stable platform.
4. Tail & Fin Configuration: A wider tail and a tri-fin setup can help with stability.
5. Consultation: It’s always beneficial to talk to experienced surfers or instructors for tailored advice.

---

Q: How much should I spend on a surfboard?
A: The cost of a surfboard can vary widely based on brand, material, and craftsmanship. For beginners, you can find quality soft-top longboards ranging from $200 to $500. However, it’s essential to prioritize quality and durability over cost, as a well-maintained board can serve you for years. Consider reading reviews, seeking recommendations, and visiting local surf shops to find a board that fits your budget and needs.

---