Cornwall Surfpoint - Which Surfboard to Buy: Practical or "e;Cool"e;?

Which Surfboard to Buy: Practical or "Cool"?

So you've been thinking about getting into surfing? Picking the right surf board will help you quickly progress from a newbie surfer to a more accomplished surfer.

Beginner boards are inexpensive, buoyant, easy to paddle and stable. There are two types:

• Soft Surfboard or "Foamies" (8') – soft foam board; prevents injuries to beginners
• Pop Out Surfboard (7'-10') – long, wide, heavy fiberglass covered with foam

Custom fiberglass surfboards are the "cool" surfer boards. They can be very expensive and less buoyant and stable than beginner boards. Custom boards vary in size, shape and fins:

• Short Board or Thruster (5' to 7') – lightweight, hard to paddle and less buoyant; used for quick maneuvers in contest surfing; not for beginners
• Long Board or Malibu (7'-9') – easy to paddle, hard to maneuver; suitable for beginners
• Fish (5' to 6') – short, wide, thick; better wave catching
• Gun (7' to 12') – long, narrow, pointed; used for very big waves