Surfboards which one

All of the other materials on this list are midth century developments in surfing technology. For thousands of years, people surfed with boards shaped out of wood. But there are a few downsides. After WWII, surfers started to experiment with making boards from different materials, and polyurethane PU foam quickly dominated the market.

Poly boards are made with a PU core that is then wrapped in fiberglass and usually coated with polyester resin. Not all surfboard shapers are equal, but if you find a good one, a hand-shaped board is a huge improvement from a mass-produced board.

The foam and resin in a poly board have a little bit of flexibility, which gives you better feedback and control on a wave. Fortunately, poly boards are very easy to repair. PU foam is dense, which gives poly boards the weight they need to cut through choppy waves and usually results in a smoother ride. Surfers who ride large, powerful waves often prefer the stability and control that a poly board provides. In , the largest supplier of PU surfboard blanks in the country abruptly closed his business.

In the vacuum that he created, board makers started switching to epoxy. As more people tried them out, they started gaining a good reputation. Epoxy boards are made with a polystyrene PS or expanded polystyrene EPS foam core, which is coated in fiberglass and epoxy resin.

These foams are a lot less dense that PU foam, so epoxy surfboards are usually lighter. More advanced surfers appreciate that epoxy surfboards can surf small waves that would be more difficult to ride with a poly board.

The materials in an epoxy board are very stiff and durable. The materials are more expensive, harder to shape, and take longer to dry than poly surfboards, but some shapers prefer epoxy because the materials have a lower environmental cost.

If you prefer something highly durable, buoyant, and environmentally-friendly, look for epoxy boards. If you prefer a board that gives you more control, is easier to repair, and costs less, look for poly. The Tahe Mini Nose Rider 7ft 6 surfboard is exactly the same as the original Bic 7ft 6 Mini Nose Rider, It's simply been rebranded with the Tahe name and a subtle set of graphic decals. Shop Tahe Surfboards. As you move onto other brands we stock like Cortez , NSP and Torq you pay more for a more refined shape and lighter construction.

If you're looking for the next step up for your kids then a more solid board is the answer. The epoxy or moulded boards from Oxbow , Cortez , NSP and Torq surfboards give a more positive ride and are a step up to riding the face of the wave and starting to turn the board. We list the sustainability of each size to the weight of the surfer on each product so you can easily work out what's suitable.

Shop Torq Surfboards. The winning factor with all these boards is the construction, the Oxbow , Cortez , NSP and Torq boards all benefit from bullet proof construction, this is crucial because in the early days of your surfing career the board will get dragged, dropped, run up the stones on the beach and worse. It's essential that the board can deal with this punishment and still function properly otherwise learning to surf and improve would be even harder.

This construction issue is why we dont recommend PU construction boards for the very early stages of your surfing journey. Shop NSP Surfboards.

Foamies are the most accessible surfboards price wise, Entry level moulded boards from Oxbow surfboards the Cortez mini mal and surfboards NSP and Torq fun board softboards in epoxy construction are a more refined shape and construction meaning they're lighter and offer a greater chance for progression epoxy is a hard outer shell around a foam core that is machine produced. Upward from there are the ABC range of PU surfboards PU means polyester construction, a foam core layer of glass sealed with resin are a really good option.

These are a step up from the Cortez and Torq Boards again ofering far more refined shapes and construction alongide further potential to advance your wave riding. Moulded and Epoxy boards are undoubtedly hard wearing and tougher than PU boards but the compromise is always durability versus performance.

Shop ABC Surfboards. So there you have it, hopefully this guide will help you make a decision on which board is suitable for your needs. We have guys here eho are just starting out on their surfing adventure, all the way through to people who have surfed for 25 years or More!! Guaranteed damage free next working day delivery puts your mind at rest, if you're not happy in any way we'll refund or swap the board out for you.

Mini-mal surfboards or funboards are perfect for the person who likes the feel of a longboard but wants more maneuverability. Minimals are easier to carry and manage out in the water but with all the surfing ease of a longboard. They therefore are the best board for learning to surf for kids and smaller adults. Advanced surfers can have fun on one of these on small surf days too! See our minimal size charts here.

The longboard or malibu surfboard is a modern replica of what the sport was started on. Paddle into what ever you want and hang ten all the way to the beach. Among the most popular boards in the water and for good reason - longboards are easy to start on and always fun. See our longboard size charts here. Softboards are for kids or beginners to learn to surf on. The length and width of these soft boards are designed to maximise stability and make them easy to paddle on.

The soft construction of the board ensures you don't get hurt during the spills while you still enjoy the thrills. Softboards limit how far you can progress as they don't turn as well due to the soft fins.

Mini-mal's are more popular for the serious learner surfer. The length of your surfboard is the key issue when choosing a surfboard. If a board is too short for you it will make it exponentially harder to learn and slow your progress down dramatically.

It is much faster to learn by starting on the right size board and then drop in size when you are ready. Take a look at our size charts to get an idea about sizes that you should be looking for in your surfboard. Be sure to make the right choice when buying a board and if you are unsure send us an email and we will be happy to help. Are you fit and coordinated?

Someone with better water fitness and coordination can ride a slightly smaller board. Yes things like skateboarding and snowboarding help but most of the fitness is a new kind for your arms so be honest with yourself.

You will learn quicker by not going too short too soon. As a reminder, here are the benefits of starting your surfing journey on a longboard:. Funboards range in length from about 6ft to just over 8ft. If you love all the full-bodied aspects of your longboard and just want something more nimble, an egg shape is a great choice.

They look and feel like mini longboards, maintaining the most stability and buoyancy out of any funboard. The shorter length and thinner rails make it easier to wrap your turns. The straighter rail line caters to speed, flow, and maneuverability. Speed eggs tend to be the longest of the bunch in the funboard category.

The hybrid fish comes in a broadest range of lengths, toting a similar but thicker, lower profile nose like the speed egg, but with a wider swallow tail that gives it a ton of speed! We highly suggest you progress your surfing through and out of the beginner stages and into the basic skill set of the new intermediate surfer. We talked about what it meant to be confident as a beginner longboarder and what skills you should be getting cozy with when looking to downsize to a funboard.

Luckily for us, surfboard shapers have picked up on this and have created an array of shorter performance boards meant to give us easy entry into high performance surfing.

All of these types of shortboards take the speed and agility qualities of a high performance shortboard, and add float, stability and glide to accommodate a wide range of surf conditions. The most forgiving of these entry level shortboard templates is a wider, rounder performance groveler.

These boards have a front end much like an egg or longboard, with a wider tail. Tons of paddle speed! This template is all about creating speed while keeping the ride loose and nimble by going short, about chin to eyebrow high, on board length. The wide-nosed performance groveler is unmatched in poor conditions making a fun, shreddable wave out of just about anything! Next is the more tapered performance groveler. Still sporting a similar wide tail, the nose is pulled in a bit, matching the planing speed with the ability to take a more vertical, aggressive approach to your line.

This style of surfboard gives you an early entry when the waves turn on, and holds enough extra float to score you plenty of waves when your picky surf buds bail and leave the lineup empty just for you. Slightly trickier to sort out, is the performance fish. With an outline like the tapered performance groveler, a performance fish is built for easy paddling, maximum speed and agility. The rails on this ride are a touch thinner than a performance groveler. Fishes are distinguished by their swallow tipped tails.

The wide tail uses the swallow tail to trail an extra point of control through turns. The performance fish takes a patient surfer to figure out the right foot placement and pressure to control unrivaled speed!

Finally, the most advanced style of entry level surfboard templates is the daily driver shortboard. Most surfers that have made it to the shortboard realm keep a daily driver stashed in the surf wagon to keep their vertical surfing sharp, polished and crisp.

As we said when we started this article. This surfboard progression map is just an informative suggestion on which boards will gain you easy access to the three most common surfboard styles.