l would love links, but it is okay if you do not have links.

IDK if this stuff is usefull?!?

Height: 5'2'' (height from 2 yrs ago)
Weight: 130

Your First Surfboard

You can learn to surf on whatever board u like, but some surfboards r more appropriate than others. To maximize the rate at which ur surfing progresses u need to get started on the right board. You did not start ur driving lessons in a Ferrari, u do not want to learn to surf in a Ferrari (you know what we mean!). So what is the anti-Ferrari in surfboard terms (confused yet?).



The Soft Surfboard
If u have ever had surfing lessons with a surf school u should already have a good idea as to which surfboard is best for the beginner. Is is a soft surfboard. Sometimes called 'Foamies', these soft boards r ideal because the soft foam construction means the boards r incredibly buoyant, enabling the beginner to catch waves easily. Their dimensions ensure that they r very stable in the water - making it much easier for the novice to stand up.



The fact that they r soft makes them an ideal board for a surf school where any injuries r minimized. A custom fibreglass surfboard can hurt if u fall onto it. (Even the fins on this design r soft to a certain degree. An ideal soft surfboard to buy for an adult would be around 8' in length. A softboard around the 6' region would suit a child.

These boards, while ideal for a single surfing lesson r perhaps not the best surfboard to buy for an adult who will be surfing regularly. Most people would quickly outgrow these boards & would be left needing a replacement pretty soon - not making it the best buy. For small children who will not progress in surfing so quickly, or for adults who only go surfing on vacation once a year they r a great buy.

The Pop-Out
A Pop-Out is a surfboard that is made on a production line & is a cheap alternative to a custom made fibreglass surfboard. The Pop-Out is made of foam covered with thick fibreglass & r practically indestructible. As a result of their construction the popout is much heavier than a softboard or a custom. The weight reduces the performance of the board, which is good from a learners point of view - the board is much steadier in the water.



The downside of these boards is that their weight means that they can pack a hefty wallop, so when using these boards u need to pay attention to where the board is going if u come off it, & be aware of other surfers & water users.

The Pop-Out is a popular choice as a beginners board, they offer more for the average surfer than the soft boards because they have a longer time span where they r still of use as a board to learn to surf on. Another great thing about the Pop-Out is that they r in demand & always have a good resale value when u have learned to surf on them & r looking to buy a board more suitable to ur surfing ability - u try finding a second hand one.
your first board does not need to be profesionaly shaped. u may not even like surfing.
some links-http://islesurfboards.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=405
craigs list (select area, than go to for sale & in that go to sporting)http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us

Mia, let me tell you.if u buy a board before u know how to really ride, u may just be wasting ur money. You may not like the style u got. & surfboards ai not cheap sista, u know what l am telling ya!??
l suggest u either talk some friends into letting u ride theirs or maybe even rent a couple different ones at the local shop. After that..you will know what u want.
When u end up buying, hopefully u buy from a local shaper. Their boards r custom for ur needs & they r usually cheaper than those off the rack. Have fun

For some reason, it seems like somebody asks this same question at least once every ten days!
Surfing is an ocean sport. before u decide to surf, decide to know & understand the ocean. Learn to be at home with its currents, rips, undertows & sometimes BIG waves. The original surfers were watermen (and women, both men & women surfed, but certain waves were reserved for royalty).

l spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving & fishing. l even surfed in different places the Navy sent me, when it was possible.

There r good things about both long & short boards. l ride both (one at a time , of course). In the mid sixties, like almost everybody else, l started on a longboard. l went shorter & shorter every summer, during the 'short board revolution.' After getting out of the service, l had afew years of sporadic surfing, before l got back to surfing as much as possibly could. (I've driven 650 miles to go surfing!). l found some days that were just too small anything but a longboard. Just riding one size board is very limiting, conditions change daily in most places.

l am old, & fat & slow, so even my shortboard is 7'6''. My 6'4'' is a collectors' item now. Not every break has ripper, head high waves every day. A longboard is great for plenty of glide in that knee high stuff. One more reason to surf every chance l can.

Surfing is an ocean sport, to do it right, u have to be at home in the ocean, with its currents, rips, undertows & sometimes big waves. l do not just mean being good at swimming in a pool, the ocean can be very unforgiving. l have seen lots of really good pool swimmers have to get rescued. You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up do not want to drown you), how to paddle & take off on a wave, & how to ride a wave. You can not do that without an ocean.

Lessons r usually the best way to start, unless u r an adolescent or young adult with lots of pals who surf who can teach you. Go to a real surf shop. The folks there can hook u up with lessons, & even rent u a board to learn on. Just work on ur basics, & after u feel good, think about buying a board, but do not rush into anything.


Be careful of what u read here on line. There r lots of really well meaning young folks who have neat about surfing, but at 55, l tend to classify anyone under 25 as a kid. After l found this site, l figured that l could answer a few questions, & spread the 'good news' of surfing. After u learn to swim & master the ocean, get ur REAL advice from a surf shop, where industry professionals earn their rent money selling surfboards. However, if they think u r just a 'kook' tourist out to rent a board, u wo not necessarily get the best attention.

Most people learn best on long boards, although l have seen lots of surfers start on a short board & master it. Long boards r ideal for learners. There r also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals & some hybrids.

THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. The pros there can give u the right !!

Good luck. Once u try surfing (and learn the 'right way') u will have fun for life.

Take the time to check out the links, especially surfingforlife.
http://surfingforlife.com/history.ht.
http://mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard-t.

l would recommend getting a rusty surfboard. They're beast!

yeah if you're starting get any softboard like 7 feet. or if you've surfed a little, get a funshapes from ''blue'' (which l think is a ron jon brand).

Listen to John F, he said it right and nearly everyone else here is a kook.

Depends how much you're willing to spend and how serious you are with sticking with it.

l personally do not like softboards, so I'd recommend going the funboard route. Easy to paddle, and enough stability for a beginner to stand up on. Anything 7'-8' would work at your weight(assuming you're a beginner surfer).

Here is a surfboard calculator that will tell you what size board you will need:
http://aboutthebreak.com/surfboard_calculator.php

at all depends what kind you want
if you want a longboard dont get anything longer than like feet for you
short board.i would say like 6-0 or so
i would get an epoxy because there awesome
they dont ding and there extremely durable
there really boyant and just fun to ride
good luck

get a long board

Something along this line would be good

http://amazon.com/BZ-8-Foot-Classic-Rescue-Colors/dp/B0009YEGRA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1213737308&sr=8-2

but l would go to a surf shop
-no shipping
-better advise
-often cheaper

You need to learn on a longboard. Learning to surf was a very long & painful process for me. l thought that since l was always the best at every sport, then this should come to me naturally. Not the case, l was quickly humbled.

l tried to learn by going straight out there & acting like l had done it before. l was worried about how l looked. So after washing out a few times, l became self conscious & then it was not real fun. l kept this up for weeks, until l finally learned to stand up CONSISTENTLY the same way, every time, on all different kinds of waves. This is not the way to learn, at least not to me.

If l had it all to do over again, l would have mastered paddeling first. l would have practiced paddeling in short, speedy bursts for 5 or 10 seconds at a time. You will be suprised how u can throw yourself off balance (while paddeling) by not being familiar to these explosive bursts needed to catch a wave.

Then, l would have mastered wave riding, without worrying about standing up. You've known how to stand on a board ur whole life, but later u will have to learn how to stand on a floating object moving quickly on top of water. No, first l would have learned how to ride the face of the wave, & not the whitewater (most beginners ride straight in towards the beach on the break water, which could be fun, but is not as fun as the face of the wave). l rode a thousand waves through whitewater, in two feet deep seas. when l got tired of that, l had no clue how to suddenly surf on the waves the way everybody else was. You can also use a bodyboard & flippers to get the feel of this, just do not let anyone see u doing it!

Finally, l would have learned to stand on the waves, very patiently, the same way every time. l would have strengthened my core muscles & developed balance at the gym instead of trying to get a ''beach body''. Core muscles (abs, thighs, back) balance u & r the foundation of wuick explosive movements, such as paddeling & springing up on the board. Work these. You will look great & surfing will become even more relaxing & fun for you. You do not need a six pack. You can have a big ole' gut, as long as ur core muscles r strong & conditioned.

l went about the sport the wrong way 10 years ago ( l was 15). Now l am pretty good, but l had a lot of days that seemed more like work than play while l was learning. Do not make the same mistakes. Of course Kelly Slater probably surfed the first wave he ever tried on an ironing board, but you're not him.

if you want a short board l would say about 5'6
if you want a long board 8'0
if you want a fish 5'5
or you could get a soft top