Are you learning how to surf in Bali? Oh yes! The Island of the Gods has the best waves for beginners. The waves are mellow, consistent and ideal for learning and building your surf skills. Before you hit Bali’s best beginner friendly waves you have to make an important decision and that is which surfboard size is best for you? The board you pick will influence how quickly you learn and how much fun you have out in the waves.
Let’s explore what a good beginner surfboard is, why size is an important factor to be considered and let’s choose the best board for your next surf trip.
The board for a beginner should be larger in size, easy to paddle, stable and of sufficient volume. The larger size enables one to remain balanced on the water surface and therefore catch waves easily.
If you are short or light, a bit shorter board (7 feet) might still be fine. Otherwise, the larger the better if you are new to the sport. If you are heavier or taller, sure, go towards the heavier end of the scale. A longer, wider board has more float and stability, a huge plus!
A short board that might be nicer for the looks and be more fun for pro surfers, but it is much harder to control for new surfers. That can make popping up and riding small waves frustrating. So to answer your question “does the size really matter?” Yes it does! It’s not only about looks, using the right size surfboard will give you the best chance to learn in the best way. Learn the basics first, get more confident and enjoy the waves at Bali’s beginner surf locations.
For anyone just starting their surf journey in Bali, a soft top surfboard is really the best choice. These boards are made to be safe and easy to surf with. Unlike epoxy or polyester boards, soft top surfboards are made from foam, are wide and slightly thicker. This helps them resist those small bumps and collisions that happen when you’re still learning how to balance and pop up.
Surfboards that are wider and have more volume are beneficial for balance and stability, which is especially helpful when you start learning how to paddle out, how to read the waves and practicing your pop up. They are designed to maximize the benefits of surfing.
Size is important but there are other factors to be considered like volume. Volume is the amount of floatation in a surfboard, mentioned in liters on the board. The more volume a board has, the more buoyant the board is and hence the more stable. Surfing a board with the right volume will make the learning process much easier.
Here’s a guide in choosing a beginner board. Based on your weight, volume and size:
The bottom line? Both size and volume are important factors. They work together to give you a board that’s easy to paddle, stable and supportive as you learn the surfing techniques.
Avoid shortboards and boards that are too small for you, or too stiff or narrow for beginners. Shortboards are designed for more advanced surfers looking for bigger and more powerful waves. Compared to a foam board, these boards are less stable and much harder to control. Making it a challenge to avoid common beginner mistakes.
Short boards ask for more advanced skills and will likely slow you down rather than help you progress. So, go for that soft top foam board. Designed to be safe, buoyant and great to learn on!
When you are learning how to surf, it is important to be patient, you may spend hours in the water to only catch one or two waves. We all know that it’s super easy to get caught in the fun of swapping your board for a smaller one. But make sure you get comfortable on the board first. So you can practice your paddling, pop ups, turning and catching waves.
As your skills improve, you can slowly explore shorter, lighter and more responsive boards. But for now, stay patient, keep learning and enjoy every wave on a beginner surf board!
Ready to ride your very first board? Join our Bali surf school, where we guide you in selecting the perfect gear and are with you every step of the way. Sign up for a lesson today and start riding the waves!
