Top 15 Mistakes When Buying a Surfboard Setup

Mistakes when buying a surfboard!

Beginners’ guide to surfing

Read Time: 8 Minutes

1- Buying a board that’s too small for you

One of, if not the, most common mistakes that beginner surfers make when buying a board is opting for one that is too small for them. This can be for a number of reasons – sometimes it’s just an honest mistake, sometimes it’s because they think they’re better than they are – but regardless of the whys, the result is that they won’t be able to surf it properly. A smaller surfboard is invariably less stable and if you’re still early in the learning process, you won’t be able to just figure it out on an unsuitable board. A board that is too small for you is incredibly difficult to learn on – let alone to progress on – so make sure you buy something with ample size.

2 – Buying a board that’s too big for someone small

Conversely, there’s also such thing as a board that’s too big. The general rule of the bigger the better works in most circumstances, but it’s only up to a certain point. If you’re only five-foot tall and buy a ten-foot board, it might be pretty damn stable but it will also be impossible for you to move around – both in the water and out of it. Excessively big boards quickly become very difficult to manoeuvre around on, and can also be a hazard to both you and those around you. 

3- Trying to save too much money on your board

Everyone loves a bargain, but with surfboards a good mantra to follow is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Lots of people want a cheap second-hand board because they don’t know how often they’re going to use it and don’t want to fork out a chunk of money in one go, but there are lots of cheap, second-hand boards out there that are cheap for a reason. If they’re damaged, they’ll quickly become unusable and force you to buy another board, meaning it’ll cost you more in the long run, so if you’re willing to part with a little more cash initially you’ll likely save money down the line.

4- Not listening to the advice of those who know better

When you’re new to surfing, the advice of people in the know is paramount. This could be friends and family who surf, an instructor, or perhaps most likely, a salesperson. All of these people understand the dos and don’ts of buying a new board, so it’s important that you take on board whatever they tell you. Many novice surfers – particularly those who have surfed a few times – like to think that they know best, and while it’s true that you might know a little bit about what you’re looking for, if it flies in the face of the advice of salespeople and others who surf, you probably need to adjust your views.

5 -Trying to buy one board for multiple people (one-size-fits-all approach)

If you’re part of a group of people wanting to learn to surf, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one board will do the job for all of you. Whether this is a family or a group of friends, it’s very unlikely that this is the case. Unless you’re all exactly the same size and ability level, one board won’t cut the mustard, and even if you are you’ll quickly become fed up with having to share. Heading to the beach with one board between five people isn’t optimal for learning, so buy something tailored to your own needs.

6- Trying to step up to a board you aren’t ready for 

This is a mistake many people who are beginning to progress, but who are still relatively early in their surfing life, have a tendency to make. It’s a mistake I’ve made, probably a couple of times. When you begin to develop a little bit of confidence in the water it’s natural to assume you’re ready to get a shorter, more high performance board. Often, people in this situation tend to look on the shorter end of what they think they’re capable of, rather than adding a few inches and playing it safe. In reality they should be doing the opposite, because you’ll still be able to develop your skills on a board slightly longer than you need, but if the board is too short you’ll quickly find yourself going backwards.

7 – Forgetting important extras 

It’s easy to get swept up in the purchase of a surfboard, particularly if it’s your first one. And fair enough, too – it’s exciting, and it’s the most important thing you’ll have with you out in the water. But as per our previous articles, there are plenty of other things you need before you’re ready – a board without fins won’t be a whole lot of use to you, nor will a board without wax, so make sure you don’t forget the extras.

8 – Forgetting what you used in a lesson

One of the best ways to find out what sort of board is best for you is to take a lesson. You’ll get to try out a board tailor made for beginners under the tutelage of an expert, and if you ask they’ll likely be able to give you some solid information about whether the board you used in the lesson is what you should be looking for, or if you need something else. If you then forget what you used or what you’ve been told, this potentially valuable information is lost and you’ll be far more likely to end up with an unsuitable board, so lock that info up under lock and key.

9 – Buying the wrong fins for your board/board for your fins

Many people who are new to surfing don’t realise that there are different types of fin boxes. They assume that all fins can fit into all boards, which, if we cast our minds back to our earlier article about fins, we know isn’t true. It can be a source of plenty of frustration if you’re ready to head out for your first surf on a new board, only to realise that the fins you’ve got aren’t going to fit. So before you buy your fins – or before you buy your board if you’ve already got fins – make sure they’re compatible with one another.

10 – Buying to fit in with the boards of more advanced friends

Surfing isn’t easy to learn, and a lot of people initially feel self-conscious out in the water. Sometimes this is justified – as those of you who have surfed before know it can be a pretty humbling experience, but that’s all part of the fun of it! Make sure you don’t fall for the trap of trying to fit in with friends or family who might be more experienced than you by buying a board that will enable you to surf with them. Go at your own pace, because if you try to get ahead you’ll only impede your own progress.

11 – Expecting to get discounts on boards

Another common, and somewhat surprising, mistake that new surfers make when they’re looking to buy a board is assuming that they can get discounts on it. Plenty of people walk into a store, see a $750 board and assume they can talk it down to $600. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. There’s not a huge amount of margin on surfboards so the price is the price. If you’re looking to do some haggling, however, look for individuals selling second-hand – this is where you can probably look to save a few bucks, but remember to heed the warnings from Point 3. 

12 – Overpaying for a second-hand board 

Speaking of second-hand boards – while this can be a good way to find a less expensive alternative to a new board, you can also risk paying a lot more than you should for what you get if you’re not yet adept at valuing surfboard prices. Most people are reasonable enough when looking to offload an old board but plenty of others aren’t, so to be sure that you get what you’re paying for, enlist the help of someone who knows a little more than you.

13 – Trying to buy a board suitable for all conditions

If you’re only just starting out as a surfer, this might be a little less relevant as you most likely won’t be heading out into double overhead surf. But for those who have a little more experience, a common mistake is thinking you can buy a surfboard that you’ll be able to use every day, regardless of the conditions. While it’s true that some boards are much more suitable in wide range of different wave types, there aren’t many which are ideal in all of them, and trying to find such a board leaves you running the risk of buying a board which won’t suit you.   sound a little silly, but not everyone thinks about the logistics of transporting a long, heavy board around before buying one. If you’re just starting out you’ll likely be buying a reasonably long board – or at least you will if you’ve followed our advice! – so there’s every chance it won’t fit into your car. Make sure you get some roof racks fitted and a couple of straps before you lug it out of the shop to avoid the humiliation of realising you have no way to get it around after you’ve bought it. 

14 – Forgetting about transport 

It might sound a little silly, but not everyone thinks about the logistics of transporting a long, heavy board around before buying one. If you’re just starting out you’ll likely be buying a reasonably long board – or at least you will if you’ve followed our advice! – so there’s every chance it won’t fit into your car. Make sure you get some roof racks fitted and a couple of straps before you lug it out of the shop to avoid the humiliation of realising you have no way to get it around after you’ve bought it.

15 – Not doing your research

The final point is essentially a culmination of all those prior. Research is the most important factor in getting a board suitable for you, whether it be reading articles like these, or listening to friends, family, salespeople, and anyone else who might know what they’re talking about. If you listen to those around you and read up on what you need before you commit to a purchase, the chances that you’ll enjoy a lot more success out on the water with your board are significantly higher.